2007 ARRL Field Day
07/16/2007 |
N2SE
THE CHALLENGE OF ARRL FIELD DAY 2007
Winston Churchill once wrote, Each generation produces leaders, who emerge from the chaos of their time. The spirit of what he said definitely applies to the annual ARRL Field Day when the time approaches for field day coordinators to accept the responsibility of organizing a team to assure a smooth 4th full week-end in June operation. This year, the 10-70 Repeater Association, a Bergen-Passaic County club, again turned to Howie, WB2AWQ, and Rocky, KC2HRG, to pull the event together.
The Bergen County Parks Commission had to be contacted for the use of their pristine Campgaw Ski Area, including the lodge, which forms the beginning of the huge Skylands Region of New Jersey and New York. A heavy-duty diesel generator had to be secured from the Mahwah, New Jersey Office of Emergency Management. Their mobile field unit would also be used for some of the operating stations.
Band captains are the life-blood of any field day contesting. They look to have loggers assisting them, but very often, end up doing the logging themselves. CW was captained by Kenny, KB2SFS, 80M; Howie, WB2AWQ, 40M; and George, N2CG, 20M. Phone duty was headed up by Mike, W2MLS, 75M; Janice, KC2JPA, 40M; and Eric, N2SXE, 20 M. VHF was handled by Jimmy, KC2NHY; Digital, Justin, KC2GIK; and GOTA, Joe, KC2PJL.
The participation of elected, appointed and served officials is a crucial element of field day as their cooperation and support is needed throughout the year. The 10-70 played host to Bergen County Freeholder Julie OBrien, whose office operates the county park system and who presented resolutions from the Board of Freeholders and the County Executive Dennis McNerney. Also taking part in the kick-off ceremony were Ramsey, NJ Councilmen Art Nalbandian and Andrew Siemsen, who read a proclamation from Ramsey Mayor Chris Botta, KA2CQH.
Michael Adams, WA2MWT, Ramsey Emergency Management Coordinator, who served as Master-of-Ceremonies, was on-hand with Deputy OEM Coordinator Bruce Greenwood, K3OEM, and Ramsey RACES Officer Lou Janicek, N2CYY. Adams, Greenwood and Janicek are all members of the 10-70 Repeater Association and 10-70 President Paul Beshlian, KC2CJW, is a long-time member of Ramsey OEM. Beshlian would pull double duty, distinguishing him later that evening as the chef at the annual family bar-be-que.
Other mainstays of a 10-70 field day include a special New Jersey VHF Traffic Net, run at 1830, with ten messages going to ARRL officials and Section Manager Bill Hudzik, W2UDT, and the use of alternate power to obtain five contacts, in this case solar power/battery power, operated by Tony, KA2TAM. The W1AW bulletin was secured, early-on, and recorded for a nice 100 points.
The weather was dry and pleasant, unlike most past field days, the mosquitoes left us alone and the bears kept a respectable distance, commented Howie, WB2AWQ, We had plenty of hams helping out, which made for a fun, well-run and well-staffed field day set-up. We look forward to next year!
Submitted by Michael Adams -- WA2MWT
Winston Churchill once wrote, Each generation produces leaders, who emerge from the chaos of their time. The spirit of what he said definitely applies to the annual ARRL Field Day when the time approaches for field day coordinators to accept the responsibility of organizing a team to assure a smooth 4th full week-end in June operation. This year, the 10-70 Repeater Association, a Bergen-Passaic County club, again turned to Howie, WB2AWQ, and Rocky, KC2HRG, to pull the event together.
The Bergen County Parks Commission had to be contacted for the use of their pristine Campgaw Ski Area, including the lodge, which forms the beginning of the huge Skylands Region of New Jersey and New York. A heavy-duty diesel generator had to be secured from the Mahwah, New Jersey Office of Emergency Management. Their mobile field unit would also be used for some of the operating stations.
Band captains are the life-blood of any field day contesting. They look to have loggers assisting them, but very often, end up doing the logging themselves. CW was captained by Kenny, KB2SFS, 80M; Howie, WB2AWQ, 40M; and George, N2CG, 20M. Phone duty was headed up by Mike, W2MLS, 75M; Janice, KC2JPA, 40M; and Eric, N2SXE, 20 M. VHF was handled by Jimmy, KC2NHY; Digital, Justin, KC2GIK; and GOTA, Joe, KC2PJL.
The participation of elected, appointed and served officials is a crucial element of field day as their cooperation and support is needed throughout the year. The 10-70 played host to Bergen County Freeholder Julie OBrien, whose office operates the county park system and who presented resolutions from the Board of Freeholders and the County Executive Dennis McNerney. Also taking part in the kick-off ceremony were Ramsey, NJ Councilmen Art Nalbandian and Andrew Siemsen, who read a proclamation from Ramsey Mayor Chris Botta, KA2CQH.
Michael Adams, WA2MWT, Ramsey Emergency Management Coordinator, who served as Master-of-Ceremonies, was on-hand with Deputy OEM Coordinator Bruce Greenwood, K3OEM, and Ramsey RACES Officer Lou Janicek, N2CYY. Adams, Greenwood and Janicek are all members of the 10-70 Repeater Association and 10-70 President Paul Beshlian, KC2CJW, is a long-time member of Ramsey OEM. Beshlian would pull double duty, distinguishing him later that evening as the chef at the annual family bar-be-que.
Other mainstays of a 10-70 field day include a special New Jersey VHF Traffic Net, run at 1830, with ten messages going to ARRL officials and Section Manager Bill Hudzik, W2UDT, and the use of alternate power to obtain five contacts, in this case solar power/battery power, operated by Tony, KA2TAM. The W1AW bulletin was secured, early-on, and recorded for a nice 100 points.
The weather was dry and pleasant, unlike most past field days, the mosquitoes left us alone and the bears kept a respectable distance, commented Howie, WB2AWQ, We had plenty of hams helping out, which made for a fun, well-run and well-staffed field day set-up. We look forward to next year!
Submitted by Michael Adams -- WA2MWT
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