[HCRA] Field Day Equipment Party (and Field Day too!)

[Jim - KK1W]

Well gang, the end of June is fast approaching and you know what that means?
Field Day, the HCRA way.

 

Before we talk in detail about Field Day I would like to thank Ed, KB1NWH,
for putting together the equipment check-out party tomorrow. It is members
like Ed that help the rest of us get off our duff and get something
accomplished. I hope a good many of you are able to show up tomorrow at Ed's
house. You don't need to be an expert, or even have experience. All you need
is a genuine desire to learn more about our fascinating hobby and a
willingness to pitch in to make a better experience for everyone. Isn't that
what HCRA is all about? As a group we can offer the opportunities but it
really is up to you to make it happen. Hopefully I'll see many of you at
Ed's tomorrow.

 

Now on to Field Day. If you haven't experienced a Field Day then you really
need to mark your calendar for the last weekend in June (the 27th and 28th)
so you can come over to Dufresne Park in Granby, MA and learn all about it.
ARRL Field Day is the premier operating event for ham radio nationwide. It
is when we, as amateurs, are able to demonstrate to the general public how
effective we can be in providing communications in times of emergency. I
won't even attempt to describe Field Day in detail, that has already been
done by people way smarter and more eloquent than me. Learn more about it
straight from the horse's mouth by pointing your browser to:
http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/ and read what ARRL has to say
about the event. If you have a desire to see how HCRA does Field Day take a
look at our website and see pictures, scores and comments from the last 7
years. Click on the 'Field Day' link on the HCRA home page or simply:
http://www.hcra.org/fieldday.htm. 

 

HCRA really does a nice Field Day. The location at Dufresne Park is
gorgeous, offering not only great antenna supports, all the space we need
and a pavilion with rest rooms but has hiking trails, a frog pond and play
sets for the kids. it really has it all. As a club we go all out, erecting
wire antennas, towers, installing generators and running power to the
stations, erecting housing (tents, campers, etc.) for the operators to set
up their stations plus food served in a club picnic atmosphere. All we need
to make it even better is YOU! Your participation, no matter at what level,
will determine how much fun everyone has this June. You can do whatever
strikes your fancy. If you like to put up antennas, string cable and set up
tents, we have a place for you. Operate, no problem, we have you covered.
Cook, cleanup or just general help where needed, we need you there as well.
Just want to hang around, talk with your friends and watch ham radio in
action, we need you to do that too. I think you get the idea by now, come on
down, watch, maybe stick your toe in the water just a little and learn how
much fun you can have.

 

We are right now at the beginning of getting the whole thing together. John,
Kx1x has volunteered to guide us through FD 2009. He's got some people
slotted already but he could use YOUR help as well. Now isn't the time to
sit on the sidelines, now is the time to make some time for enjoyment at the
end of June. Don't hang back, the worst thing you can do is nothing at all,
everything else is a bonus! 

 

In addition to this mailing list there is a separate Field Day Yahoo Group
dedicated to just Field Day planning. Watch the preparations unfold for
FD2009 by looking at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hcra-fd/. Like what you
see? Join up and pitch in. Also the FD page on the HCRA web site will be
changing soon and often as well. Be sure to check our web site often to view
the latest information.

 

I know we have a lot of new members this year. I strongly believe if you are
one of the 'newbies' spending a few minutes, hours or days at Field Day will
really give you an opportunity to experience a wide array of exciting
things with your new found hobby. More than anything else you can view Field
Day as a learning experience. Any day we can go home with more knowledge
than we started out with is indeed a good day!

 

Thanks for you time, '73 for now and see you at Field Day!

 

Jim, KK1W