[MIham] Mini-Swaps (Mini-Hamfest) returning to Grand Rapids Area

[Jack Amelar]

           START SPREADING THE NEWS!

Mini-Swaps coming back to the Grand Rapids area!

The Lowell Amateur Radio Club http://www.w8lrc.org/ is pleased to announce the summer 2007
series of Asphalt Adventure mini-hamfests.

First one STARTING SATURDAY, APRIL 14. Setup 9AM, begin 10AM "until it ends", figure
sometime past noon.

Here's the deal. The monthly LARC meeting will begin at 9, the swap immediately follows at
10. (Visitors always welcome at our meetings)
Location, just outside the new shack, 11435 Fulton St E (Hwy-M21), West end of Lowell,
between Cumberland Dr and Alden Nash Dr. Same location as the FLAT RIVER OUTREACH MINISTRIES
THRIFT STORE.
Former location of Cumberland Manor.
Yahoo Map:
http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?addr=11435+Fulton+St+E&csz=49331&country=us&new=1&name=&qt
y=

What is a mini-swap? It’s a small version of a Hamfest. Not nearly the planning or
advertising that goes into a full fledged Hamfest, you don’t have a variety of commercial
vendors. But their cheep to put on and fun.

Advantages of a mini-swap at this location, besides being where the LARC Ham shack is
located:
Lots of traffic passing by on Hwy M-21. Signs will be placed to attract spectators.
Co-located with the Thrift Store, which also opens at 10.
Set-up is on a circle drive in front of the building, out of the way of other building
traffic on main driveway, yet easily seen from the main driveway as well as Hwy M-21.
Just outside the windows of the LARC ham shack. If you need electricity, bring your own
cord.

What's the catch? Sure we'd like to raise a couple bucks with this FUNdraiser, but we
certainly don't have grandeurs of cleaning up either.
ADMISSION IS FREE.
Sellers are asked to contribute $10 per setup*. (Please read statement at bottom)
Considering the location, with no admission fee, lots of drive by traffic, potential
shoppers from the Thrift Store, that's really a good deal.
Coffee, pop, and donuts available. Sellers get free coffee.

TALK-IN: 145.27-(94.8Hz) Lowell (naturally) repeater.

Here's the summer 2007 schedule:

April 14, Saturday

May - since the second Saturday in May, the 12th, is also the same day as the 53rd River
Bank Run, lots of hams needed for communications support, the LARC membership is being
polled on the best course. The Saturday before is Cadillac Hamfest
http://members.fortunecity.com/wexaukee/warc_hamfest.htm and Holland's mini-swap
http://www.hollandarc.org/?page_id=30 . The Saturday following is Hamvention(c)
http://www.hamvention.org/ . So  the choices are have it anyway on the 12th, the following
day Sunday the 13th (Thrift Store closed) or skip May altogether. The problem with skipping
May is June is skipped because of IRA's Hamfestival. Stay tuned!

June - NO mini-swap, enjoy the IRA's Hamfestival at Hudsonville Fairgrounds, Saturday, June
2. http://www.w8hvg.org/IRAfest2k.htm

July 14, Saturday

August 11, Saturday

September - NO mini-swap, enjoy GRARA's GRAHamfest 2ØØ7 at Kent County Fairgrounds, Lowell,
Saturday, September 8. http://www.grahamfest.org/

October 13, Saturday

*SETUP: We really don't want to get into fine details here. Your open trunk, with or without
your buddies = 1 Setup. Your open trunk next to your buddy's open trunk = 2 setups. Your van
with trailer with a bunch of tables = 1 Setup. You get the idea. If there's a disagreement
on what constitutes a setup, you win. Can't get better than that.
WHAT TO SELL: In respect to the co-located Thrift Store, who's owners have granted us
permission to pursue our mini-swaps (its their property after all), LARC must insist that
items offered for sale be radio-electronics and related items only. General household items
sold at the Thrift Store should not be sold at our swap meet (however, TVs radios stereos
computers, anything electronics is OK). If you have good general household items to dispose
of, please consider donating to the Flat River Outreach Ministries Thrift Store. F.R.O.M. is
a 501c3 organization.

Let's have fun, see you there.

More information, contact:
Jack Amelar
E-mail: mailto:jamelar at localnet.com
Phone-Home: (616)897-6885
     -Office/Days: (616)493-8736

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