When I arrived in Maryland I was recommended by a few people that the Potomac Valley radio Club was a club to join. They were quite right, and even before I had my own shack set up at home I was invited by Alan WA3EKL and Susan N3DPB to join their team for various contests.
Unfortunately my shipment of personal effects arrived from the shipping company on the Saturday afternoon of CQWW CW, but on the Sunday I spent a few hours on the air as N3DPB. Mostly on 40m and 20m.