Valley of the Moon Amateur Radio Club

Events

Hamfest — April 25, 2009

A Hamfest is a half-day event where the public as well as Amateur Radio Operators meet to observe and use Ham radio equipment to make connections with other Ham operators in California, as well as other states and countries.

Hamfest features:

a pancake breakfast (the club's annual fund raiser)
a Swap Meet with all kinds of new and used amateur radio equipment
demonstrations of Fox-hunting (where a person with a handheld radio and special antenna tries to find a hidden radio)
a VE session where prospective hams can earn their license or current hams can upgrade
a display of emergency vehicles.

Place: Sonoma Veterans Memorial Building, 126 First Street West, Sonoma

Admission: FREE, there is a charge for breakfast

Talk-in on 145.350 MHz (88.5 pl)

Field Day — June 27, 28 2009

Field Day, the most time-honored tradition in the hobby, was inaugurated in 1933 as a local, national and international test of portable radio equipment for use during disaster. It has evolved into an annual event focusing on preparedness for communications emergencies.

Field Day Rules

Eligibility: Field Day is open to all amateurs in the areas covered by the ARRL/RAC Field Organizations and countries within IARU Region 2. DX stations residing in other regions may be contacted for credit, but are not eligible to submit entries.

Object: To work as many stations as possibleon any and all amateur bands (excluding the 30, 17, and 12-meter bands) and in doing so to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions. A premium is placed on developing skills to meet the challenges of emergency preparedness as well as to acquaint the general public with the capabilities of Amateur Radio.

Date and Time Period: Field Day is always the fourth full weekend of June, beginning at 1800 UTC (1100 local) Saturday and ending at 2100 (1400 local) UTC Sunday.

General: There are specific rules and awards for various operating conditions and equipment. Field day has become a competitive event to encourage clubs and individuals to expand their capabilities so they are better prepared to operate more effectively and efficiently in emergency conditions.