<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
</head>
<body smarttemplateinserted="true">
<p>The following is from today's ARRL Letter. Perhaps it's time to
start thinking about how we might adapt this years Field Day if
necessary?</p>
<p>73<br>
David Boyd<br>
KN6CEH<br>
</p>
<hr width="100%" size="2">
<div class="itemTitle"><span style="color:
rgb(0, 0, 255);">ARRL Field Day 2020 -- A Time to Adapt</span></div>
<p class="default">Many individuals and groups organizing events for
ARRL <a href="http://www.arrl.org/field-day" target="_blank">Field
Day</a> 2020
have been contacting ARRL for guidance on how to adapt their
planned
activities in this unprecedented time of social distancing and
uncertainty.</p>
<p class="default">"Due to the unique situation presented this year,
this can be
an opportunity for you, your club, or your group to try something
new,"
ARRL Contest Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE, said. "Field Day isn't
about doing
things the same way year after year. Use this year to <img alt=""
src="http://www3.arrl.org/nl/al/image/Field-Day-2020-logo.jpg"
width="299" vspace="3" hspace="3" height="212" align="right">develop
and employ
a new approach that is in line with the current circumstances."</p>
<p class="default">Social distancing and state and local
requirements very likely
will impact just how -- and even whether -- you are able to
participate in
Field Day this year. ARRL continues monitoring the coronavirus
situation,
paying close attention to information and guidance offered by the
Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (<a
href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html"
target="_blank">CDC</a>). If social distancing means
that Class A with a 30-member team set up in a city park won't
work this
year, then it's time for a Plan B. Part of the Field Day concept
has always
been adapting your operation to the situation at hand. At its
heart, Field
Day is an emergency communication demonstration. Field Day rules
are
flexible enough to allow individuals and groups to adjust their
participation and
strategies in a way that still addresses their needs while being
fun. Some
possibilities include:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p class="default">Encouraging club
members to operate from their home stations on emergency power
(Class E).</p>
</li>
<li>
<p class="default">Using the club's repeater as a means for
individual
participants to keep in touch during the event.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p class="default">Setting
up a portable station in the backyard with a temporary antenna
for family
members interested in operating Field Day, who are now unable
to participate
as part of a larger group.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p class="default">One big impact this
year will be a decline in public visibility and any interaction
with the
visitors. Prudence may dictate dispensing with the ham radio PR
table to attract
passersby, should you set up in a more public location. It's okay
not to
score all the bonus points you may have attempted in the past.
Local and
served agency officials may be unwilling to visit, which is
understandable
under the circumstances. Do be sure to reach out to them as part
of your
preparations and remind them that you look forward to continuing
your working
relationship with them in the future.</p>
<p class="default">The impact will
differ from place to place, so ARRL recommends that all amateur
radio clubs
participating in Field Day stay in regular contact with local or
state public
health officials for their advice and guidance on hosting Field
Day
activities.</p>
"With any emergency preparedness exercise, it's
not about adapting the situation to your operation; it's about
adapting your
operation to the situation that presents itself," Bourque said. "Try
something different."
<p><br>
<span class="st4cursor"></span></p>
</body>
</html>