NARL FIELD DAY

The Newington Amateur Radio League holds its club Field Day on the last weekend in June,  the date designated by the American Radio Relay League as a national day for hams to demonstrate their ability to erect a complete operating station on an unprepared site in the event of an emergency.   Clubs all across the US and Canada observe this practice.

The 2011 NARL Field Day included tents and antennas at a cul-de-sac off the end of Russell Road on Cedar Mountain in Newington, courtesy of the Cedarcrest Hospital. Contacts were made using the club call sign N1ARL, operating as 2A, "Two Alpha" on all but the WARC bands.

A ceremony was held during which town officials presented NARL President Steve Ewald with an official proclamation in support of Amateur Radio.

The club supplied dinner Saturday evening at the site.  Arrangements have been made for tents, generators, assorted antennas, radios, and tuners. The bands were open and the weather held.  Many contacts were made all across the US using a Delta loop, an HF Beam on a mast, and assorted other antennas. The logging computers were linked with a wi-fi network and gave a real-time display of all operator's progress. See photos in the club photo scrapbook.

2011 NARL President Steve Ewald, WV1X, received this proclamation at the Newington Town Council meeting on Tuesday evening, June 14. Vice Mayor McBride read the proclamation and presented the document to Steve.

Upon acceptance of the proclamation, Steve said, “I am honored and privileged to accept this proclamation on behalf of the members of the Newington Amateur Radio League. My club stands ready to provide emergency communications and public service communications to our town and the surrounding communities when needed. Thank you very much for this special recognition.”

Several supportive comments were received about Amateur Radio by Newington Council members as well as from citizens that were in attendance.