[ILHam] FW: Emergency Communications Exercise-Public is Invited

[Mike D.]

SRRC Field DAy
VE session 10-noon Saturday
Ops 1pm Saturday to 1 pm Sunday



Media Advisory

For Immediate Release

News Summary: Starved Rock Radio Club Hams Gear Up to Set Long Distance
Contact Records and Practice Emergency Communication Skills

(Ottawa, June 17, 2003) -- Starved Rock Radio Club (SRRC) Amateur Radio
operators will work 'round the clock the weekend of June 28 to set up
field radio communication stations, get on the air, and contact thousands of
other operators in the US and Canada as part of participation in the
American Radio Relay League's Field Day.

According to Joe Tokarz of the SRRC, Field Day is the annual "shakedown run"
for the ARRL's National Field Organization. "Field Day is a way for hams to
get outdoors and have fun under some difficult conditions," Joe says. "But
it's also a chance to fine-tune emergency communication skills. We use
generators and battery power, and we set up antennas in the field. The idea
is to put together a self-sufficient, working station quickly and begin
making contacts."

The ARRL Field Organization has been effective in establishing emergency
communications nets during floods, hurricanes, fires, earthquakes and other
major disasters. Members of formal emergency organizations such as the
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the Radio Amateur Communication
Emergency Services (RACES) regularly participate. The League estimates that
more than 35,000 hams participate in Field Day every year.

SRRC Field Day operations will be at Chief Shabbona County Park just North
of Ottawa. Set up begins Saturday at 8am.

The public is invited. For more information, contact Joe Tokarz
815.433-2347.

Summary: Starved Rock Radio Club (SRRC) Amateur Radio operators to contact
thousands of other hams throughout North America in nation's largest ham
radio on-air event.
                                    ###

Who: Licensed Amateur Radio Operators of the Starved Rock Radio Club.

What: Hams will set up and operate field radio stations to contact other
hams throughout the US and Canada over 24 hours. Objective is to see who can
make the highest number of contacts during the contest period.

Where: Chief Shabbona County Park: take I-80 to IL 23 North to N 42nd Road
(about 12 miles North of I-80). Turn left (West) on N 42nd Rd and in about 2
miles you'll turn left to the Park.

When: Saturday June 28 and Sunday June 29, 2003

Why: Participation in the American Radio Relay League's Field Day. Amateur
Radio operators practice communication skills under primitive conditions,
with generator and battery-powered equipment and portable antennas. Special
awards are given for "alternative" power sources such as solar, wind and
methane. Field Day is a competition as well as a "trial run" for emergency
communication skills used during disaster situations.

Photo opportunities, interviews, activities of local participants in
important national Amateur Radio event. See all Amateur Radio communication
modes in action, including voice, code, packet radio and satellite.