Pacificon — the ARRL Pacific Division Convention held over the October 11-12 weekend — was arguably the last major Amateur Radio gathering of 2014. It also was the last of six ARRL Regional Centennial Conventions. As such, said ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, it was even more memorable.

“We continued to hear from members about their enjoyment of the ARRL Centennial operating events,” President Craigie said. “Several people had been to the National Convention in Hartford and were enthusiastic in their praise for the event. As the convention aspect of the Centennial year draws to a close, I am especially appreciative of the host organizations that cooperated with the ARRL on the Regional events, so we could spread the fun around the country.” The first Regional Centennial Convention was the Orlando Hamcation® in February.

In her Pacificon banquet keynote address President Craigie praised the ARRL Headquarters staff for “an amazing job” in organizing ARRL Centennial activities during 2014 and thanked all who “made the Centennial the fun that it is.”

President Craigie told her audience that the most important thing the League does is advocacy. “Think of the ARRL over the last 100 years as a strong voice speaking out for Amateur Radio,” she said. She pointed out that had ARRL co-founder Hiram Percy Maxim not advocated strongly for federal authorities to permit the resumption of Amateur Radio following the World War I shutdown, “we wouldn’t be here this evening talking about Amateur Radio.”

She also expressed appreciation to the ARRL membership for the success to date of the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2014, H.R. 4969. The bill has attracted 47 co-sponsors. “It’s taken all of us,” she said.

A W100AW/6 special event station was on the air during Pacificon, which is sponsored by the Mount Diablo Amateur Radio Club (MDARC).

At Pacificon, John Bigley, N7UR, was named the 2014 ARRL Pacific Division “Ham of the Year.” He is the editor of the Nevada Amateur Radio Newswire.

Representing the ARRL in addition to President Craigie were Pacific Division Director Bob Vallio, W6RGG; Vice Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT; and Section Managers Brandon Bianchi, NI6C; Ron Murdock, W6KJ; Bill Hillendahl, KH6GJV; Gary Grant, K7VY; Jim Latham, AF6AQ; Dan Pruitt, AE6SX, and Rob Griffin, K6YR. ARRL staffers attending included Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R; Yvette Vinci, KC1AIM; Lauren Clarke, KB1YDD; Ed Hare, W1RFI, and Diane Petrilli, KB1RNF.

Photos from Pacificon have been posted on the League’s Facebook page. — Thanks to Randy Hall, K7AGE (video) and Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R