Thank you
First of all, a big thank you to Gary Fortun K4GJF with support from Rich Kennedy K3VAT, John Foote W3GX, and Dave Adsit KG4BIR… and EVERYONE who helped to plan and execute this year’s Field Day. It was a big success on several levels.
Hot dogs and burgers and brats…oh my!
We started with a picnic at the clubhouse. Larry Merrigan AE7RM manned the grill and club members brought all sorts of delicious dishes to go with the meat. Elizabeth Cottrell W4EHC, Janine Merrigan KI5WI, and Frances Royo AF7YL organized and set up the food tables. Turnout was terrific and we had people spread out in the garage and in the clubhouse. We all agreed that the fellowship of this kind of event is really special and gives us a chance to get to know each other outside of the meetings.
Learning, demos, and operations
Both clubhouse stations were set up and had operators going day and night during the official Field Day hours. President Bill Hyman KK8E came very early to greet invited local dignitaries. We were delighted to see several newer club members who came to Field Day to observe and learn and ask questions.
Rich K3VAT had a table set up in the clubhouse to demonstrate basic radio operation techniques. Another screen was set up streaming some ARRL and other live feeds. Other club members, including Gary Fortun K4GJF and Daniel Poston KG4WHO, helped anyone who wanted to get on the air or learn how to use the club’s FLEX system.
Ted Leslie KK4NXQ, Rob Kinsley NT4S, Tom Lint N1TL, Gary Dixon KQ4UIE, John Royo AE7YH, Tony Barnes KQ4ZFN, DeWayne Lichliter KF4AALY, and Tom Sherwood KW4CW helped with various tasks and logistics (as did those who helped with the clean-up the previous Sunday). Several members burned the midnight oil (I’m happy to update this with additional names/callsigns if you let me know-EHC).
While all this was going on, the coffee, doughnut, and dessert table in the clubhouse attracted others to just hang out, talk, and get to know each other.
Pictures!
Our roving photographer John Cottrell WD4GEK captured a few of the scenes at the clubhouse on Saturday.
Report from the GOTA (Get On The Air) Station
Chuck Renner WA8YCK sent in this report and photos from the GOTA station at the Clarke County Fairgrounds that was set up by Dave Adsit KG4BIR:
We had a very productive Field Day at the Clarke County Fairgrounds today. We were just in the midst of completing our cleanup when it started raining.
Our—or should we say Dave KG4BIR’s—GOTA set up, worked perfectly! We ran two transceivers (hf and vhf/uhf rigs) off a battery system with a 100 watt solar panel, an inverted “V” dipole, and vhf vertical antenna. We made numerous contacts with hams in Canada, Iowa. Indiana, New York, Virginia, the Carolina’s, Texas, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, Ohio and other states. We even had some Scouts make their first “Ham Radio long distant contacts.”
Tom Breed also brought an incredible buffet of food, desserts, and drink from the club house for which we all were grateful for. Special thanks to Elizabeth W4EHC, Janine KI5WI and the others who looked out for us being offsite for the event. It was greatly appreciated by all who were at the fairgrounds.
Attached are a few pictures of our GOTA setup and two young future ham/scouts—Logan and Parker—making their first hf 20m contact with a Canadian, and, a proud father looking on in the background.
Thanks again to all who supported us in the field.
Respectfully, Chuck WA8YC
Photos of the GOTA event courtesy of Chuck Renner WA8YCK
