[InHam] INARRL BULLETIN 009-2005

[Brian - KB9BVN]

INARRL BULLETIN 009-2005
16:53PM 06/19/2005 de KB9BVN

Dear Field Day Participants:

Turn back the clock of your mind to your very first Field Day experience.

Many of us were in our youth. We were probably newly licensed or just
introduced to the world of amateur radio and an Elmer or friend was trying to
get us "hooked". Sunshine and thunderstorms went hand-in-hand with generators
and raising a make-shift antenna system. And like most of us, the experiences
of your first Field Day have kept you coming back year after year.

What is Field Day? Ask ten hams and you will likely get ten different sets of
details. But somewhere along the way, you will certainly hear the words
"emergency preparedness" and "fun" because these two themes are central to
this annual rite of summer.

One focus of Field Day 2005 is getting youth involved. To accomplish this, a
"Youth Element" bonus has been added the event. Groups are encouraged to
invite youth groups (ages 18 and under) to participate in Field Day. Any group
earns bonus points by having youth participants (age 18 or under) completing
one Field Day QSO. Wait a minute!!! Did you say "any group" can earn the
bonus? An emphatic YES!!!

Beginning in 2005, all groups are eligible for at least some of the bonus
points. Obviously some bonuses don't apply to all (such as Class D can't claim
emergency power) but bonus points are now available to all groups. Make sure
you carefully read Field Day Rule 7.3!

One further change is a cap on the number of bonus points a group can claim
for transmitters under emergency power. A maximum of 2,000 points (twenty
transmitters) may be claimed by appropriate groups under Rule 7.3.1. Of course
your group can still have a higher classification (say 35A or the like) but
the maximum number of bonus points for this rule is now 2,000.

Don't overlook the opportunity to submit your Field Day Summary
electronically. Simply go to www.b4h.net/cabforms and select the Field Day
form. You may input your summary information at that site for a 50-point
bonus. If you use this site, remember that you must still submit your dupe
sheets and proofs of bonus points either via email (to fieldday at arrl.org) or
by regular mail to the ARRL.

We are pleased that historic station K6KPH will once again be on-the-air
augmenting the W1AW Field Day bulletin with several transmissions from the
West Coast. Look for the complete details on the W1AW schedule page in these
rules.

Finally, remember that the Online Soapbox (www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox) has
become one of the most popular additions to Field Day. Make sure you share
your group's Field Day story and photos with the rest of us by posting to that
site.
June 25-26 is coming soon. See you on the air for Field Day 2005!

73
Dan Henderson, N1ND
ARRL Contest Branch Manager
n1nd at arrl.org



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Brian Murrey - KB9BVN
KB9BVN at arrl.net
Indiana Section Bulletin Manager
(317)535-9887
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