08/10/2004 | K4US 2004 FD by MVARC In The Books
by steve, K3IZ

Well, another Field Day has been put into the books of the history of world. MVARC was a big part of it; don't doubt that. We were right there at the top. Yessiree, Bob, at the starting gate with best of them. Straight out the shoot: zip zop zoop. There was no holding us back. We made the starting position right at the top. Ready to go!!
God blessed us with just the best weather: No rain, no humidity, some heat. It was a perfect day, well, consider the source. We set up the tents, tables, 'tennas and other accutrements. I saw a deer run through the campsite. That was neat. Bob, KT4KS came first. Mary, N4TCI came by as did, Rick, KG4GFW. He brought doughnuts. She brought lunch stuff. Two very important people were now on site. Uhh... Bob brought the paper. He did help a lot setting up; he really did.
A bunch of other folks came. I can't remember the order or exactly who was there but, they are all wonderful people to sacrifice to come out and make FD a super event that it is. All the clubmembers and family who were there did a fantastic job of getting the campsites transformed from rustic overflow camping to a 5 station transmitting and receiving communications center capable of passing health, welfare, emergency and time value traffic to all corners of the globe. Isn't a globe round? We need a DXpedition to a globe corner. Call next week.
...Then there was the picnic. Oh yes, the splendid time that was guarenteed for all coming to the event. The best food this side of Shangra-la. You can bet the rent on that. Just what the doctor ordered but don't tell Dr. Atkins or Mr. South Beach. Diets were put off till Monday. Yessiree, Babs, ooo weeee, them vittles was tastee!! Glenn, K4OCC, and Doug, WA3WEP did just a bigtime job of cooking up all them HAMburgers, hot dogs and chickens. There was also all the super side dishes. If you missed it, then, well, I don't know I guess then you, well, missed it. Show up next year and help set up or operate or just show up and do something. Be there for the festivities. Just like the young man from Idaho.
A fellow was driving across country to see the sites. You know just like John Steinbeck in "Travels With Charlie" or like the old song says "To Look For America". He stops in to see what a "Free Ham Radio Demo" is and soon enough he has a burger and plate o' food in his hand and Bob, KT4KS is showing him around. Now that's the spirit. That's the MVARC way. Everybody's welcome, even from highways and byways. "Love everybody; make them your friend" another old song.
Well, then to the point all of this effort: to actually operate and make some contacts, Qs, reports, points, hook ups, you know, Get ON The Air. speaking of which, Carol, WA4GFW; Leila, WN4PP; Glenn, W4OCC and Joan, KI4FYN did a great job with that station. I also saw a bunch of folks over that way, as I saw at all the stations. I know that an expert job was done by Demi and his crew. I do apologize that I didn't catch the names of all the folks with him at the 20 Meter station. I do know that it was humming most of the time. 'Ceptin' when they were downing the grub, which they deserved. John, WQ4L, Bob, KI3O and Dave, AI4FC did a workman's effort on the CW station. That should be the big point getter considering it was going most of the time. The 80/40 phone station was no slough though. There were quite a number of ops sitting in the tent keeping the FT100D burning up the airwaves. I saw the 10/6/2 station keeping up their end of the bargain as well. Julie, KD4WSZ, operated some there. For putting up, getting and keeping that station on the air thanks to Jon, KG4YDD, Paul, AA8O, and George, N1BV. Where was Ringo?
I want to thank everyone who came to Pohick Bay Park to make FD a wonderful event for our club. I hope all had a great time in an effort to put up an emergency ham radio station, operate a contest and put forth work for the good of the MVARC. We want to be near the top of our category, 5A, come the listing in the Dec. QST. Look for it. For those whose time coming out was the first, I hope you have a good story to tell. For those who count this among many, I hope you can add to the repetoire of your stories. I hope everyone learned something about our great hobby, whether it was proper operating, putting up an antenna or a recipe for 7 layer taco salad. If not try again. There will be other operating events. all who came out and put forth effort, I extend a very big TNX. The only thing I can say for next time is lets out do ourselves in all aspects of FD. Keep your stations grounded and your antennas in the sky. You will make more contacts that way.
73 -- K3IZ