From the desk of Larry, K4LWM.
While I was attending the Huntsville HAMfest I made a stop at the booth manned by representatives of the Orlando Amateur Radio Club where I spoke with Michael Cauley, W4ORL, the chairman of the Orlando HAMcation Committee for the 2027 festival. I had met Michael earlier this year when I attended the 2026 festival.
I was expressing my pleasure about how well the 2026 festival was managed and my excitement about attending next year. In that conversation I mentioned that I serve as the vendor coordinator for the Native American flute festival, Musical Echoes, which is held in Fort Walton Beach each year. During our conversation, Michael asked me to consider being a volunteer for HAMcation for 2027. I said that I would consider the offer, not really thinking seriously about what it would mean. Apparently, Michael did not forget about that conversation.
In the first week of September, I received an email from the Volunteer Chairman, Rick Peron KM4KQQ, with a link to the HAMcation Volunteer Portal. In the portal I found 20 committees that was requesting help with activities ranging from onsite ticket sales, RV parking directions, setting up and managing the forums, assisting vendor booth setup, security, and helping with feeding the volunteer staff in the volunteer lounge. Most of those activities I feel qualified to do based on my past volunteer assignments. So, I signed up as a volunteer for the 2027 festival.
Once I registered as a volunteer candidate, I learned that my attendance fee would be waived if I would commit to a minimum of four hours of assistance with one of the committees. Great! I
can do that. Suddenly the emails came flooding in, I have been contacted by several committee chairmen requesting assistance an I have learned that by assisting for more hours than the minimum four hours, I can also get lunches provided as well as other perks. The most interesting one is a benefit for my home club.
Every hour that I serve as a volunteer earns credit that will be paid to the 501 C 3 organization that I represent, which of course is Playground Amateur Radio Club of fort Walton Beach. Who would turn down an opportunity to generate additional revenue for their club, not me. Now I have accepted several requests to serve on about 4 committees and I have extended my stay so I can rack up as many volunteer hours as I can, while still getting to enjoy the HAMfest for FREE.
Based on the interest from the various committees that contacted me, I know that all of the committees need volunteers to assist them. It does take a tremendous number of workers to hold a festival that is attended by as many as 15 to 20 thousand people over a three-day period. If you have thoughts of attending the 2027 festival, consider being a volunteer, even if it is for as few as four hours. There will be opportunities from Tuesday through Sunday even though the festival is only open to the public Friday through Sunday. Remember, your activates could benefit your club. I hope to see you in Orlando in February. 73 K4LWM
