Great weather graced the MARC (Mid-Atlantic Amateur Radio Club) Valley Forge Hamfest held Sunday, August 13 at the Kimberton Fairgrounds outside Phoenixville in Chester County. Attendance was robust with a variety of vendors offering deals on equipment new and used. Licensing test sessions were held to accommodate upgrades and new licensees.
One of the valuable ARRL services offered at many hamfests is QSL card checking for various awards programs. At the Valley Forge Hamfest we were lucky to have Bill Dobson-N3WD in attendance. Bill is an official ARRL DXCC, VHF, WAS, WAC and VUCC Awards Manager. Bill also serves as the A and D sorter for the 3rd Call Area Incoming QSL Bureau. If you have earned an ARRL award recently more than likely Bill was involved in checking some of your cards and confirming your contacts. Although Bill lives in Glyndon, Maryland near Baltimore, he travels at his own expense to most Maryland and many Pennsylvania hamfests to help fellow hams earn their esteemed awards milestones.
Bill is also very active in the POTA (Parks on the Air) program and has more than 570 activations in over 230 parks. If you hear N3WD on the air make sure you log a contact with this very active ham and thank him for his valuable services to our community.
