In response to the ever present danger of disaster striking its citizens, the City of Walnut Creek, along with the members of the Mount Diablo Amateur Radio Club, are hosting a radio communications event called  Field Day. Field Day is a national event, during which Amateur Radio Operators setup and run their radios as an emergency preparedness exercise.

This June, starting at 11AM on Friday the 27th, running until 11AM on Sunday the 29th, the Mount Diablo Amateur Radio Club will be setting up and operating from Heather Farm Park (http://www NULL.ci NULL.walnut-creek NULL.ca NULL.us/header NULL.asp?genericId=1&catId=5&subCatId=686) in Walnut Creek (map (http://maps NULL.google NULL.com/maps?q=301+N NULL.+San+Carlos+Drive+walnut+creek,+ca&ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&z=16&iwloc=addr)). The public is invited to come down and witness radio communications, similar to what would be necessary after a wide scale disaster. Experience the thrill of speaking on the radio with someone across the country, using nothing but the air around you.

This will be a great opportunity to bring Amateur Radio into the public eye, as Heather Farm Park is a fairly public place, with regular events occurring on weekends.  MDARC will be operating a total of 6 stations, on the following frequencies:

160M / 15M

80M / 10M

40M

20M

VHF / UHF (50 MHz, 144 MHz, 440 MHz)

GOTA (Get On The Air)

View the event flyer here. (http://mdarc NULL.org/fd2008 NULL.pdf)

For more information, contact MDARC President Jason Legate at mdarc@proxime.net (mdarc null@null proxime NULL.net).

South Bay Amateur Radio Club
SBARA – Field Day 2008
Invitation

Would you enjoy a hobby that will last a lifetime? A hobby that will expand your horizons and challenge your intellect, one that will help you build lasting friendships at home and even around the world? Are you looking for ways to become involved in worthwhile community service? Then we have something unique and exciting to offer.

WELCOME TO THE SBARA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB!

(http://www NULL.sbara NULL.org)

Amateur Radio is a challenging high-tech hobby offering service to the community, life-long opportunities for learning and the excitement of communicating with other Amateur Radio operators around the world. Amateur radio operators today can explore many different communications modes, including all the more familiar methods of voice, computer and Morse communication as well as more exotic techniques involving Amateur Radio television, ISS, and earth-satellite communications.

The South Bay Amateur Radio Club, founded in 1974, is a general interest radio club within the greater Fremont area, the club’s members also come from many other areas in and around the Tri-City and throughout the Bay area. SBARA is affiliated with the American Radio Relay League, the national association of Amateur Radio operators. Our Club meeting is held on the second Friday of every month at 7:30 PM at Hurricane Electric on 760 Mission Court in Fremont . Anyone with an interest in Amateur Radio is welcome to attend!

The National amateur radio event, Field Day where “ham radio” operators hone their emergency communication skills is on June 28th and June 29th. SBARA will be set-up at Fremont ’s Central Park at the corner of Paseo Padre and Sailway Drive .

For more information on the South Bay Amateur Radio Club – SBARA, or on Amateur Radio in general please contact:

Steve Wilson, KA6S, President
South Bay Amateur Radio Association – SBARA (http://www NULL.sbara NULL.org/)
Ka6s@arrl.net (Ka6s null@null arrl NULL.net)
www.sbara.org (http://www NULL.sbara NULL.org/)

Included with this document is SBARA’s Field Day Press Release in PDF format. Please feel free to stop by our Field Day site at Central Park and we will be happy to show you this exciting hobby in operation – you can even operate our stations!

California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger applauds Amateur Radio and 2008 Field day declaring Ham radio a reliable means of emergency communication in his letter. Details can be found by selecting this URL or Link: http://www.eastbaysectionarrl.org/wpcontent/uploads/2008/06/fd_letter_governor_schwarzenegger.pdf (http://www NULL.sbara NULL.org)

William Artelt, WB9YVM,
ARRL East Bay Public Information Officer
South Bay Amateur Radio Association – SBARA (http://www NULL.sbara NULL.org/)
hamradio@comcast.net (hamradio null@null comcast NULL.net)

(http://www NULL.sbara NULL.org/k3raffle NULL.html)Editor’s note: SBARA is also raffling an Elecraft K-3 on Field Day (http://www NULL.sbara NULL.org/k3raffle NULL.html)! You need not be present to win. The drawing is Saturday evening at 6pm PDT (0100 UTC 29 June 2008). If someone in another club wins, I wonder if they can pick it up and use it for the remainder of Field Day? (hi hi – K6JEB)

The signature campaign is a success! Today I received a Letter from Governor Schwarzenegger (PDF). The Governor writes:

American Radio Relay League’s Field Day

Greetings to everyone participating in your annual Field Day.

Amateur radio operators play an important role in times of emergency, and I applaud all those who have worked hard to home their skills. In addition to being an enriching hobby, amateur radio is an important tool for relaying information when disasters strike. I am certain this event will be a great opportunity to have fun, prepare for the future and display your impressive ability to connect the world.

Please accept my gratitude for your service and best wishes for your continued success.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger

It’s not too late to contact your local leaders and representatives. This includes those running for offices in your area. Thank you all for getting the signatures in by my requested deadline!

73,
Jack, K6JEB