[FieldDay] Field Day Changes

[Tom Pennebaker]

Well Anthony let me ease your mind from the get-go, my flame thrower broke
awhile back, hope it is 50 feet down at the county landfill !
I'm sure conditions are vastly different geographically...so one idea
doesn't fit all. I'm 100% CW. A diehard contester. I just can't imagine
sitting at a station at fieldday and not trying to make all the contacts I
possibly can. I think we had to make one of two decisions, did we want to
socialize or did we want to contest, I think contesting won out. Although we
did have some good socializing....yep food helped on that one.
I've been the fieldday guru for our county for the last three years. This
year we were 1st in NC, 1st USA in the 150 watt class. 2A battery.  Not bad
for what I had to work with. We could have done much better but had several
"no-shows".
The only club we have is a repeater group...."Ham Shack on a Belt"
mentality. I can't go to a meeting and talk cw, contesting, hf, satellite,
digital modes, I would get blank stares of wonderment.The only reason the
club is still solvent is because we meet at a restaurant. Take away the food
and no club.
There are four of us in the county that have contesting in our blood. I
think this year it will be just the four of us. Maybe qrp solar power.
Haven't tried that one yet.
I have an inside shot at publicity, we really did well in the local papers.
Got front page exposure. Did not have one non-ham visitor.
All your ideas have merit. I think one has to work with the cards they are
dealt. It will be interesting to see what the ARRL changes. Hope it's for
the better, whatever it is.....Tom N4RS