 April 16, 2024 Editor: Michael Walters, W8ZY | |
Start Your Field Day Planning The 2024 ARRL Field Day is June 22 and 23 and is always one of the biggest operating events of the year. Many clubs across the country say that Field Day is their most popular event for a variety reasons. Some clubs treat it as a contest (even ARRL resources are available online at field-day.arrl.org. Do not forget to check out the ARRL Store for Field Day swag to help make the weekend fun. Get a t-shirt, a hat, or other merchandise to commemorate the event. Also, make sure to put your club's Field Day site on the Field Day Station Locator at Field Day Station Locator (arrl.org). Field Day is something different to all hams, but the important part is that you have fun and "Be Radio Active." Be sure to read the "Club Station" column in the June issue of QST (the digital edition is available May 3) for some tips on how clubs can make Field Day their own. Club Grant Program to Return The ARRL Foundation Club Grant Program is returning for 2024. After receiving additional funding from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), the next round of grants will be available later this year. More than $500,000 in grants have been awarded to clubs across the country. This program centers around club projects that are transformational in nature (i.e., projects that have the greatest impact on the local community). Previously successful grants concentrated on the recruitment and training of new hams, STEM programs, emergency preparedness, and amateur radio technology development. ARRL Director of Development Kevin Beal, K8EAL, said, "ARRL is proud to partner with ARDC to administer the Club Grant Program. These grants offer an opportunity to have a significant impact on amateur radio's future." More information will be announced on all ARRL news outlets in the coming weeks. Now is the time for your club to consider if you have a project that could qualify for a grant. Start thinking just how your club can impact amateur radio, today and in the future. Grants will be available for up to $25,000 and will include reporting and media requirements. Stay tuned for additional information, and get ready for the next round of the Club Grant Program. Upcoming Club Anniversary and Special Event The West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Group, W4HAW, is celebrating its 85th anniversary with an open house and special event station. The open house will be held at the Cox Science Center and Aquariaum in West Palm Beach on Saturday, April 27 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The public is invited to attend. One of the event highlights is a special event station using the club amateur radio call sign. The day will also feature an overview of amateur radio and the benefits that amateur radio activity provides to hams and the community at large. There will also be an emphasis on hurricane preparedness. Guests from the National Weather Service, Palm Beach County, The American Red Cross, and others will be in attendance to share information on how to stay safe during a hurricane. The club's event will also be part of the annual Florida QSO Party, so be on the lookout for the club's call sign in the pileups. Visit the club website at www.wpbarg.com to learn more. NY Hams Provide Pumpkin Patrol The Fort Herkimer Amateur Radio Association (FHARA), in cooperation with the New York State Police (NYSP), completed a two-night operation on October 30 and 31, 2023, to provide visual observations of overpasses on the New York State Thruway within Herkimer County. This was the 33rd year that FHARA has participated. By FHARA President Don Peterson, KD2ILO Submitting Info for this Newsletter ARRL Club News is for radio clubs to show how they are working in the community and the hobby to advance amateur radio. If your club completes a project, supports an event, does an EmComm activation, or activates a park, we want to hear about it. You can submit your newsletter article to us at clubs@arrl.org. We like to get them as text or Word files instead of PDFs. If you have pictures, please submit them with caption information, as well as the name and call sign of the photographer. We want to highlight the good work being done by the clubs and show others in the community. Think of this as a chance to show off your club and your programs. How to Plan and Apply for an ARRL Hamfest or Convention If your amateur radio club is planning to host a convention, hamfest, tailgate, or swapfest, please consider applying for it to be an ARRL-sanctioned event. To learn what it means to be an ARRL-sanctioned event, and to get some ideas on how to prepare for and conduct a hamfest or convention, visit www.arrl.org/arrl-sanctioned-events. To have your event sanctioned, complete the online application at www.arrl.org/hamfest-convention-application. The ARRL Hamfests and Conventions Calendar can be found online at www.arrl.org/hamfests. In addition, the Convention and Hamfest Calendar that runs in QST each month also presents information about upcoming events. Important Links ARRL Home: www.arrl.org Find an ARRL Affiliated Club: www.arrl.org/clubs Find your ARRL Section: www.arrl.org/sections Find a license class in your area: www.arrl.org/class Find a license exam in your area: www.arrl.org/exam Find a hamfest or convention: www.arrl.org/hamfests Email ARRL Clubs: clubs@arrl.org | |
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though no one wins Field Day). It is a great chance to see what contesting is like with much less pressure. Some clubs make it a training event for emergency operations by setting up in a different location and trying to communicate with antennas using power that is temporary. Other clubs hold a family gathering for members and guests to get together and have fun around the radios. It is also a fantastic opportunity to show off the capabilities of ham radio to the public. Invite the mayor, the fire chief, the police chief, or other local agencies to come by. Get them on the air to make a contact or two. And do not forget the GOTA station. Give new or shy hams the chance to operate HF.
In the past, objects have been thrown off the overpasses onto unexpecting vehicles. For many years, Citizens Band radio operators (who started this event) became the eyes of the NYSP. Soon after, ham radio groups began running the event. In 2023, FHARA staffed 14 locations and set up our disaster action response trailer at the Indian Castle Travel Plaza. Here, we distributed literature and explained to patrons the reason for and importance of us being there. We also informed them that there was a large group of ham operators watching out for them across the state. Thankfully, there were no reported incidents.
