CCDXC - Central California DX Club History

The Central California DX Club, Inc., was officially organized August 2, 1981. The original "brainstorming" meeting took place in Visalia at the Holiday Inn in July of 1981. The group, led by Earl Warford, W6MEL, who was the sparkplug in getting the club started, discussed the feasibility of forming a DX Club which would serve Central California. The reason the CCDXC was formed was that the Northern and Southern California DX Clubs were beyond travel distance for valley hams, whichn made it difficult to attend their meetings on a regular basis.

At a second meeting in August of 1981, the gathered group made several key decisions:

	To go ahead with the formation of the CCDXC;
	To incorporate the club, and develop BYLAWS;
	To affiliate with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL);
	To obtain liability insurance coverage;
	Anyone who attended the meetings of July and August would be charter members regardless of DXCC (entity) accomplishments.

Henry Mack, WA6FPB, a lawyer, took care of the incorporation with the State of California.

The charter members were: KD6QA Peg Austin (SK), WA6UOR Harry Billings (later N6ALR SK), WB6VIN Carl Boone (SK), W6BYH Leon Brammer (SK), WD6ACC George Cantrell (SK), W6KPC Frank Clement (lives in Bakersfield), KB6AR Dan Crowe (SK), K6BPY Gerry Decker (SK), K6XJ Perry Foster, W6PCS Jerry Fries (SK), W6RU Terry Gaiser (Was N6UR), W6UZ John Gray (lives in Virginia), W6BW Gus Grom (SK) K6TX Byron Gutheil, K6OZL Ron Hill (now K6UR and living in Hanford), W6OV Dick Kemp (SK), W6MND John Koch (SK), KE6GM John Luthy (now N7JL, lives in Oregon), WA6FPB Henry Mack (SK), W6DPD Charles McConnell, W6XP Stan Ostrom (lives in Arroyo Grande), N6DTB Don Pipkin (SK), W6BVM Don Rinaldi (lives in Orangevale), W6ZZC Earl Rouse (SK), K6DT Ed Shuler, WD6GFF Richard Smith (lives in Madera), W6GR Bob Smith, N6AWD Fred Stenger, W6IFC Lyman Treaster (SK), W6MEL Earl Warford (SK), W6YO Jules Wenglare (SK), and WA6JDB Jay Yake (now W6JDB and living in Oregon). The names in bold are current members of the CCDXC. Over the years of the club, there have been probably over 100 different names on the club rosters, but never all at once.

Early on, there was considerable discussion about the CCDXC becoming a partner in the International DX Convention, running the convention every third year. This was never realized. There may never have been discussions with the other 2 DX Clubs about doing the convention. In fact, it was difficult for the fledgling CCDXC to be recognized at the International DX Convention.

The first president of the CCDXC was Earl Warford, W6MEL. Leon Brammer, W6BYH, was the first secretary/treasurer. Harry Billings, WA6UOR (later N6ALR) served 7 consecutive terms as president. The records of the early years of the club are missing. The CCDXC tried to have a competition with the Redwood Empire DX Association for the ARRL DX contest. Club members did not participate on a regular basis so the CCDXC came out second best. Meetings were held on Sundays at the Holiday Inn in Visalia until that became cost prohibitive for the members. The club has met at various locations in Visalia, Tulare and Delano. There was a joint meeting with QCWA Chapter 99 held in Fresno.

When the Central California Coast DX Club was formed, the members of the CCDXC would join them for a June meeting on the Saturday before the Santa Maria Swap meet. This meeting continues to this day. The CCDXC decided to have a competition with the CCCDXC during the California QSO Party. Again, the CCDXC participation was less than expected so the CCDXC lost again.

Today, the CCDXC meets several times a year on Saturday for a lunch meeting in Tulare or Visalia CA. There is a business meeting and a program. The club conducts the Summer DX Super Sprint between the months of June through August with the goal of working as many DXCC entities as possible during that 3-month period. The club has some other operating events from time to time. The DX'er of the year is announced at the breakfast meeting held the Saturday morning of the International DX Convention. The Club Membership Roster usually has over 50 members on it.

Central California DX Club History

As remembered by the members