[BARC-List] More on FD

[Bill Ricker N1VUX]

> After the discussions at yesterday's breakfast and a trip by most of those
> present at the breakfast to the Clay Science Center on the Dexter School
> campus near Lars Anderson Park, 

At which the campus was found to be a higher hill than Larz, but with the
summit occupied. Athletic fields on east and west are available, as is a
courtyard near the summit.

> Bob Phinney (Pres., Clay Center ARC) has put
> together the following proposal for the school officials.  Is there any
> comment relative to this possibility vs. Lars Anderson?  


Someone else commented in private email, I think it was Mark --

>>> We also  need to consider all the hard work Bob Salow has done

Yes, hear! hear! Yeah Bob!

The key question in my mind is whether the excellent deal Bob S has
worked out for Larz for *future* years would still be valid if we took a
pass this year, either away or no-where.  He seems to think our future would
be un-affected by going elsewhere this year.

LARS -
Several of us also have walked the "wrong" end of Larz hill that Bob was
offered for this year.  While it is not level, it has a saddle-like area that
is big enough for an operating tent and has very shallow slope, such that 1"
boards under table legs should level them.  I see the bigger problem with that
end being lack of shade for tents and shortage of trees for wire antennae.
However, it's actually a more *inviting* spot for drawing the public in than
our usual spot.

DEXTER - 
The lower, west-facing athletic field is at the same height as our usual
clearing at Larz, and has clear horizon to the NW & SW & SE, with narrow
terrain feature to the due S, and the buildings & peak to the NE. All in all,
it's pretty good.  We can use the building to hold a sloper?

Real plumbing is certainly an attractive option, if Bob P can swing
that. From a VHF point of view, having a west horizon from the athletic field
by the Gym might be better than the NE horizon we've had prior years, although
I'd like to try it
with *clean* horizons sometime.

We shouldn't take non-attendance at a meeting not announced on the
mailing list as demonstration that no one cares. Who wants a field day?
I plan to camp out at some field day, and would rather do it with BARC.


> Evidently the
> distance between the two sites (about 450 meters) is beyond the limit for
> merging sites (about 300 meters).  

I'm afraid so. If we wanted to have a token presense at Larz with contest
transmitters within 300m, we'd need to pitch tents and public info booth by
the pond, and have main operation in Dexter's courtyard. From the NW flank of
Larz hill on offer, the road is barely in the 300m circle. Alternatively, we
could have just tents and public info at Larz -- or use a separate callsign
and work all comers. If we have enough folks excited to do two, which seems
doubtful.

*ORGANIZATION*
We need someone to take charge of the project, since rumor has it that
President Paul is not acting FD chairman anymore.  

Mark has suggested we can cut the complexity of planning (and cost) if we make
it bring-your-own-food -- we've sent out for pizza years before, passing the
hat; that could work, and cut the work. , and if someone else brings a grill,
I will cook breakfast again.  (If it's small enough, I could try doing
pancakes on my own small camp stove, but I only supply camp coffee and
pancakes and one pan, so it's slow too.)   The most important things are *
water and * dessert for the take-down crew. (Note that our Dessert chef moved
to Vermont, we need a new dessert chef.) 

I'm still interested in setting up a VHF station. My HF rig hasn't worked
since the last time it went to FD, so unless I get to Len's Workshop between
now and then, it's not available.

We need to discuss this on this List and on the Friday/Monday nets, and come
to a quick conclusion.

73

Bill