ANTIQUE WIRELESS ASSOCIATION The 20th Anniversary "Spring Meet in the Carolinas" of the Antique Wireless Association will be held on Friday and Saturday March 22nd and 23rd, 1996 at the Sheraton Airport Plaza Hotel in Charlotte. This event is sponsored by the Carolinas Chapter of the Antique Wireless Association. The Sheraton Airport Plaza Hotel is located at I-85 and Billy Graham Parkway, Exit 33. The AWA Convention Rate is $59 Double/King. For reservations, call 1-800-325-3535. The Sheraton is nearly full, so act fast. Other nearby motels include: Red Roof Inn - 800-843-7663 Days Inn - 800-591-2867 La Quinta - 800-531-5900 Hampton Inn - 800-425-7866 This is a fairly small event by hamfest standards, and in fact it isn't really a hamfest. The Antique Wireless Association is devoted to the hobby of collecting and restoring Antique Radios of any kind, radio magazines and related materials, and to record the history of radio (there is a national AWA organization that maintains a museum). This event includes trading of antique radios and related items, equipment contests, an auction and informative programs. This year a BBQ dinner is available, as well as a Ladies activity for Saturday. There will be a barbeque dinner on Friday afternoon from 4 PM to 6:30 PM. The charge is $9 for all you can eat. Payment must be received by March 15th for the barbeque. A ladies activity will be offered: A three hour tour called "Trolley Line Tour of Old Charlotte" starts at 9 AM Saturday. This program follows the trolley line through the historic districts of Charlotte, and visits the Trolley Museum and the restored Atherton Mills area for lunch on your own. The fee is $15 and must be paid in advance by March 15th. This program will be canceled if there is not enough interest. An equipment auction will be held Friday evening, limited to the first 100 quality items (no junk). Minimum bid is $10.00. The auctioneer is Doug Moore, WB4MRY. Guest speakers this year will be Marty Bunis, co-author of many "Radio Collector Guides," and Dr. Harold Cones, co-author of "Zenith Trans-Oceanic, the Royalty of Radio." The registration Fee is $5 in advance, $10 at the door (includes spouse). Vendor Passes are $10 in advance, $20 at the door. Available only in advance by March 15th are: Ladies Program (Trolley Tour), $15, and Barbeque dinner, $9. Advance Registration should be sent to: AWA/NC, P.O. Box 11358, Charlotte NC 28220-1358 For more information, send an SASE to the above address, or contact one of the following: Ron Lawrence (Meet Chairman), 704-289-1166 (h), 704-845-2002 (w) Stephen Brown (Registration Info), 704-847-1301 Program Schedule FRIDAY March 22nd: 8 AM - Flea Market area opens for trading, all day 2 PM - Check in equipment for auction 4 PM - Barbeque until 6:30 PM. 7:30 PM - Equipment Auction, limited to first 100 quality items SATURDAY March 23rd: 8 AM - Flea Market all morning. 9 AM - Ladies tour departs (seats must be reserved by March 15). 10 AM - Check in Equipment for contest 12noon - Contest judging. 1 PM - Meeting Room open for viewing of Contest entries 1:30 PM- Contest Wrap-Up by Robert Lozier KD4HSH 2 PM - Collecting Transistor Radios, by Marty Bunis 2:45 PM- The Trans-Oceanic Story, by Dr. Harold Cones 3:30 PM- Hints and Kinks The SE region AWA meet was started by Mr. Lew Elias in 1976. This event has grown into one of the largest such events in this part of the country. The Carolinas Chapter of the Antique Wireless Association is open to all members of the AWA, especially those living in North and South Carolina. Dues are $8 for AWA members and $20 for non-AWA members ($12 of it is for AWA dues). If you have any interest in antique radios or radio history and are within a reasonable driving distance of Charlotte, you will certainly enjoy this event.