[GVARC] Field Day site this year

[Fahrlander, Frank]

Hi all,

This year we failed to secure Doe Flat campground on Fremont as our =
Field Day site. Eric Hilding has been very helpful in securing a =
possible location that is high and has a good view to the east.=20

The location is owned by a ham (CW op too!) who is interested in =
allowing the club to use his property only if he participates in the =
event (this is great!) and that access to the site is restricted and =
limited to registered participants. This would require you to commit to =
your involvement more formally than in previous years. That is actually =
a positive thing because we want to man the stations more rigorously =
this year to double our score from last year!

The site is unimproved. I am getting a quote on a tow able portable =
toilet. We would also need to bring our own water and tables as well as =
the usual stuff. The site is on Summit Road,  near the KSBW tower. There =
are a few trees for wire antenna support but I think the club needs to =
purchase some push up masts to be able to have more flexibility and be =
able to have a sufficient number of good antennas to support our =
intended 3 HF stations.=20

The location is accessible by passenger car without problems. The road =
to the location is paved road except for the last 3 miles which is a =
graded dirt road with a couple of places where there are some ruts to =
avoid.  The location is at about the same elevation at Fremont peak but =
has a clearer access to the east.

The arrangement for use of the site requires we have each person who is =
going to participate register before hand. This is to make sure that the =
area isn't overloaded and that we respect the control of the area by the =
home owners.

The property owner and I have talked and we agree that we want to have a =
clear understanding of how this will work before either of us commit to =
using it. I also am seeking inputs from club members and sufficient =
support from the club before we commit to this operation.=20

If desire to participate in this year's Field Day at such a location, =
please let me know now.  If you have objections or would definitely not =
prefer to do it at such a location, let me know as well.

I will be getting more facts together and discussing guidelines with the =
property owner such as parking limits, access process and the like.  =
When I have it ready I will post it here.  I am hoping for a decision by =
our next club meeting on March 27th.

Besides this location, there are three other possibilities that exist.  =
I am hoping to get proposals/decisions on these soon as well:

   1. Christmas Hill Park
   2. Henry Coe Park
   3. Santa Teresa Park

I personally like the Summit Road possibility for several reasons and I =
am recommending it. I like it because it a great contest location and we =
are likely to do better in the contest. I also like the folks Eric and I =
met in our search of the location. The neighbors love this land and =
naturally want to protect it but they also are giving people and have =
opened up to support our activity. Most of these folks are members of =
the Ormsby Fire Brigade that fought diligently in the Croy fire. I think =
this is an opportunity to help this community, actually.  There are some =
fine young people in the neighborhood who would be coming by to see ham =
radio in action and this hobby has been a good influence in my life and =
so I can't help but think this event might nurture some interest in some =
of these young adults.  Also, I would propose that the club would donate =
a small gift to the Ormsby Fire Brigade as a gesture of thanks for use =
of the area. This fire station is totally volunteer funded and needs =
support.

73,   frank