[TVARC] TVARC 2020 Field Day from a New Perspective

Sat Apr 4 15:17:52 EDT 2020

Sounds like a great idea.  Back when TVARC was just getting started, in 1998 we held Field Day at Spanish Springs Square.  There wasn’t much there -- no Kati Belles; Church on the Square was a vacant lot with a billboard saying a church would come; the big building at end with fitness center and Gators etc was a big blue tent for performances; Too Jays was a vacant lot.  

We set up and operated 6A from about where Too Jays is now and used tents; a camper van, shelter canopies,  I brought my motor home for generator power but operated 40 CW from a shelter canopy outside my motor home.  We had a solar powered site for extra points and one year tried satellite station, information table for public on the square, used whatever we could scratch together for antennas.

We did that 2 or 3 years and then moved to polo grounds for a few years.  I again had motor home for generator power and the Lady Lake Police Department lent us a generator that we never got going.  All the fleas from the polo ponies finally drove most of the stations to use the spectator stands with a small Honda generator someone had.

And we had some food. Just plain fun weekends.  Somewhere in those years I proposed getting K4VRC for our club call under the vanity system and later had others take over as Control Operator.

Now I probably will be in Ohio if corola virus allows us to move, and also I am not up to Field Day conditions anymore.

We also operated Florida QSO Party with both SSB and CW fixed stations a couple of years.

73 to all and enjoy whatever you do.  It is nice to see how TVARC has grown since we started with about a dozen members led by Richard Boehm, WA4IVS, who moved to Stonecrest several years ago.

Byron, WN4R

From: tvarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net <tvarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of George
Sent: Friday, April 3, 2020 6:18 PM
To: Bradley Castelli <groupsbcemails at gmail.com>; tvarc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [TVARC] TVARC 2020 Field Day from a New Perspective

Brad,

Thank you for your thoughts on Field Day.  They are well conceived as usual.  I do think, however, that we can develop a coronavirus plan and a non-coronavirus plan.  The coronavirus plan might be something like what was mentioned in the article, that being everyone operates from home, or as an individual somewhere outside.  The non-coronavirus plan could be some variation of a group effort – tents and generators, the emergency services trailer, etc.  A lot of what we end up doing will be determined by the team leader for Field Day and whatever committee he or she forms to plan and implement the event.

In advance of having a team leader, and more importantly, knowing what the health climate in the country will be in June, the board had obtained permission to use the emergency services trailer again.  We also had obtained permission from John Rowan and the recreation department to set up in one of the regional recreation centers.  So what you are proposing can be done.  It will (one can only hope) be fun to see how Field Day goes in a new location, and perhaps with a new format.

But I have a question about your chart.  Why is “New members may want to do more” in the CONS column?

73,

George K2DM

Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986>  for Windows 10

From: Bradley Castelli <mailto:groupsbcemails at gmail.com> 
Sent: Friday, April 3, 2020 4:30 PM
To: tvarc at mailman.qth.net <mailto:tvarc at mailman.qth.net> 
Subject: [TVARC] TVARC 2020 Field Day from a New Perspective

The following is an open letter to George K2DM, our beloved President, who has invited club members to offer suggestions for how we might do Field Day this year.

Reflecting on the coronavirus Field Day issues is almost impossible as everything is unknown; so how can you plan? Assume you have nothing just like a real emergency! The first step is approval to use a vacant lot or parking lot. After that organize and plan using the most likely conditions that would be faced during a real emergency; nothing would be available except things club members would have on hand. Use our new event tents, get a porta-potty (an RV would be nicer), generators, plus the traditional rigs, antennas, etc. I think everyone has seen other clubs use the approach being described here.

The coronavirus Field Day could be a great opportunity to grow the club which means getting new members. Historically key to growing is more people taking the Technician class which has been sign-ups from Radio on the Square. Even with great weather 2019 showed Sumter Landing is no longer the right place. As the club needs more new blood it is recommended future TVARC events move South. ROS, Radio Rodeo, and Field Day all need to look toward Fenny. 

Keeping Fenny in mind and to start the discussion on 2020 Field Day options I proposed we hold FD at the Everglades Recreation Center & Sports Complex located at Morse Blvd. and the Turnpike. You can see it at;  <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTH28qgRcTg> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTH28qgRcTg 

Everglades Rec Ctr PROs

Everglades Rec Ctr CONs

Everyone in Fenny drives by this location

Was not your idea

Picnic Shelter eliminates need for Tents

I never drive South of 466

Grass area & Soccer Field for antennas

New members will want to do more

Restrooms at Picnic Shelter

Outside electric power outlets at Restroom

Remember this is a brain storming session, I have put up a target for everyone to shoot down. Please everyone share your thoughts.

Brad KN9B

PS If this approach sounds too hard or farfetched remember in 1998 TVARC held its first Field Day operating in tents on a vacant lot which today is Katie Belles in Spanish Springs. 

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