[SFDXA] SFL Hamfests in November - Jeff WA4AW

[Bill]

Greetings to all,
If you enjoy attending hamfests, then November is your month and SFL is the place to be.
Listed below are the hamfests scheduled for November:


Link McGarity WV4I Memorial Free Flea
11/07/2015	
Location: JFCS of Palm Beach County
5841 Corporate Way
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Website: http://www.palmswestradio.org
Sponsor: Palms West Amateur Radio Club
Talk-In: 147.045 (PL 110.9)
Public Contact: Robert Pease , KS4EC
Phone: 561-358-9999
Email: ks4ec at att.net

Cy Harris W4MAQ Memorial Free Flea
11/14/2015	
Location: Collins Center
3900 NE 3rd Avenue
Oakland Park, FL
Website: http://browardarc.net
Sponsor: Broward Amateur Radio Club
Talk-In: 146.91 (PL 110.9)
Public Contact: Tony Becker , KK4GUU
Phone: 954-612-9303
Email: kk4guu at arrl.net

Flamingo Net / UMARC Free Flea
11/21/2015	
Location: Physics/Gifford Arboretum Parking Lot
5101 San Amaro Drive
Coral Gables, FL 33114
Website: http://flamingonet.8m.net
Sponsor: Flamingo Net ARC & University of Miami ARC
Talk-In: 147.150 +600 (PL 94.8)
Public Contact: William Moore , WA4TEJ
Phone: 305-751-1874
Email: wa4tej at juno.com

Okeechobee Hamfest in the Woods
11/28/2015	
Location: Freedom Ranch
11655 US Route 441 SE
Okeechobee, FL 34972
Website: http://www.k4oke.com
Sponsor: Okeechobee Amateur Radio Club
Talk-In: 147.195 (PL 100)
Public Contact: Amos McDaniel , KK4AMK
Phone: 863-467-8823
Email: kk4amk at yahoo.com


And a heads-up on an exciting ARRL operating activity for 2016.
“ARRL National Parks on the Air” Event to Mark National Park
Service Centennial:

In 2016, the National Park Service (NPS) will celebrate its 100th
anniversary, and radio amateurs will be able to help mark the occasion
with the ARRL National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) event. The fun begins
at 0000 UTC on January 1, 2016.

“As ARRL just celebrated our own Centennial, and Amateur Radio is
often enjoyed in the great outdoors, it seemed fitting to devise a
program to help NPS celebrate their own 100th birthday,” said ARRL
Media and Public Relations Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X. As he explained,
NPOTA will run throughout 2016, with activity promoted and encouraged
from each of the more than 430 official NPS administrative units and
affiliated areas across the US. This includes all 59 National Parks as
well as National Battlefields, Historic Sites, Memorials, Preserves,
Reserves, Rivers, Seashores, National Scenic Trails, and other units.

The program will have two participation tracks — Chasers and
Activators. Chasers will simply attempt to make contact with operators
in as many of the NPS units as possible. Activators will attempt to
activate as many of the units as possible. NPOTA participants may serve
in both roles. Chaser and Activator totals will be tracked via an online
Leader Board based on LoTW data, just as was done during the Centennial
QSO Party. (Access the NPOTA Leader Board directly at
http://npota.arrl.org.)

Modeled after the Mixed DXCC award, only one contact with any given NPS
unit will be required, and no tally will be kept of NPS units based on
bands or modes. NPOTA will be administered entirely through Logbook of
The World (LoTW). No paper logs or QSLs will be accepted for NPOTA
credit. Each NPS unit will be added to LoTW as a “location.”

Three award certificates will be available: Chaser Award and Activator
Award certificates will be available to any radio amateur who has at
least one confirmed contact with an NPS unit or who activates at least
one unit, respectively. A station’s total number of confirmed or
activated units will be printed on the certificate. The National Parks
Honor Roll certificate will be available for any station that confirms
contact with at least 75 percent of the 59 National Parks activated in
2016.

An Activator can earn additional recognition as a “Five-Star
Activator.” While the Centennial QSO Party was an internal event for
radio amateurs, National Parks on the Air is designed to be a public
promotion of Amateur Radio’s capabilities. Various public relations
bonuses and activities will be available to Activators, similar to the
PR bonus points available to ARRL Field Day stations.

The success of the event and of the awards program rests on radio
amateurs’ willingness to operate from NPS units.

“Portable operators, this event is for you!” Kutzko said. “Start
thinking about how you would incorporate Amateur Radio into your visit
to an NPS unit. Whether you’re camping in Yosemite, driving along the
Blue Ridge Parkway, or set up in a corner of Andersonville Prison, you
will definitely draw a pileup. As long as you are on the property of
the NPS unit, you will qualify as being in the unit.”

Kutzko notes that depending on the size of a given operation,
participants may need to secure a special-use permit. “This may take
some time,” he said. “It’s possible the answer will be ‘no.’
Be mindful of the size and sensitivity of the NPS unit you want to
activate, and be realistic about your plans.” NPOTA Activators will
need to follow all NPS rules in whatever unit they activate.

In general, the more portable and compact your station is, and the more
creative and adaptable your plans are, the greater your chances of
success. While there is no formal partnership between NPS and ARRL for
this event, the League has been in discussions with the NPS over the
past year, and it is aware that increased Amateur Radio activity in
their parks is likely during 2016.

“It is your responsibility to be on your best behavior and not
interfere with other visitors at NPS units,” Kutzko advised.
“Remember, every time you visit an NPS unit for this awards program,
your conduct will not only impact the reputation of Amateur Radio
throughout the NPS system, but will also directly impact the success of
the next amateur who tries to activate that unit. Be nice, be courteous,
and be flexible. Demonstrate Amateur Radio in the best light
possible.”

The NPOTA will use the official list of NPS Administrative Units and
Affiliated Areas as defined and maintained by NPS. Complete details on
the National Parks on the Air event are available on the ARRL website.


That's about it for now. Please support our SFL clubs by attending one
or all of the events in November. Look forward to seeing you there.
Vy 73,
Jeff  WA4AW