Make plans now to attend the club sponsored 3rd annual NARCfest event with the proceeds used to support the Southwest Missouri Linked Repeater System (for system details go to smlrs.info).
Maybe go to a football game? Nope. Go mall shopping? Nope. Get married? Not even close! For the radio enthusiast, absolutely nothing beats the fun and excitement of seeing bright and shiny equipment and picking up a “boat anchor” or two for the ham shack.
A variety of always popular commercial vendors will be present including Associated Radio, D & L Antenna, Ham Crazy, and WBØW as well as flea market tables where people will be unloading (er.. selling) a valuable piece of equipment to make room for new stuff.
Disappointed with the breakfast and/or lunch you were planning at home? Come out and enjoy the delicious and affordable meals that will be catered during the event. It’s also a great opportunity for an “eyeball” QSO with your friends while you graze!
NARCfest will also have three excellent forums: Contesting 101 by Bob Rennard (N7WY); Space Communications by the KC Hams In Space group; and Programming your HT with CHIRP (if possible, backup the radio and bring your programming cable. No charge but donations are appreciated).
As previously announced, we will have a “club table” where you can donate equipment and the proceeds will go to the club.
Please encourage high school age kids and younger to attend as they will get in free. Kids are really interested in electronic stuff as evidenced by the rising popularity of “Maker Faires”.
The club’s communications trailer will also be on display. Emphasis will be on explaining to interested non-hams about our hobby or for new hams to make their first contact.
Also see the progress made over the past year with making the trailer a valuable community resource.
There will be VE testing starting at 9:30 am. No preregistration required. Now is the time to upgrade or take that first test.
Finally,we saved the best for last. We will have prize drawings including: N3FJP gift certificate for logging software; Yaesu FTM-3100R VHF FM mobile radio; Kenwood TH-F6a FM tribander HT radio; and Retevis RT5 FM dual band HT radios.
So, what are you waiting for? Be first in line to catch all the goodies before they are gone! Driving directions are at smlrs.info.
