[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] 2026 Winter Field Day Follow Up and THANK YOU!

[Skip Dronen]

ARC,

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I started this email with a list of people to thank for planning, setting up, operating, and de-mobilizing our Winter Field Day Exercise.  Frankly, it is just not possible. This was such a team effort; I would definitely miss someone if I tried to make that list.

Set up on Friday and Saturday morning went very well.  We were ready to operate an hour before the official start at 11:00am.  We were well fueled, dozens upon dozens of donated doughnuts, pastries, coffee and rhubarb pies!  One new Ham Radio Technician was minted, and he operated for the first time that day. We had some fantastic technology demos with ARES, clear nodes, Winlink FM setups, etc.  We even had three people try to squeeze in some End Fed Halfwave antenna building.

More importantly, this club showed a tremendous amount of capability in both the art and science of radio. We literally operated on 12 bands, which was a tremendous accomplishment.  We operated in SSB, CW, and Digital (I nabbed a JS8Call at the last minute). We copied the WFD Bulletin. We operated multiple stations on battery power.  All while managing the minute to minute nature of a pending real world weather situation to ensure we didn't put our members and guests at risk.

Like all events, we did some things well and could improve in other areas.  If you have any constructive feedback please send me a note and I'll add it to my notes.

Thank you again to the planning team, the folks that provided spontaneous support, and for those that attended!

73,

Skip, KO2THF

p.s. we are still looking for a lead for Field Day. I guarantee that any volunteer with be well supported!  Please send a note at board at w4hfh.org if you are interested.