[HCRA] Food @ Field Day
[email protected]
kx1x at comcast.net
Wed Mar 10 13:27:59 EST 2010
Just a quick(?) response to the thread on Food for Field Day.
It was not that long ago that we began having Field Day at Dufresne Park. With the large pavilion, it became easy to have that 'large food production,' and the event took off as the social event of the season for HCRA. The social event was something that the club sorely needed, and that the membership really wanted.
During that time, we would have all kinds of people coming down to visit -- some to help, some just to watch, some just to eat and enjoy the friendly company that was HCRA. I remember one Field Day years ago where we fed over 50 people a great Roast Beef dinner.
This was at a time when the park rental fee was actually reasonable. The club highly subsidized the food purchase and we had member donations of drinks and snacks. The financial picture has changed, the park has become the premier financial expenditure for the club each year. Because of that, food "tickets" had to be sold at an increased price. As the ticket price has risen, the amount of people coming just to eat has diminished, and so the status of this event as a "social" event has also diminished.
Larry suggests below that "Moochers are not welcome" and that we should limit the number of people who come just for the food. I respectfully disagree with that assertion and would amend it to suggest that people that come just for the food and to visit the Field day site and fellow hams ARE welcome. It is the people who do not help pay for the food and drink that they consume while at Field Day who should 1) be ashamed of themselves, and 2) not attend.
With all that being said, I believe that it is time to adjust the way we do things. The day of that big meal and a $25 food ticket is gone. The question is, "Now What?"
The question is not just about Field Day. The question also calls out what the HCRA intends to do about its "social" status. It is not hard to see that membership is starting a decline. This is a bad trend that should be addressed. I, for one, believe the decline of Field Day as a "social event" and the decline in HCRA membership are linked.
Is Field Day the place to have that "social event?" I think not. I think people should concentrate on setting up, operating, and tearing down on Field Day, and leave it as an operating event for those who want to operate.
Should HCRA have another "social event" during the summer? I answer with a resounding YES!!!! I believe we need a social event that costs little or nothing to the membership, as a membership benefit. This suggestion entails some work, such as getting donations and other activity to reduce cost.
Just my opinion.
Kx1x
----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Krainson" <computercare at comcast.net>
To: westcoastbayou at gmail.com, HCRA at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 8:45:10 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [HCRA] Food @ Field Day
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Sounds like a GREAT idea Matt. As I mentioned in a earlier email to Jim and
maybe the list (not sure if it went there), back in the 80's when I rant he
MTARA FD's we used to do just that and it worked perfectly. It also kept the
people that came just for the FOOD to a minimum. Moochers aren't welcome.
Larry, WB1DBY
----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt Wilhelm" <westcoastbayou at gmail.com>
To: <HCRA at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 7:53 PM
Subject: Re: [HCRA] Food @ Field Day
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Howdy Everyone,
As requested by Jim KK1W of all of us at the last meeting, I thought
I'd add my 2 cents in about food at field day. This will be my first
field day with HCRA, so please remember that as you read this. It
seems to me that based on the response from others (unless it's been
off list) that food probably isn't the 1st priority at field day.
Large food productions end up being a ton of work for someone and cost
the club a lot of money so it seems to me, if people aren't knocking
down the door with preferences on food, that we should really evaluate
if a big expensive food production is the right thing to do.
Unless someone convinces me otherwise, I think my preference would be
one sit down together kind of meal on Saturday evening for dinner with
something like hamburgers and/or hotdogs with chips and sodas and then
maybe a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning. Lunch both days could be
simple brown bags brought by individuals or assembled by volunteers
from the club. And then everything else could be provided by members
for themselves. The reason a Saturday dinner sounds good is that it
provides a few moments for everyone to get together and talk about
their experiences that day, then get back to operating. And if you
are at all like me, it takes a bit of grub and a gallon of coffee to
get me moving in the morning. Like I said, I'm new to this HCRA event
but when I think about what sounds good for me and fiscally good for
the club, this is it.
Thanks,
Matt/W1MSW
Anyone else?
On Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 6:27 PM, <k1jaw at usa.com> wrote:
> ______________________________________________
> -------Hampden County Radio Association-------
> -----------e-mail list (reflector)-------------
> ______________________________________________
>
> Very niceindeed Larry. I thoroughly enjoyed the pics of your hill
> toppingexperience and would like to consider a contest for best hill
> topping pic takenin 2010. Whatcha think?
>
>
> Jim - re: Food at the FD. I typically don't eat food at such activities
> (including family picnics) unless it issimple such as mix type pancakes
> (notscratch), preservative laden items such as franks, or sealeditems like
> chips. Just a quirk of mine. Sorry but you did ask for feedback. I am
> satisfied just being a brown-bagger.
>
> Enjoy Boxboro. I had a blast two years ago, met some great folks, and ate
> too much. Didn't buy everything that I wanted but I did buy everything
> that I needed. Unfortunately, I have a conflict this year. See you in two
> years......
>
> On the QRP Front ...... The next New Jersey QRP 4 hour home brew sprint is
> March 21st. www.njqrp.org/data/qrphomebrewersprint.html I missed thelast
> two but I will be <1 Watt on 40m for this one. I need to find a nicerhill
> somewhere local. Ideas welcomed. Antenna will be 40M dipolewith new coax.
> Lets fire up those rockmites!!!!!!!!!! If you are not a contester, this
> one is for you.
>
>
>
> Also, the North American QRP CW Club is running a fun month-long contest.
> Check out the rules at
> http://home.windstream.net/yoel/challenges201003.html. This is another one
> for us NON- contesting types - just fun!!!!
>
>
> (Daylight savings time begins March 14th)
>
>
> Jim k1jaw
> Experience QRP
>
>
>
>
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