Ladies and Gentlemen,

Just in case you have planned on coming to our great ARRL 2013 Southwestern Division Convention in Buellton and have not yet sent in your registration, you have just moments left before the chance to get in on the Early-Bird Prize Drawing slips through your fingers. Your registration must be received by SBARC at its mailing address on or before September 3, 2013. That is just next Tuesday. Here is where you can fill out the Registration form: https://www.swhamcon.com/page.cfm?id=80

The Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club is putting on a Big, Exciting, Fun, Educational, Challenging, Fantastic, Best Ever Ham Radio Convention right over the hill at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in the City of Buellton, just across the 101 Fwy. from Anderson's Pea Soup Restaurant.

This great event will be on Friday, September 6 through Sunday, September 8. Our club has been working with the fine folks at the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center and have taken over a large portion of the place in order to put on a wonderful program of Amateur Radio activities for you.

Typical scene at the Flea Market

We have Seminars; Work Shops; a huge Flea Market with Tailgating; 3 Transmitter Hunts with prizes; Marvin, KE6HTS, is putting on another one of his famous antenna clinic/workshops followed by a Transmitter hunt with 5 hidden transmitters; 2 large rooms dedicated to the use of our Vendors; on Friday from 6pm - 9pm a Pizza/Prime Rib feast in the Patio Lounge (no host); Saturday Night Banquet and so many Prizes you will have a great chance of winning something of value -- in addition to all of the Hourly Prizes. Of course, guests of the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center are invited to use the beautiful swimming pool.

Typical exciting and educational seminar

You can drive from your home each day to the Convention or stay at the Hotel where all the action is (contact the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center right away -- 1-800-638-8882 or 1-805-688-1000) or stay at one of the neighboring hotels/motels.

Our webpage is nearly complete and you will see how much planning has been going on behind the scenes. Please visit http://www.swhamcon.com/ and see what it's all about. Our thanks go to Al Soenke, WA6VNN; Tom Saunders, N6YX; Rod Fritz, WB9KMO, and many, many others of the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club for putting this great Convention together.

I plan on seeing you there. I sure hope you plan on seeing me there, too! 73, Darryl Widman, KF6DI SBARC Executive Vice President