Field Day Reflections

In many ways this was our best overall Field Day performance ever. We had the best turn out for set up and take down; we had the most operators in some time; the food was terrific, the weather great, the camaraderie was fabulous. Personally, I got but a scant hour of restless sleep about 7 a.m., but for me, this was the best year operating. I worked the late night shift with Ron WM9Q. When Mark WA9IVH popped his head in the SSB tent at 6 am, I was thrilled to give up the operating chair. We had fabulous runs on 15, 40 and 80 meters through the night. For a while, California was booming into our location better than FM….and people were lined up to call us. It was just amazing being at this end of a pile up and trying to keep up. At one point while I was logging, I was backed up three deep…it was that crazy.

The leadership team is already meeting to discuss plans for next year…we see plenty of places to make improvements, but certainly, we would love to hear from you. What was your experience?

How can we do things better? How can we include more people? How can we involve more youth and local officials? In the end, that is the ultimate point of Field Day, to get others to see what ham radio is and what it can be when needed.

In the 11 years I have been working our Club’s Field Day, this was our best team effort. But we all know we can do better and that is the passion that keeps feeding the day. I am currently working on a documentary in Guatemala …and I can’t work radio because I am laden with video gear…when I get home, I get to relive Field day all over again because everything was dumped in my garage! Field Day is fun, but it is also a ton of work for a few folks who hold down some key jobs…so I would like to thank the guys who worked the hardest to make this year’s event the success it was:

Randy K9OR, who does everything that no one else remembers to do, including tracking our scores and bringing tons of gear; Randy also served as our CW station captain with Pete AG3R, and Don KK9H. We were thrilled to have veteran CW op Bill W8LVN back behind the key this year. Mark WA9IVH served as SSB and RTTY captain. Doc K9JPE did a great job coaching the GOTA station. Dave N3BXY was always building something that needed to get made. Ron K9RH, Ron WM9Q, and Ed N9VTU were always around for prep, clean up and the nasty stuff. The great cooking team was headed by John KA9QJX, Larry AE9E, and Howard N9RUI. Al KC9EAA really took control of the hospital tent. Mike N9GHP and Al built a nice oasis in the middle of the site for visitors. Ed N9VTU did yeoman service getting fliers out to various libraries in the area…and Jordan W9QKE did all of the pre-event publicity. If I missed anyone, I apologize. It takes a village to raise a Field Day event…so thanks to all who participated this year.