[HCRA] Field Day Countdown - FD-1

[Jim Mullen]

Jumpin' J-Poles CW Man, did you know Field Day is only one day away?
That's right Mikeshy. Setup starts today at 2:00 PM - gather up your tools
and head over to Dufresne Park in Granby, MA for for fun and excitement.

Of course what CW Man and his sidekick Mike Shy are talking about is ARRL
Field Day - 2011. Hopefully this isn't news, but just a reminder to finish
up all the things you've been working on, pull out of work early (who wants
to work anyway) and have fun in the 'sun' this weekend. Yep, the weather is
slowly changing, rain and showers are slipping from the forecast and the
weekend should end on a high note. Still, a rain poncho and hat could be
recommended 'emergency equipment' - right?

Still wondering what FD is all about? Here's a link that will tell you
everything you need to know: http://www.arrl.org/field-day

If you're hungry you can start by visiting the group at Brown Baggers this
noon at the Common Grounds in West Springfield. (
http://commongroundrestaurant.com/web/) There you will find some of the BB
regulars as well as a small contingent of Field Day participants. Enjoy a
nice meal and head to Dufresne Park where we will be setting up towers,
building antennas, shooting support lines into the trees (BOOM), running
cable, setting up food tables, etc.

The fun continues tomorrow morning with breakfast and then back to work
finishing setup A nice lunch served around noontime and we start operating
at 2:00 PM tomorrow (Saturday) until 2:00 PM on Sunday. Then we take it all
down and pack it away for FD 2012.

This is a perfect opportunity for both new and old hams, as well as
unlicensed folk, to get a taste of amateur radio. See how amateurs can
communicate without the backbone of utility or communications we're normally
used to. During the tornado of June 1 amateurs were at times the only way
information was getting out of the affected areas. All stations will have
control operators so no matter what your license class (or even unlicensed)
you can get on the air.

Food is on the house all weekend long for all HCRA members and a guest.
Donations of course are gladly accepted. We'll have greeters to help explain
what's going on, an information table, the chance to send messages to
friends and family with amateur radio, a course in how to use Power Pole
connectors and the chance to operate phone (voice) CW (Morse Code) and
digital (RTTY) radio stations.

There's lots to do at the park as well including hiking trails and a
children's playground.

Still not convinced? Visit the Field Day page on our website and look at
some of the fun and excitement from previous years:
http://www.hcra.org/fieldday.htm

Don't forget to visit our facebook page over the weekend to. I'm sure many
members will be posting setup pictures throughout the day. Not a member of
the HCRA facebook page yet? You can sign up here:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_13909010799&ap=1

And for those of you that are 'sick and tired' of these incessant Field Day
messages. They will most likely stop very soon as we'll all be at Field Day
having fun - won't you join us?

'73 and thanks for all your support of HCRA Field Day,

Jim/KK1W