[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] Request For ARC Field Day 2020 Station Operators, with June 8th Deadline

[Don (KI4D)]

So far we have not had a strong response to the request for station
operators for Field Day 2020.  Mostly band captains from previous years have
volunteered.  After today's deadline closes for club volunteer station
operators, the club planning  process will not include orientation or
assistance for those who are not on the list of those who have volunteered
by today.  While it will always be possible for last minute decisions to
participate in Field Day 2020, those operators will be on their own without
club coordination or assistance.  During the scheduled Field Day Planning
Group meeting on June 10th  7:00 p.m. via Zoom,  I plan conduct a review of
our expected Field Day capabilities based on information I have as of today:

 

A.	Name:
B.	Call Sign:
C.	Operating Location(s): (Home/Portable/Mobile)
D.	Operating Band(s):
E.	Equipment Details: (Transceivers, Antennas, etc.)
F.	Assistance Needed: (equipment, setup assistance, operating
expertise, Field Day event know-how, etc.)

 

Thanks for your cooperation.  

 

Don Lewis

Field Day 2020 Coordinator   

 

From: Don (KI4D) <don.ki4d at gmail.com> 
Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2020 12:53 PM
To: 'alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net'
<alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Request For ARC Field Day 2020 Station Operators, with June 8th
Deadline

 

Organizing for Field Day 2020 is imposing a lot of new and interesting
challenges.  We will not conduct a public Field Day event in 2020 because of
COVID-19 restrictions.  For our  Field Day to be a success in 2020, I
believe we will need a lot more from club members and a lot more
coordination, if we are to approach this as a club effort.  As Field Day
Chair I would like to present our completed Field Day plans to the club at
our June meeting on June 12th.  To accomplish this, I need a list of
stations that will operate during Field Day 2020 for "club credit" with the
ARRL.  During a scheduled Field Day Planning Group meeting on June 10th  via
Zoom,  I plan conduct a review of our expected Field Day capabilities.  To
develop a list of "club stations," l am requesting that any club member who
intends to operate a "club station" during Field Day provide me the
following information:

A.	Name:
B.	Call Sign:
C.	Operating Location(s): (Home/Portable/Mobile)
D.	Operating Band(s):
E.	Equipment Details: (Transceivers, Antennas, etc.)
F.	Assistance Needed: (equipment, setup assistance, operating
expertise, Field Day event know-how, etc.)

Please send me these requested details no later than June 8th so I can
package them for discussion at our June 10th Field Day Planning meeting.
Thanks for your cooperation.

 

The note below was previously sent to our ARC Field Day Planning Google
Group.  It provides background information that may be helpful. 

 

73 Don, KI4D

 

=================================================================

 

From: Don (KI4D) <don.ki4d at gmail.com <mailto:don.ki4d at gmail.com> > 
Sent: Tuesday, June 2, 2020 1:35 PM
To: 'alexandria-radio-club-field-day-planning at googlegroups.com'
<alexandria-radio-club-field-day-planning at googlegroups.com
<mailto:alexandria-radio-club-field-day-planning at googlegroups.com> >
Subject: Alexandria Radio Club Approach to Field Day 2020

 

On May 27, 2020 the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Programs and Services
Committee (PSC) adopted two temporary rule waivers for Field Day 2020.
These waivers provide for:

1)         For Field Day 2020 only, Class D stations may work all other
Field Day stations, including other Class D stations, for points.

2)         In addition, for 2020 only, an aggregate club score will be
published, which will be the sum of all individual entries indicating a
specific club (similar to the aggregate score totals used in ARRL affiliated
club competitions).

The main impact of these rule changes allow ARRL clubs to compete for "club
credit" in Field Day 2020; whereas under previous rules, clubs could not
compete as a club because of COVID-19 state and local gathering restrictions
along with ARRL Field Day 2020 rules requiring club events to be public
events conducted within a 1000 feet diameter space.

 

The Alexandria Radio Club ARC is taking advantage of the ARRL temporary
waivers by approaching Field Day 2020 differently from prior years.  In
doing so, there are significant  differences this year for individual field
day station operators.  Individual Field Day station operators must have
their own equipment and space to operate or have assistance with that in
some form.  It is possible for equipment loans from the club, or individual
club members for those who have equipment gaps.  For those who cannot erect
antennas at their residence, it is possible to operate "portable" in a
public space (a park) or in a private space (a church parking lot or other
available location).  It is also possible to operate "mobile."  The second
major impact is that all Field Day station operators must become directly
knowledgeable  of Field Day rules.  In past years, Only Band Captains and
Rich Adamy, the Club call custodian for W4HFH, had to be 100% knowledgeable
of  Field Day rules. The third major impact is that all Field Day station
operators must file a summary of their own Field Day 2020 participation with
the ARRL.  Normally,  the club would file the Field Day report.

 

The following approach to Field Day 2020 has been reviewed and approved  by
Alexandria Radio Club leadership (Club officers and Board), subject to
changes and greater detail:    

 

*	There will be no public event in 2020; all ARC Field Day
participants are encouraged to operate portable, mobile or from their home
station, with "Safety First."  Please stay safe.  
*	There will be no Band Captains.
*	Recommended Field Day Classes of Operation are: B (portable), C
(mobile), or D (home or home. of record).  See attached rules, pages 3-8,
for full explanations. 
*	ARC Field Day participants are encouraged to earn individual Bonus
Points. See attached rules, pages 3-8, for full explanations.
*	Participants are requested to notify the ARC Field Day Chairman of
their intentions to participate in Field Day. If there is a desire to
participate and there are gaps in equipment, etc., the club may be able to
help out.  
*	The ARC Field Day Charmain will act as a facilitator for mutual
support, assistance, and coordination.
*	ARC will sponsor training/orientation for the N1MM logging program. 
*	ARC requests participants to submit their Field Day results to ARRL
and to the Field Day Chairman for  consolidation of "Club" contacts and
scoring.
*	A Field Day planning and coordination Zoom meeting will be conducted
for participants on June 10th.  All participants should attend for the
latest information and to provide input for final plans.
*	Completed plans for ARC Field Day 2020 will be presented at the club
monthly meeting on June 12th
*	A Field Day 2020 final check and coordination meeting VIA Zoom is
scheduled on June 24th

 

Finally,  please send any suggestions, comments or questions that you may
have to the Google Group or me.  Working through the challenges of a
COVID-19 Field Day will require a team effort.    Thanks for your
Cooperation.

 

Don Lewis

Field Day 2020 Coordinator