What the What What?!!! You read that tagline correct!
Listen, we all love the routine events that we do with meetings, tech nights, Club improvement schedules, local and area events aiding the public, but WHAT, is one thing we love more than all the rest besides the DX?! Hamfests, Tailgates, & Swapmeets!
Hamfests, Tailgates, & Swapmeets offer us a chance to travel to areas not normally visited and meet people from all walks of life that enjoy the love of radio communications! They may be developed around the chance to buy, sell, swap or trade the day away, but the events are more geared toward the social aspect and interaction. Besides, you can’t sell a pancake to a steakhouse (ok yes you can and I have done it! (True story. The year was 1998 and I was in New Orleans [rabbit trail, saved for a later date])). Anyhow, Relaxed atmospheres bring people in! A warm cup of joe or a cool lemonade and sometimes a good ‘ol fashioned BBQ keeps them around. Not that all Hamfests and Tailgates have food but don’t base it on that! I have met some of the most ingenious Hams at events such as Hamfests and Tailgates!
Ideas of how to do things are vastly different depending upon the area you are in or go to! Be open to people that do something you do in a different way! The experiments others are performing can and will inspire you and your way of transmitting and receiving! Inspiration can come in all forms and why not go visit an area outside of your spectrum! Events come and go and we sure like to make the ones we can! Coming up this weekend on April the 12th is the Panama City Florida Tailgate at 130 N Church Ave in Panama City Florida! Some of us have attended this event in years past and we are always impressed with their welcoming nature and innovation! If you have a list of gear your are looking for will you find it here? Maybe, maybe not, and that’s just the chance you take when making things work! You will also gain knowledge and learn! ~ Plus you might make a few new contacts or put the face to a callsign! This event runs from 0900 – 1300 with lunch served around 1200! Click the “this Event link above to read the PCARC’s webpage with all of the information! Talk-in Frequency: W4RYZ Repeater, 145.210MHz PL 100Hz
So load up fellow operators and radio enthusiasts! Because we are hitting the road and heading East to visit those that have in turn visited us and paid us just as much homage as we are dishing out! Support in the Amateur Radio Community is paramount for the hobby’s longevity! Be a part of it, promote it, encourage development, and foster a positive relationship over the air, and in person! We will see you there!
Want to know where and when PARC plans to have it’s members? Check out the Playground Amateur Radio Club Calendar!
Not in our immediate area (or maybe you are) but want to know how to find a Hamfest, Tailgate, or Swapmeet?! Click this and search your area or search nationally! Be sure to check it regularly as additions are constantly published!
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