Locked Happenings Dakota Division – March 18 - 25
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With spring arriving our winter temperatures return. Perfect time to
start thinking about Field Day. There are no major changes this year. Reminder the GOTA station now isn’t limit on the amount of QSO’s they can make. In the past sites would hit the maximum limit and shut down the station, reducing the opportunity to expose visitors and beginners to operating a ham radio. Now you can keep the GOTA station on the air and active all weekend earning you points for every contact they make. There is a new bonus this year, 50 points for a Site Responsibilities person. I looked at the check list, and it still needs some work. The intent is to have a person responsible for making sure the site is welcoming to visitors and guests, information about amateur radio and your club is available, you have a way for people to get directions such as a talk-in frequency that is monitored, etc. So, watch for changes to this check list in the weeks to come. While you are at it make sure you get the appropriate local officials invited to visit and have someone ready to give them a tour around the site explaining what is going on. The last key thing is to make sure you get your Field Day operation on the ARRL Field Day Site Locator. This is helpful for people traveling to an area to find a site as well as myself and your section managers to find your site. I suggest getting information listed as soon as you know your group will be doing it. The 2024 Field Day website is functional so check it out now . 73 Bill AC?W Special Events: 4/19 – 4/22 Celebrate founding of Minnesota State Parks - N0P Lake Region ARC 4/26 – 4/28 Handiham Program 57th Anniversary W0ZSW Help Courage Kenny Handiham Program celebrate its 57th anniversary by working W0ZSW, 5/4 – Milwaukee Road Railroad Newport Tower Anniversary – N0T 1400 – 2000 UTC; CW 7.040 & 14.035, SSB 7.220 & 20 meter 14.260 South East Metro ARC; Contact KD0IRF@... 5/11 – Minnesota Fishing Opener – N0F 1400 – 2000 UTC; SSB 7.255 & 14.255, FT8 7.056 & 14.091 Operating from Ham Lake Park Anoka County RC; 6/6 – 80th Anniversary Commemoration of D-Day 1500 – 2000 UTC; CW 7.040 & 14.040, SSB general portion of 20 & 40 South East Metro ARC; Contact n0bm@... 6/8 – MN Parks On The Air - 8 AM to 6 PM Help make this first-time event a success, get out and active a park or work one of the many park activations that day. This day is MN State Parks free admission day. Stillwater ARA. More details Hamfests (all times local time): 3/23 – Buffalo, MN; 8 AM – Noon; Midwinter Madness; Maple Grove RC; ; ARRL reps present (Director & Section Manager) plus QSL card checker for all awards Classes: Technician Class March 26, 6:30 – 9:00 PM, In-Person Brainerd Fire Station Training Room Brainerd, MN Contact brainerdhamradioclass@... Brainerd Area ARC Technician Class March 26 to April 18, Tue & Thur 6 PM, In-Person Owatonna Fire Department Owatonna, MN Contact oscarhamradio@... Owatonna Steele County ARC Technician Class Starts Saturday April 6, 2024; 9-11 AM, 6 weeks In-Person Roosevelt Education Center Fergus Falls, MN Contact kd0oix@... Lake Region ARC VE Test Sessions (all times local time): 3/19 – 8:30 AM Mankato, MN; Mankato ARC; contact wx0mik@... ; must preregister 3/19 – 9:00 PM Mankato, MN; Mankato ARC; contact wx0mik@... ; must preregister 3/23 – 7:30 AM Buffalo, MN; Maple Grove ARC; contact mwmve@... ; must preregister 3/23 – 10:15 AM Minot, ND; American Legion Post 26; contact newdesignsbbs@... ; must preregister 3/25 – 6:00 PM Chanhassen, MN; SMARTS & Eden Prairie RC; contact kdzerob@... ham.study/sessions/KD0B 3/26 – 6:00 PM Bismarck, ND; Central Dakota ARC; contact VEteam@... 73 Bill Lippert AC?W ARRL Director Dakota Division AC0W@... -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARRL Dakota Division Director: Vernon E Lippert, AC0W ac0w@... -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
W0AYE Ben Wussow