[HCRA] Field Day Recap

[Jim Harrington]

Hello to all,

	I would like to thank all those people that made this Field Day special. God for the weather, and all our set-up, take down personnel. All the operators! I say it that way because when I went to come out at 2:30 A.M. We had 4 people standing outside of the 40 phone station, 4 operators in the pavilion, three standing under the GOTA antenna, and people using the GOTA station! We had many new faces, many old friends that returned, and a group of Hams that were second to none!
	Now a word on the food. I'm a rooky at being Chairman of Field Day and I was a little leery of the food service, yes even with my wife overseeing the operation. Dave W1FAB, his wife Mary, Sue, wife of KB1NWH, and Rene, daughter of Tuc,and Kathy made a fantastic team. I could not ask for more effort nor better food. You guys, (there it goes again Sue) done good! :) They started the weekend saying how they were wrangled into serving (mostly by me). By the end of Field Day they were overheard making plans to meet to talk about next year and how to make it better! 
	Now on to the news, we scored big this year with spots on WWLP 22 and CBS 2 out of Springfield. A story on Thursday in the WEEKEND magazine of the Republican paved the way to inviting visitors to Field Day. But I can't figure why the Republican sent a reporter to our Field Day and wrote a story on Southwick with a mention of our location and a picture of KX1X at Dufrense! The reporter was around for an hour without introducing herself as D.L. Stevens did in past years. 
	Field Day is for Hams, to show what we know to the country, to our visitors, our friends, and ourselves. Yes, it's a mix of contesting, of knowledge, and comradery. We remembered all. I heard very few complaints. One was a person stayed away from Field Day because it wasn't contesting, while another said he stayed way because it was a contest. So I figure we broke even. 
	We had planned to have a meeting after Field Day to go over what we, I, did wrong, or could do better. The things you may think we might do better doing a different way. Or what you thought went right, and maybe we could do even better! So in keeping with some wishes of our Field Day members I'm proposing the following dates: Thursday June 28th, Friday June 29th, or Tuesday July 10th. I'd like the sooner the better, but it's short notice. Next week is the week at the 4th and it's a traditional week for vacations. The place is Basharia's on route 5 in West Springfield, just north of I-91. So this is not a pole it's a reply to this group or to me KB1JVF at ARRL.net or jldhjr at verizon.net. 
	Well that's all folks, Thanks again for all the help, and making this Field Day the best.. 
Yours
Jim KB1JVF