“CQ Field Day, CQ Field Day” The 2013 ARRL “Field Day” will be here before you know it! OK, KARC it’s time to mark your calendars for the 4th full weekend in June (See ARRL http://www.arrl.org/field-day for details) as W8GK once again hits the airwaves in every ham’s favorite annual North American operating event.
We are glad to have Mark Kozar KM8G back at the helm once again as KARC Field Day Chairman. Mark reports that Site 73 at Coonskin Park has been confirmed for our use during FD weekend including Friday, June 21 to do some preliminary set up. Mark also indicated that Kanawha County has put us on the calendar for June 7 when we will have our monthly June meeting at Shelter 73 at the Park to survey the site for FD and make final plans and preparations for the weekend which we hope brings out the multitudes. If you have never been to a FD site, it’s always a great time whether you actually get on the air or if you just enjoy the social excitement that FD seems to generate.

Mark is requesting someone help out with the set-up of the stations, logging computers and computer network between the operating positions. If there are any IT gurus or wannabes that can offer their expertise and or hardware to make this a great addition to our operation, likewise pass your interests along to Mark. He says we will be using the N3FJP logging software as we have in the past. It is really neat to watch our combined club logs and score scroll as the stations enter contacts. 

Other important Field Day details such as station logistics, operating schedules, food and other important arrangements will be discussed at the June KARC meeting.

If you are interested in helping out with Field Day 2013 make plans now to attend the June KARC meeting at Coonskin Park.

Bill Hunter K8BS – “Kanawha Valley Amateur Radio Operator of the Year”

Each year the Charleston Area Hamfest honors an amateur who has significantly contributed to the hobby in the Kanawha Valley, going above and beyond in service and support to our order. This year’s recipient is Bill Hunter K8BS. Bill is a longtime member and former officer of KARC and has been mainstay in the Kanawha Valley amateur community for many, many years. KARC is proud to have Bill K8BS as a member and congratulates him for this well-deserved and long overdue honor.

2013 Charleston Hamfest "Very Successful"

The 29th annual edition of the Charleston Area Hamfest is in the books as they say, and by all accounts has recieved rave reviews. Even the weather provided a beautiful day for a hamfest and may have been a factor in attendance numbers in excess of 525 with a few hams driving to the Charlie West from as far away as Ohio, Kentucky and North Carolina. Hamfest Committee Chairman Randy Damron N8XEA said he was quite pleased with the Hamfest saying “It was very successful in just about every respect. We had more attendance than last year and it looks like we probably did a little better financially this year too.”

Dave Poe W8IW reported on the following Sunday night KARC 2-meter net that he had heard several positive comments on the hamfest from other hams around the region. Randy then expressed his “Thanks” to everyone who worked hard and acknowledged the volunteers involved for making the 2013 Charleston Area Hamfest so successful. “I appreciate the time and hard work involved by everyone,” he said.