With less than one month to go, everyone wants to know what's new in the ARRL EXPO at the 2008 Dayton Hamvention®. Who's going to be there? What's happening and when? We here at HQ are gearing up for an exciting time in the ARRL EXPO in Ballarena Hall at Dayton's Hara Arena, and mixing up a bit of the old and the new.

ARRL Membership Manager and ARRL EXPO Coordinator Katie Breen, W1KRB, said, "We have many new publications and apparel items that we are proud to introduce. A highlight is always in the annual release of the 2008/2009 ARRL Repeater Directory -- new to this year's edition are the handy indexing tabs on the cover so you can quickly find the listings you're looking for. The Directory has new easier-to-read listings because the pocket-sized book is one-half inch bigger."

If you are interested in learning about more tools with which to enjoy Amateur Radio, then the new VHF Digital Handbook or HF Digital Handbook by QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, should go home with you! If you'd like a terrific resource of materials spanning a variety of topics, then Hands-On Radio Experiments by Ward Silver, N0AX, is right up your alley. "We here at ARRL are very proud of Ward's nomination as Hamvention's Amateur of the Year," Breen said. "Come meet him and have him autograph your new book."

Breen said that new ARRL mugs and clothing items will be introduced at Dayton this year: "Demonstrate your pride as a radio amateur in your office or your shack. While you're at it, show off being a ham in our new "HAM" logoed apparel or 2008 Field Day apparel. And to top it all off, it will all go home with you in our new environmentally friendly, reusable bag." All those who purchase $10 or more in the ARRL EXPO will receive a complimentary reusable eco-friendly bag that you can take home and use when grocery shopping and more. All new and renewing ARRL members will also receive this new bag, Breen said.

A new area within the ARRL EXPO this year is the interactive "Doctor Is IN" booth. "You've read the column in QST for years and everyone always wants to know who is behind the costume. Here's your chance to stop by the booth, ask your question and have some one-on-one time with ARRL's Technical Experts. You might even be able to submit a stumper and get it published in QST," Breen added.

This year's Docs On Call will be QST Contributing Editor Ward Silver, N0AX; QEX Editor Larry Wolfgang, WR1B; ARRL Senior Technical Editor Joel Hallas, W1ZR; QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, and ARRL RF Engineer Mike Gruber, W1MG. On Saturday, automotive experts Mark Steffka, WW8MS, and Don Hibbard, W8DBH, will be on hand to answer your questions. They will be at the Doctor Booth, as well as providing an interactive session in the ARRL Movie Room about mobile Amateur Radio and ignition systems.

Breen said that the Movie Room, a new feature of this year's ARRL EXPO, will host a presentation on "60 Years of the Worked All Europe Contest" presented by Jorg Jahrig, DJ3HW, and Dennis M. Haertig, DL7RBI, of Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC), the German equivalent of ARRL. The movie room will also host a variety of DXpedition videos, Breen said. "The highlight of the video presentations will be with Bob Allphin, K4UEE. Bob will host an interactive session during the viewing of the video of the Peter I DXpedition to the Antarctic. Sit back, relax and enjoy in the new ARRL Movie Room."

This year's Dayton Hamvention is May 16, 17 and 18 at the Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio. Find out about activities within and in conjunction with Hamvention at the Dayton Hamvention's Web site.