[ILHam] Come out to FIELD DAY! And Please Bring a Friend!

[Neil R. Ormos N9NL]

CQ FIELD DAY!  CQ FIELD DAY!

Dear Illinois Hams:

Come on out to ARRL® Field Day, the annual exercise that combines emergency communications preparedness, fun, operating skills, creative problem solving, the installation of antennas in the most unlikely places, fun, fellowship, friendly rivalries with other clubs, good food, sunburn, mosquitos, and fun!

ARRL® Field Day is the largest Amateur Radio emergency communications exercise, and will be held this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, June 23 and 24.

Amateur radio operators (or "hams") numbering in the tens of thousands, throughout the US and Canada, will demonstrate their emergency communications capabilities by trying to contact as many other stations as possible over a 24 to 27 hour period, using emergency power sources and temporary stations and antennas erected in the field for this event. Many hams participate in this event as part of a local amateur radio club or emergency communications volunteer group. Some clubs/groups operate at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) of a government or other served agency, instead of building stations in the field.

Field Day is not just for experienced hams. Visiting a club/group Field Day operation is a great way for new hams to learn more about emergency communications and to meet other hams in their neighborhood. And Field Day is an excellent introduction to ham radio for the general public.

I encourage all amateurs, and prospective amateurs, to participate in this fun and educational emergency communications exercise. Most clubs/groups will be delighted to welcome you as a visitor, even if you're not a member of the group, and even if you're not a licensed ham.

And when you come out to Field Day, PLEASE BRING A FRIEND! We all know some good candidates for a visit to Field Day.  An inactive ham, perhaps one who has strayed away.  A ham without an HF station, perhaps someone living where an HF antenna is not permitted.  A non-ham neighbor or co-worker who has expressed an interest in electronics or communications technology.

Several large clubs are at new locations this year; others are trying new modes, techniques, and antennas this year.  So there's plenty new to see, even if you think you've "seen it all".

Maps and additional information on club/group Field Day operations in Illinois in 2012 are available at the Illinois and Chicago-Area Field Day Directory:

  <http://fieldday.n9nl.com/>

Also, the ARRL has a Field Day Locator Map at:

  <http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator>

Wishing everyone a fun, successful, and safe Field Day,

73

--Neil Ormos N9NL
ARES® District Emergency Coordinator
Amateur Radio Emergency Service
ARES District 4 (Cook, DuPage, Lake Counties)
Email: n9nl /at-sign/ arrl.net