WHAT IS FIELD DAY?
Field Day will be held June 28-29, 2003 starting at 1800 UTC Saturday and
ending at 2100 UTC on Sunday. Field Day is an event sponsored by the American
Radio Relay League (ARRL) each year during the last full week-end in June.
Amateur Radio operators world-wide will set up and operate under emergency conditions,
using battery, generators, or solar power. The rules for these operations
are set by the ARRL and are very strict.
The Mayor James J. Petitjean of Rayne, Louisiana has issued a proclamation that the week of June 23rd through June 29th be proclaimed "AMATEUR RADIO WEEK" in the City of Rayne and Acadia Parish. Copy of the Proclamation-- Picture of AARA Members at Mayor's Office.
LOCATION:
The site for Field Day 2003 will be held on the grounds of the Rayne Civic Center, 300 Frog
Festival Drive, Rayne LA 70578 just south of I-10 at Exit 87. Go SOUTH on LA 35. Go to
first traffic light and turn RIGHT on OAK STREET then go to the second street and take a
RIGHT onto GOSSEN MEMORIAL. Follow the street to the end, and you will be at the Rayne
Civic Center. Look for the antenna and tent. There is plenty of room to locate our
operations and there are many facilities for camper hookups for our campers.
There is a bathhouse and restroom facilities also.
OUR GOAL:
The Acadiana Amateur Radio Association, Inc. has voted to make this a "fun event",
that doesn't mean we should not take our operation serious. We still would like to enjoy
the friendships, eat, brag and work as many stations as we can. There are many
new hams that will be attending for the first time, so it will be up to us old OM's (old man)
to show how it can be done and why "all" modes of operation are important to Ham Radio.
Rigs will consist of 2 - Icom 706's, 1 - Icom 725, 20-15-10 beam, dipoles
for all bands. AMOS (Amateur Mobile Operating Service), the club's mobile
operations unit will be present with A.C. generators along with the Acadia Parish Emergency
Unit with their A.C. generators. Operating under the tent will be the new GOTA station which we can
allow any person licensed or unlicensed to operate supervised by a control operator (licensed amateur).
This radio will operate SSB only.
We will have visits by public officials, Acadia Parish Emergency Coordinator
and the local boy scouts. I hope to have a bar-b-que pit for cooking a
delicious meal for Saturday afternoon.
GOTA - This is a "Get On The Air" station operated by a Novice, Technician, or generally inactive hams under their existing operating privileges, or under the direction of a Control Operator with appropriate privileges, as necessary. Non-licensed persons may participate under the direct supervision of an appropriate control operator.
We plan to have some local emergency agencies present, such as the Acadia Parish Sheriff's Mobile Operations Center and our own "AMOS" Amateur Mobile Operations Service van on site and in operation.
We would like to invite anyone interested in Amateur Radio to come out and visit. A special invitation goes out to all Scouting groups. We are always looking for young and older persons to get into a this interesting, good, clean, educational hobby.
We are asking local businesses in the Acadiana area to make donations of food, water, scratch pads, and any other items that might be of use to the volunteers working during this event. All donations will be greatly appreciated.
* VE Testing-All classes at 4:00 PM Saturday June 28. Bring all your information you will need. We will have all the testing material and VE's present. * AARA Mobile Operation Van (AMOS), and the Acadia Parish Sheriff's Mobile Operation Van. * Handout table with ARRL, SkyWarn, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and AARA membership applications. * Public Officials and News Media. * Visitor and Public Official Guest Book. * Members present to answer any questions you may have about Amateur Radio. * Radio contacts of all modes, including satellite and solar power. * A chance for anyone, licensed or not, to make a contact via ham radio on the GOTA station. And a "VERY SPECIAL THANKS" to the City of Rayne and Mayor James Petitjean for their hospitality and support of this event at the Rayne Civic Center Campground.
