VRPS hosted the 2003 annual convention, held in Mesquite, Texas November 7-9, 2003. It was attended by 265 participants (182 registered, 265 total). They came from Washington, Oregon, Indiana, California, Kansas, Massachusetts, Colorado, Missouri and of course Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Rolf Bartel came all the way from Rodau, Germany!
We had some pretty impressive help from: Oklahoma (OKVRC), Houston (HVRA), Dallas-Fort Worth (VRPS), Arkansas (Little Rock and Ft. Smith clubs), San Antonio-Austin (TARC) and many of us with the Antique Wireless Association (AWA). Blake Dietze, all the way from Vancouver, WA, manned the computer, along with Jim Collings from Oklahoma City and Jim Fields from Flower Mound, TX (who by the way developed the program we use for the auction).
Jim Sargent worked the auctions and a great hand is deserved for Bill Werzner from Houston who gave some sorely needed relief for Jim. Michael Sherman, who is normally the auctioneer, was not able to attend this year.
There were some EXCELLENT items up for sale this year as always, but I did notice, guys, that the ladies were right up there bidding, while a few guys were "cat" napping! Cleo CherryHolmes, as always did an excellent job with his crew on the TV displays and remote video camera system which we pioneered over the years.
I hope to see each and every one of you back this year for our 30th Anniversary convention in November 2004. BTW, our club is one of just 5 or 6 starting back in 1974!
George Potter
