News from the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club (SPARC)

Hi,

We are in the middle of May and the month of June is almost upon us. SPARC has several events in June which we should all put on our calendars.

HERNDON FESTIVAL is 1-4 June.  SPARC operates an information booth on Saturday, 3 June and supports the 5/10K races on Sunday, 4 June. Plans are on our website at
   http://www.qsl.net/sterling/HerndonFest/HerndonFest.html.

Our booth will be in the parking lot between Great Harvest Bread and the Dominion Animal Hospital.  We need a few volunteers to be at the booth to talk to visitors.  If you would like to commit to doing this, please send me an email.  Otherwise, please stop by and chat a while.

Support to the 5/10K races is the only event during the year when most of us use our handheld 2M radios.  The event coordinator this year is Marty, NV3H.  This event involves many of our SPARC members.  It also is an excellent opportunity to become familiar with net operations, repeater operations, tactical callsigns, etc.  We have filled all positions but could use a few extras in case something happens. Please direct your questions to Marty, NV3H.

The VIRGINIA QSO PARTY AWARDS CEREMONY will be held at the Manassas hamfest on Sunday, 4 June, at 0900 (the same morning as the Herndon Fest 5/10K races).  Gordon, NQ4K, will moderate the event with help from Eric, AJ4LN, and Bill, KJ4VTH.  If you are planning to be at the hamfest, please stop by, we could use a little extra help.  The logs have been tabulated (tnx to Eric, AJ4LN, and Henry, K2BFY), plaques have been ordered and the certificates had been printed. See our webpage for information on the VQP.

The JUNE SPARC MONTHLY MEETING is on Wednesday, 7 June.  This month we will devoted to Field Day. Five speakers will discuss the major activities (Gordon, NQ4K; Dick, W2YE; Jim, AF4MO; Eric, AJ4LN; and Russ, W3RST). This will be the introduction to field day for new members to the club as well as an opportunity to call for volunteers.

FIELD DAY will be during the weekend of 23-25 June.  We set up a radio station at Park View High School and operate for 24 hours in this US and Canadian event. Typically several thousand stations are on the air. Plans and photos from previous years are on our website at http://www.qsl.net/sterling/Field_Day/2016FD/2016FD_Main.html.  The draft plan for this year will be posted shortly.

Everyone should participate.  We need help setting up and there will be lots of time for all to get on the radios.  If you are new or do not have a license, there will be hams there to show you how to operate the radios and be the control operator so you can get on the air.

Events start with antenna rope hanging on Friday, 23 June, at 7PM. Followed with setup beginning on Saturday, 24 June, at 1000AM and ending with tear-down on Sunday, 25 June at 2PM.

We are looking forward to seeing you at the events.  Please mark your calendars and come out and join us.

73, Gordon, NQ4K