Brazoria County ARES, Angleton, Texas participated in Field Day activities at an old Wal-Mart facility, which was purchased by the county and turned into an annex office to house expanding functions. The facility offered plenty of parking area and a large adjacent field for antennas. We had eighteen members, and many visitors who participated during Field Day, including the officials and exhibitors who joined us from county and city agencies. 

Our Emergency Coordinator, Terry ‘Sarge” Bowersmith, W5SRG, had worked with county and various municipalities to turn the event into a larger activity with first responders and exhibitors from county and city agencies.  The Brazoria County Health Department and Agricultural Extension Agents (Animal Rescue); and the Community Emergency Response Team participated, as well as the local REACT unit.

The Health Department allowed us to use one of their mobile dispensing units, which is air-conditioned, for our radio operations area. Saturday afternoon, nurses from the County Health Department worked in the front of the trailer giving free H1N1 flu shots while two HF radios worked contacts in the back. An information display with handouts from the various agencies, plus information about Ham Radio and ARES were set up under a canopy next to the health department trailer. A large generator provided electrical power for the entire Field Day operation.

Two dipole antennas were rigged in the adjacent field. One was placed on a wooden mast that Steve Clark, WE5K, had constructed after seeing an article describing it. It is over 50 feet tall with its flagpole attached on the top. A military type 30-foot fiberglass pole was raised to hold the second dipole antenna. Contacts were made using PSK31 and phone. Different operators and loggers worked the radios in shifts.

Several members brought travel trailers to the site. The heat index was over 100 on both days here along the Texas coast. The travel trailer awnings provided shade and some relief from the heat, plus a place to gather and talk when not working contacts. Everyone had a good experience and several visitors expressed interest in Ham Radio and ARES.