Club traditions · Awards
The DFMA Lid
In ham radio, calling someone a “lid” on the air is not a compliment — it means a poor or careless operator. The DFMA award is almost always the opposite: a positive call-out for service, skill, or good humor. Occasionally it’s a gentle tease about an on-the-air blunder. Either way, it’s meant in fun. The Lid has been passed from the current holder to a new awardee since at least 1972.
50+
Years of tradition
1972
Earliest record
100+
Recipients
6
Trophy generations
Select era
2018 — As reported in The Link / Meeting Minutes
| Date | From → To | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2 | KW4XL → KU4GC Dee | Making new members feel welcome at club meetings |
| Feb 6 | KU4GC → KK4PH Lowell Tieszen | Exceptional repeater support |
| Mar 6 | KK4PH → K4WCV Bob Milback | Instituting and running the 53.45 MHz 107.2 Hz PL 8 PM Wednesday night net |
| Jun 5 | K4WCV → KI4RAN Bill Creery | Field Day Weather Watcher |
2017 — As reported in The Link / Meeting Minutes
| Date | From → To | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | KK4BPH → KW4KZ Chuck | Excellent work lining up program presentations |
| Feb 7 | KW4KZ → N2XZF Paul | Generous donation of door prizes given away at club meetings |
| Mar 7 | N2XZF → W4SAR Dave | Leadership and long-term contribution to the Volunteer Examiner operation |
| Apr 4 | W4SAR → KR4UB Dan | Long-term contribution as club secretary, repeater building expertise, welder, leading librarian — renaissance man |
| Jun 6 | KR4UB → KM4MBG Jack | Outstanding leadership of the successful and enjoyable 2017 DurHamFest |
| Jul 18 | KM4MBG → KR3AM Mark | Service on the DFMA board; audio/video/internet technical support making remote presentations possible |
| Sep 5 | KR3AM → W4MKR M.K. | Long-term volunteer support as club treasurer; Field Day, the Tarheel 10 Miler, and many other events |
| Oct 3 | W4MKR → N2XZF Paul | Door prize donor extraordinaire; donating excellent technical expertise to many members |
| Nov 7 | N2XZF → KW4XL David | Ongoing contribution of time and effort across many areas of the DFMA |
2016 — As reported in The Link / Meeting Minutes
| Date | From → To | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 5 | W3AHL → WA4AHR Dewey | Long-term support to DFMA and OCRA by donating good used batteries; shop and expertise available to hams for projects |
| Jul 19 | WA4AHR → NC4CD Charlie | Long-term support to the DFMA club, its repeater infrastructure, and to other clubs and members in the area |
| Oct 4 | NC4CD → WB4P Skip | Outstanding job as DFMA The Link newsletter editor |
| Nov 1 | WB4P → KU4GC Dee | Outstanding work keeping the DFMA website current and of interest to visitors |
| Dec | KU4GC → KK4BPH Mike | Excellent club meeting public address system support |
