The Coachella Valley Amateur Radio Club, the Valley’s RACES group and the QCWA Chapter 154 combined for Field day at County Bogart Park this year. They operated as NR6P, 6A, three phone and three CW stations. Some digital and Satellite operations.

 We all had an excellent time in spite of Propagation not being as good as expected but more like predicted.   All invited guest showed up for support, including KESQ TV crew, County Fire, City Fire, and our ARRL Vice Director, Marty N6VI and a few uninvited guest namely the “three bears”, Mom, Pop and a cub.   One of our CW operators went to bed early Saturday night when he heard a soft bark, then looked up to see a bear cub going up a tree about 10 feet from his Station. When he turned the other way he saw Mom watching. That is when he went QRT and reported to bed until early morning, smart man.   At Lunch, with the TV crew in attendance we had a presentation of a 2 meter HT to one of our younger visitors. The HT was offered by the widow of a QCWA Chapter 154 (sk) Bill Burton K8ZZO to the first family member under 18 years of age to get their amateur license. The winner was 14 year old Lanae Smit, KJ6ISE. She is a very deserving young lady who handled the TV news interview like a pro. Picture included