"As the song says, 'All our bags are packed and we're ready to go' -- well, almost," said ARRL Hamvention Coordinator Katie Breen, W1KRB. "The ARRL EXPO area is packed up into seven shipping skids and they are in a truck on their way to Dayton. We here at headquarters are not only breathing a huge sigh of relief, but many of us are still wrapping up our individual final details." The Dayton Hamvention® will run from May 16-18 at Hara Arena, just outside Dayton, Ohio.

Breen said that all around the Newington offices, ARRL staffers are putting the last-minute touches on their Dayton preparations: "Frankie Perez, KB1NQR, is finishing up his schedule for checking cards at the DXCC area. By late Saturday afternoon at Hamvention, there will be an area set up by the card checking just for DX Talk. We've named it the DXCC Discussion Zone."

Also new this year is the "Doctor Is IN" booth. This area, Breen said, is all about and just for technology enthusiasts: "QEX Editor Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, has been putting his creative genius to work and coming up with some great plans for that booth! ARRL Circulation Manager Amy Hurtado, KB1NXO, is finalizing details on what will be available in the bookstore and membership area. And me? Well, since this is my first year of coordinating the EXPO, I think I'm just worrying about everyone else at this point!"

Breen said that one thing she is really excited about with this year's EXPO is that the ARRL will host a larger number of volunteers from around the country: "Some of our newer Section Managers, some as far away as Northern California and Florida will be there. ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, will be attending forums, meeting and greeting members and generally sharing the good stories of all that is happening here at the League. We're also going to have an international presence with the IARU; we are pleased to welcome IARU President Larry Price, W4RA, and IARU Vice President Tim Ellam, VE6SH."

"Amateur Radio is all about the people," Breen remarked. "Without people on the air in various modes, what would Amateur Radio be? Without hams invested in Public Service, what would Amateur Radio be? Without people in their communities volunteering their time, what would Amateur Radio be? I think the Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) hit the nail on the head with this year's theme of 'People + Radio = Fellowship.' When it all comes down to it, we are communicating with each other, regardless of the mode being used. What better opportunity to come together and communicate than at Hamvention, the country's largest gathering of radio enthusiasts?"