[FARC] 2005 Father's Day Hamfest Success

[Scott Galbraith]

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Well, hello to all. I wanted to get out a fairly quick update to everyone on the preliminary results of the hamfest. All in all, the perception of most on the committee is that the fest was bigger than last year. The indoor commercial vending was definitely better. The tailgate requirements extended past our formal space rental and I believe that it was the same or larger than last year. A few have commented that they thought it was smaller - but that may have been a perception due to the different layout (the fence area not being used) and the lack of parked gen admission cars nearby creating a more "open look" area. Some attendees complained that they thought parking was further from the activities. For some areas it was, however the while the walk was longer, it was more level or even down hill to the vending areas and the change definitely had the desired effect of getting more attendees in to the main building.

I do not have final ticket counts from Carolyn yet or a "net" on financials, but our gross was up.

The revised layout did cause some confusion and I appreciate everyone's patience in dealing with it. In general, we got good feedback on the changes. One of the biggest problems seemed to center around inadequate signage and we'll have to work to improve that for next year.

Having an additional gate to staff created a need for more volunteers and we REALLY appreciate everyone who was able to step up and help out. A special thanks goes to those who worked the gates and to the CAP for helping to control the flow. I will put together a list of volunteers who signed in and get it checked by others on the committee to try to insure that we did not miss anyone. If you helped out and don't remember signing an attendance sheet, please send me an email. Once we feel we have everyone accounted for, we will hold a drawing for a volunteer door prize.

Having amateur equipment as our main prizes this year also seemed to be well received. We were selling additional chance tickes for the main prizes and those went fairly well. I think that practice will go better next year. Two of the main prizes were, in fact, won by "additional chance" tickets. Additionally, all equipment prizes were won by licensed hams!

CONGRATULATIONS! to the Prize winners as follows:
1) Grand prize was the Icom IC-718 HF rig with DSP and an AC power supply.
	This was won by James O'Neal, AG4DH, of Alexandria, VA
2) Second prize was the Icom IC-208 dual band VHF/UHF mobile rig
	This was won by Ernie Gelpi, NI3D, of Somerset, PA
3) Third prize was an Icom IC-T2H VHF handheld
	This was won by Seth Gottlieb, KB3LLV, of Bethesda, MD
4) Fourth prize was an Icom IC-T2H VHF handleld
	This was won by Eldon Geiman, KA3ZKU, of Greencastle, PA

Thanks again to everyone for your assistance. Without a good group of volunteers and lots of hard work, this event would not happen. Thank you also to everyone who attended and helped make the fest a continued success.


-- 

73 de Scott Galbraith
N3OK, Frederick County, MD
FM19ji
ARRL, QCWA 30013, GERATOL 2198, PVRC
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