[QCWA] WMPLOTA Seriously

[Tom Loughney]

There is some potential for this to be widely beneficial. I expect if you contacted the Store Manager or perhaps better the Regional Manager (who would be over 10-20 stores typically) and discussed this you could get the OK to stake out a spot in the corner of the lot (or on the grid line) and put up a small 10x10 canopy for some shade and a few chairs. You could hand out literature on the hobby, satellite communications, how to get licensed and what else you can do. (All free from the ARRL for the cost of shipping). Maybe a HF rig with a simple vertical would give some more dimension to it. This is the same weekend as the Florida QSO Party which is pretty heavily participated in, although no Sat contacts, only 10-15-20-40. I would look for a weekend without a state QSO party or other large contest. I know those are hard to find. Sat passes are also finicky in some areas (like South Florida). If you have a portable tracking system with an AZ-EL rotor and antennas it is impressive to the public. 
This is something that would get easier OK from WalMart Corp with AMSAT behind it and maybe ARRL. They could do announcements over the in store PA and maybe have signage at the entrances and exits. This gets them free publicity and hams free publicity. And if things are planned enough in advance there could be a number of ISS contacts as well. With thousands of stores there is some definite potential for this in the US and places like Mexico and elsewhere that they have stores.
Just my 2 cents worth.
73 & 47,Tom AJ4XMQCWA, SBE and IEEE MemberARRL Life MemberARRL Southern Florida Section Youth Coordinator and Technical Specialist