New England Division Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC and Assistant Director Anita, AB1QB traveled 900 miles over the Field Day weekend to visit many clubs in New England. Here is a summary of their travels:
Thursday, June 23rd – Meriden Amateur Radio Club
We were invited to celebrate 75 years of ARRL Affiliation with the Meriden Amateur Radio Club. An ARRL plaque recognizing MARC’s 75 Years of ARRL club affiliation will be awarded to club president Ed Snyder, W1YSM, from New England Division Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, and Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI. Former Section Manager Betsey Doane, K1EIC, also spoke to the group. The event was well attended by members and town dignitaries including Honorable Mayor William Dickinson and Fire Chief Joseph Czentnar.
Friday, June 24th – Rhode Island and Connecticut
Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club
Our first stop on Friday was at Chopmist Hill in Scituate, RI to visit the Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club. We had a nice chat with Mike, K1ETA, Lee, K1LRS, Byron, K1CYQ, Jim, K1GND, and Wayne, KA1VRF, who were starting to setup their Field Day Station. We learned about the history of the Chopmist Hill site, which was used as a listening post during World War 2, due to its favorable conditions for radio reception.
Newport County Radio Club
Our next stop was at Glen Park in Portsmouth, RI to visit the Newport County Radio Club‘s Field Day site. This was a great site and the hard-working Field Day crew had already put up 4 towers with antennas by the time we arrived at 1:30 pm.
We also enjoyed chatting with Nancy, KC1NEK, Paul, K1YBE, and Willy, W1LY about the Club’s field day plans and their activities and educational programs.
SECARS
Our next stop was at the SECARS (Southeastern Connecticut Amateur Radio Society) Field Day Site at the Zagray Farm Museum in Colchester, CT. SECARS was formed only 1 month ago when the Radio Amateur Society of Norwich (RASON) and the Tri-City Amateur Radio Club voted to form a new club. This year is the first Field Day for the new club. We enjoyed talking to Rob, KB1RS, Bob, W1RPQ, and Peter, K1PTO about how the club was formed and their field day plans.
Saturday June 25th – Massachusetts and New Hampshire
Hampden County Radio Association
Our first stop Saturday morning was at the Hampden County Radio Association field day site at School Street Park in Agawam, MA. HCRA president Larry, W1AST along with Najm, AB1ZA, Chris, W1TRK, Marc, K8LSB, and Bud, W2BUD were working hard to set up Field Day before the 2 pm start.
Contoocook Valley Radio Club
Our next stop was the Contoocook Valley Radio Club at AF1T and W1MKY’s QTH in Henniker, NH. We enjoyed chatting with Dale, Mickie, and the Contoocook Valley members and tour their site, including their incredible antenna farm! Pictured above are Ed, K2ECR, Claire, KC1PGW, Fred, AB1OC, Mickie, W1MKY, Chris, AC1EO, Bob, KB1QV, CVRC President Wolf, KA1VOU, Dale, AF1T, Allen, NS1O and Nathan, Art, K1BX, and Bill, AA1BF.
AB1OC/Mobile
We made the Field Day journey in our mobile HF station. We enjoyed operating the station during Field Day with AB1OC on the mic and AB1QB logging.
Granite State Amateur Radio Association
Our next stop was the Granite State Amateur Radio Association‘s Field Day site in Goffstown, NH. Pictured above are Steve, N1EZ, and Steve, KC1OSX on the 40-meter station.
PART of Westford, MA
Our next stop was at the Concord Rod and Gun Club in Concord, NH, where the PART of Westford, MA club held their Field Day. It was great to visit with our friends at PART! Pictured above are Gene, KB4HAH, Fred, AB1OC, Geoff, W1GCF, and Rick, W1RAG in the Clubhouse.
We also spent some time at the GOTA station visiting with Andy, KB1OIQ.
Nashua Area Radio Society
Next stop was to visit the Nashua Area Radio Society, our home radio club, at the Hudson Memorial School in Hudson, NH. It was great to visit with the members who came out for Field Day, including, Jamey, AC1DC, Lee, KC1GKJ, Vince, KD2TMJ, Joe, AC1LN, Mike, W1TKO, John, W2ID, Fred, AB1OC, Aron, W1AKI, John, W1SMN, and Rick, KB1RGB.
Sunday June 26th – New Hampshire and Maine
Port City Amateur Radio Club
Our first stop on Sunday was at the top of Stratham Hill in Stratham, NH – the Field Day site for the Port City Amateur Radio Club. This club had a great antenna farm, taking advantage of the large tower at the top of the hill. We also had the pleasure of meeting Brayden, KC1KUG, who is getting ready to be part of a youth team at WRTC next year in Italy. We also got to chat with the other members at the site including, Derek, KB1LXX, David, W1DWF, Carl WA3UEN, Gerry, W1VE, Rory, W1ENR, Mark, K1RX, Steve, KC1ILT, William, KB1YJ, Richard, N1AA, Dennis, KC1LLB, Joe, K1JEK, and Barry, KB1VX.
Great Bay Radio Association
Our next stop was the Great Bay Radio Association‘s Field Day site at Garrison Hill Park in Dover, NH. We were greeted by Les, KC1EOT, who had put together a great Public Information Table.
We enjoyed meeting members of the club including Jeff, N1XUQ, Les, KC1EOT, David, N1DOU, Winona, KC1ECM, and Mike, N1AMD.
Wireless Society of Southern Maine
Our last stop was at Wassamki Springs Campground in Scarborough, Maine, the Field Day Site of the Wireless Society of Southern Maine. This was a great site and club members were busy making the last contacts before the Field Day operations ended. We enjoyed touring their site and meeting members Eric, N1RXR, Waylon, KC1HJN, Jason, W1SFS, Tim, KB1HNZ, Stefania, K1GJY, Peter, KC1HBM, and James, KB1SDK.
Field Day Journey
Over the weekend we drove a total of around 1000 miles – you can see our trip below.
We have been very much looking forward to visiting Field Day sites around New England this year. It was great to see everyone face-to-face and see the many ways that folks approach Field Day. We very much enjoyed talking with folks about their club and their Field Day experiences.
