In case anyone is looking to do something this Saturday. Dave AI6VX
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Keith Elliott W6KME Subject: [K6MEP] Micro Field Day Saturday!!!
Well, here it is...four more days until the third annual Bored Net Micro Expo. October 3, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, at Cal State Channel Islands in the same Aliso Square it has been in for the last two years.
Before saying anything more about it, I want to remind everyone why this event exists. Six years ago Zak Cohen N6PK and a few others started the Bored Net, which is still going on every morning. Yesterday, we passed 54,000 log entries. All clubs, no clubs, just hams. Zak somehow saw a need and stepped in to fill it.
About the same time, I discovered how much I enjoyed portable operations. I would usually bring Zak with me to local parks, and we started calling it Micro Field Day. The idea caught on, and it turned out there was another need we were filling.
One day, Zak said to me that it would be great to have a HUGE Micro Field Day, where everyone would just show off their stuff and have fun being hams. Several local clubs have had meetings like that that were quite popular. So I decided I would give it a try...a micro expo, not a convention, not a ham fest. an EXPO. Turned out it was a lot of fun.
What made it all possible was the CSUCI clubs...both the faculty club led by Dr. Jason Miller, KM6PSZ, and the sudent club they mentor. That provided a location that allows an event built on our HOBBY, not on the need to be a commercial success.
And here we are, doing our third Micro Expo. Not because of what The Bored Net Group has done, and not even because of what Zak foresaw, but because there are so many of us that love ham radio and like to chare that with other hams. That's why our "slogan" (I hate slogans) for the event is "The Attendees are the Attraction". This Expo is for and about us, hams.
I hope everyone will have a chance to be there for at least part of the day. At least 6 clubs are planning exhibits (one is even holding their monthly meeting!). We'll have Micro Field Day too, so bring your radios. It's also the California QSO party that day, so the bands will be poppin'. Bring a table, a couple of chairs, a popup...we'll have space for everybody. Or just bring yourself. Bring your friend, bring your family, bring your neighbors. There has never been a better place to show people why we love our hobby. This is the highlight of my entire year, just watching so many hams join together to enjoy each other's company.
It's hard for me this year to hold this event without mentioning Zak...in addition to being a Bored Net event, a clubs event, an all-hams event, to me it's also Zak Fest. He was a dear friend to me, and a valuable mentor, and I know he'd love what this event has come to be.
Back to nuts and bolts...here are event particulars at https://www.theborednet.net/index.php/ham-radio-expo-to-be-held-on-september... . The event is FREE. The parking is $6, since it's on a California State University Campus. It's the best deal in Ham Radio. Attached is a file with a QR code for paying for parking if you can't find a kiosk; just enter your license plate and you're good.
Follow the maps on the website to find Aliso Plaza. If you can't find parking, come to the plaza and ask for Keith, Martin or Chuck on 145.555 and we'll sort you out. If you need parking for limited mobility, call us and we'll deal with that also.
Talk in for the event is on the PVARC Simulcast system. 144.885 (+, 88.5) and 449.660 (-, 88.5). Once on site, we're using 145.555 simplex.
-Keith Elliott W6KME and the Bored Net Group
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