[South Florida DX Association] Forums at the Tampa Bay Hamfest

[Bill Marx]

Hello to all the amateur radio clubs in West Central Florida,

My name is Bill Williams, AG4QX, and I am the forums chairman for the
32nd version of the Tampa Bay Hamfest and ARRL West Central Florida
Section Convention in the Manatee Convention Center on Dec 1 & 2.  I am
writing to remind you of your hamfest but more than that, to introduce
you to the forums that will be available.

On Saturday:

AMSAT, MARS, The Florida Repeater Council and the Florida Contest Group
will all have meeting, all of which are open to all interested parties.

The ARRL West Central Florida Section forum will have representatives
from both the Division and Headquarters in attendance in addition to our
Section Officials.  Visit and meet your elected officials.  Ask
questions and hear the latest from Headquarters.

Speaking of ARRL Headquarters, Katie Breen, W1KRB, the League Membership
Manger will give her Tour of Headquarters presentation which proved to
be very popular at the National Convention in Huntington.  Katie will
also be in the ARRL forum later.

D-Star will have an open house room all day.  Greg Sarrett, our newly
elected Division Director and past Alabama Section Manager will give his
Intro to D-Star forum in the morning and the room will be open the rest
of the day for demonstrations, questions and answers, and just sitting
around and talking D-Star.  Curious, have a general question or maybe
you need some specific help on D-Star.  This is the place to be!

Another all day will be the DXCC/WAS/ VUCC card checking.  Drop off your
cards and have them checked while you attend a forum or stroll the
tailgate area.

And yet another all day event, VE Exams are available all day except two
half hour breaks.  Come on in and upgrade or bring your spouse in for
his/her Technician license.

The ARRL ARECC Exams will also be given in  the afternoon.

PIO Forum for anyone interested in publicizing out favorite hobby,
"Publicity Boot Camp - Back to the Basics"

Intro to Digital for all those who have heard of digital modes but want
to know a little more and see a demo before jumping on the bandwagon.

QSL/LoTW is just the right place to learn all about QSLing, why, how,
who and anything else you can ask.  Learn all about setting up and using
Log Book of The World.

We have a Youth Forum or the young who want to learn more about amateur
radio.

Also offered is the YL Forum for all the YLs and XYLs.  I am not allowed
to know what goes on in there but they seem to have a good time!

On Sunday:

The D-Star open house room may be operating depending on the interest
shown on Saturday.  Go by and check it out.

Geoff Haines, the Section Technical wizard and published homebrew tinker
will give his Homebrew Forum, always interesting and informative.

DXCC/WAS/ VUCC card checking and VE Exams will be offered all day again.

On Sunday afternoon both Basic and Advanced Skywarn classes are offered.
Come in and get certified or renew your existing certification.

Go to the FGCARC website http://www.fgcarc.org/  for the latest schedule
and all the other information about the hamfest.  Check posted schedules
when you get to the Convention Center since things can change up to the
last minute.  I will be announcing the forums on the PA system also.

Oh, one more item.  We can use some volunteers to help with the hamfest.
Mostly sitting at the doors and checking tickets.  Volunteer at
registration at the rear of the main hall next to the doors going out to
the tailgate area.

Bill Williams
AG4QX

Forums Chairman
Tampa Bay Hamfest
forums at fgcarc.org