[XWARN] XWARN Field Day is this Saturday thru Sunday!

[Bob Baker N8ADO]

ARRL Field Day is this coming Saturday and Sunday (June 25, 26). This is 
a 24 hour operation.

Before continuing, write yourself a reminder to bring a chair.

XWARN will set up several stations at the Beavercreek Twp Fire Dept at 
Dayton-Xenia Rd and Orchard Lane. The DARA board has declined our 
invitation to join us, but DARA members are welcome to participate in 
the XWARN operation. All are welcome whether or not you belong to XWARN.

Set up will begin at 9:00 AM on Saturday and the on air portion of the 
event begins at 2PM local. Even if you don't care to operate radios, 
come out to set-up and see what we are up to. There is not much heavy 
lifting, but many hands make light work. Also, we can always use more 
people to help with clean-up on Sunday afternoon. If you are able to 
help with this, try to arrive by 1 pm Sunday, but if you cannot make 
before then, come by when you are free and see if we still need help 
with clean-up.

We are planning to move our operation to the West end of the complex to 
have access to restrooms. Parking is very limited in that area, so 
please park along side of the road in the grassy area below the fire 
station. DO NOT park in the concrete areas next to the station.

We are tentatively planning to have a potluck picnic Saturday evening, 
hoping to eat around 5:30. In the past couple of years, too many people 
sat and watched while the food crew worked and it would not be fair to 
ask them to do it again. If you are willing to commit to helping to 
set-up, cook, and clean-up, send me (n8ado at arrl.net) a message offering 
to help. If and only if we get a sufficient response, we will expand the 
operation to provide burgers and hot dogs. If you are willing to head 
the operation, state it in your message. If I get a decent response by 
mid-day Thursday, I will send out another email through the reflector 
telling you about the change. Otherwise, we will still have a picnic, 
but it will be pure potluck. In either case, everyone should bring food 
to share.   Be sure to bring a chair for each person in your party. 
(Friends and family are welcome).

I did reserve the community room, so we do have shelter in case of rain.

Let me emphasize that there are no benches, picnic tables, or chairs 
available. Unless you wish to sit on the ground, bring a chair. Anyone 
caught trying to smuggle a chair out of the township building will be 
asked to leave.

Our focus is on education and trying things that teach us what works and 
what doesn't. If you have never been on HF, if you have a radio that you 
want to try out, if you just want to come out and get involved, this is 
the event for that. We are NOT serious contesters, but rather, we make 
contacts to prove that we have a system that works. The last two years, 
we were third nationally in class 3F, so we must do a few things right. 
We do chase the bonus points because the bonus activities are 
educational and challenging. We could definitely use a few more youth 
operators (do not need to be licensed), both for thebonus points and 
because they have fun. If you are reluctant to actually talk into the 
microphone, but want to be involved, we'll put you to work logging. Or 
perhaps you would like to operate one of the digital modes. This is a 
chance for technician class operators to sit with a control 
operator/coach and get on HF.

It's still a bit too far in the future to be accurate, but the weather 
forecast for the weekend is hot with the possibility of storms. We will 
set up and operate rain or shine, but we will shut down if lightning is 
observed.

Come on out to Field Day. And bring a chair!