[CTSARA] Unofficial, SARA Field Day Final Point Total as submitted to the ARRL ...

[ranceiii at aol.com]

Fellow club members,

Please pardon the delay in getting out the SARA final point total for Field Day.

I want to thank everyone who participated as operators, logistical supporters, and all club members who showed up to support the club in its effort.

There are so many stories to tell about those that made our final point total possible I could write a book about it.  (Hell, I just might!)

Like John Sabini, who started our emergence from the FD point total basement 4 years ago by suggesting we put a sign-up sheet and tracking grid for FD on the club web sight to get better organize our effort.

Like Kathy, Tina, Bugs and Donna, who, along with Tonny O'Conner in pseudo command of the GOTA tent, and all the folks who acted as GOTA mentors, surpassed the 1,000
point quota I guaranted back in May. 

Or our new el Presidente for life, Jon P., who looked at the bonus point opportunities and at the last moment found a way to pick up 200 extra points for digital traffic passing.

Or my 3 tent captains, Andy, Adam and Jon S. who all did amazing jobs of running their stations.

And Chris and Jon S., who tie for the MacIver (sp?) award for their ability to troubleshoot and improvise when s*** happened.

And to Ernest, who did his usual behind-the-scenes work, acting as the mortar between all the bricks. You would have to see him in action with me virtually every day I worked on FD to see how significant his role was in our FD success, as well as our club's survival.  And the breakfeast he fed us along with John S. on Sunday helped guarantee the final sprint to the finish line would be a good one.  And let me tell you, that was what put us over the top.

Best motivational quote of the weeked goes to Adam.  At 1:30 in the afternoon, with 30 minutes left, I'm sitting in the 20 meter tent with Matt Canil, who's been abusing the microphone and his vocal chords all night.

Matt looks at me, and says something to me like, "I hope you don't mind, bit I've got nothing left, I think I'll stop now."  My resonse was, "Matt, you've done more that your share of the work.  That's fine by me"

Adam looks at him jokingly, and says 'Matt, how can you stop now, there's still a half an hour left?

Matt all of sudden sprang to life, and once again started calling CQ.

I'll give a real speech at the picnic that will break down the whole effort for you, and give the credit to everyone that's due.

And I do apologize to everyone I managed to verbally abuse or piss off.  

So, thanks to both Ernest and Chet for comforting me when I began to feel guilty about all the folks I believed I had pissed off.

I believe it was Chet who said, "Geeze, if there hasn't been any arguments, swearing bouts or fights, than you haven't had a real Field day".

Final thanks to Fred, who shares in this victory as the man that kept this club together for so many years when we were on the downside.  I dedicate this score to him.

And remember this, you need never be embarrased to say you're affiliated with this club ever again! 

OK, enough of the BS, click on the attachments tab to see the final statistics, but I warn you, sit down, and if you have pets or relatives that are scared of load noises, make them go to the other side of the house.

73,

PS And yes, Franklyn, I will be bring the Red Stripe, but I will not dance.  (Inside joke!)