Field Day is here!The Santa Clarita Amateur Radio Club’s annual Field Day operation will be held at the Castaic Lake Water Agency’s Rio Vista Water Treatment Plant just above Central Park in Bouquet Canyon. Set up begins at 6:00 AM on Saturday, June 27 and at 11:00 AM sharp we go “On-The-Air.” Operations will continue 24 hours and shut down at 11:00 AM on Sunday June 28, 2009. The public is always invited and can participate. DIRECTIONS: The Castaic Lake Water Agency is located off Bouquet Canyon Road North of Valencia Boulevard above Central Park. After entering the park, turn left and take the road up the hill, make a left turn at the top of the hill to reach the upper parking lot. We hope to see you there!
WHAT IS FIELD DAY? . . . . . GOOD QUESTION!The following is a brief explanation of what is meant by the title “Field Day.”
On June 27th and 28th, Amateur Radio operators ("sometimes called HAMS") across the country will leave the comfort of their home-based radio "shacks" for a weekend of emergency preparedness activity called "Field Day." The event is designed to test operators' skills in setting up and operating radio communication equipment in situations where electrical power is limited or unavailable. The idea is to simulate the conditions that can occur during a hurricane, tornado or other emergency, including man-made disasters. The event is sponsored by ARRL --the national association for Amateur Radio. The very first Field Day actually took place in 1933.
During Field Day, Ham Radio operators set up radio transmitting and receiving equipment in local parks, at shopping malls or even in backyards, and get on-the-air using generators, batteries, wind or solar power to run their equipment. This type of exercise, along with the operators' dedication to public service, allows them to step in and help emergency officials and relief organizations when disaster strikes. Cell phones, the Internet and other communications technologies have yet to replace what Amateur Radio operators can do. They have a long track record of getting the message through when all other systems fail and the infrastructure has collapsed. The director of homeland Security said it best, “ . . . they are the first of the first responders when it comes to disasters!”
Welcome to each of our visitors. We hope you will find our Field Day informative and fun for your family. Please feel free to ask questions about the equipment you see. Your SCARC 2009 Field Day Committee.
Some of the people we have sent special invitations to for Field Day 2009: - Senator George Runner, Congressman Howard P. Buck McKeon
- Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich
- From the City of Santa Clarita: Araz Valijan, Susana Coronel, and Donna Nuzzi
- From the ARRL: Marty Woll, N6VI, and Phineas J. Icenbice Jr, W6BF
We have also invited the Southern California Antique Radio Society to come to our Field Day in Santa Clarita. After a conversation with their club president Barry Dagestino, they would like to see the other side of the radio hobby. Here are some of their upcoming 2009 events. Look at the Member Galleries for some great pictures. June 20 - Swap Meet
J.L. Fisher Inc.
1000 Isabel St.,
Burbank, CA 91506 For more info check out the SCARS website at http://www.antiqueradios.org/
|
