Hi!
Congratulations to John Papay K8YSE for reaching 1005 confirmed grids for his satellite VUCC award! John has been on the birds for the past few years, missing out on the days of HEO satellites, yet he has spent many days - and nights - chasing stations to add to his log. His Cleveland QTH has a very capable satellite station, which he has continually improved over the years. If he is in the footprint, he has been able to work anyone he hears. In fact, he has not stopped in his quest to log more satellite QSOs and grids to this day, as he tries to work Yuri UT1FG/MM wherever he happens to be sailing right now. With the wet-grid operators like Yuri and Jim ND9M/MM, coupled with others going to other dry places that aren't normally heard on the birds, who knows how many more grids John can add to his satellite log.
Along with his home station, he has also worked from many locations away from home to help the rest of us get more QSOs and grids in our logs. In particular, his summer 2010 road trip around Lake Superior with a fully-capable satellite station in the back of his truck. In 2009, he helped a bunch of us with a trip to the rarely-heard state of Delaware. His Delaware QSL card was the last card I needed to file for my satellite WAS award. He has also worked from other locations to help put rare grids on the birds over the past few years.
Good luck on getting many more grids, John. 73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/