Local Radio Amateurs demonstrate emergency preparedness during the annual U.S. and Canada Field Day contest  by Fred Kruger, K2LDC 

Amateur Radio Field Day 2012 is quickly approaching!  Each year, on the fourth full weekend in June (this year:June 23-24), radio amateurs (Hams) from all over the United States and Canada join with other members of clubs or friends to set up and operate from special locations. Some will operate from sites in parks, open fields, or shopping centers, while others will choose to operate from their local Emergency Operations Center, or even from home. Many will remain at their Field Day sites for the full 24 hours of the contest; operating from, and sleeping in, one or more small tents.  

One of the key differences between this competition and others is that many ham groups will eat field-cooked food and will operate using “off-mains” power (batteries, generators, solar panels, wind mills, or even water turbines); thereby simulating emergency conditions....even if it is under somewhat relaxed conditions. It is an opportunity for all to learn to operate radio gear in abnormal situations and under less than optimal conditions. Other Hams view Field Day as a special contest and compete to get the most contacts and bonus points. All different types of antennas are set up for the operation and virtually all modes of radio communications are used. Some of these modes are AM, FM, Morse Code (CW), Single Side Band, and various digital modes.  

Communications may actually involve contacts with Ham astronauts on the International Space Station or with radio amateurs almost anywhere in the world. Some contacts may be made by bouncing signals off the ionosphere, while others may be received and retransmitted by amateur radio satellites circling the earth far out in space.   

In addition to their actual radio operation, many participating hams will set up and operate in public venues and provide educational materials and discussions. Guests may even be invited to speak over (one of) the radios. A special stand-alone ham radio station may be set up to encourage new operators to participate and provide the club with additional contest points, plus bonus points.  

Hams respond to all types of emergencies. When normal communications channels are disrupted,  radio amateurs jump in action to provide essential communications when it really matters. A recent example of this occurred when large areas of Long Island lost power during Hurricane Irene. With no power, cell telephone service became virtually non-exist ant in many areas. Without electricity cable modems stopped working and cable telephone services stopped. The average person could neither call someone for information nor use their cable connected television up-to-date information. They couldn't call their cable company to complain and they couldn't call the power company to complain.  

Hams who were set up and prepared for emergencies were able to use their battery or generator powered radios to contact other hams and obtain repair status information, provide logistical information, or summon help. When all else fails, hams are well known for their ability to provide communications support in real disaster and post-disaster situations.  

The contest aspect of Field Day is to simply make contact with as many other stations as possible without prior scheduling and operate their radio equipment under less than optimum conditions. Similar skills are used when radio amateurs help with community events such as parades, bike-a-thons and marathons. They also use some of the same skills when they exhibit at a meeting or fair. Field Day also  provides an opportunity to demonstrate Amateur Radio to elected officials and the general public.  

As described above, many amateur radio clubs on Long Island will set up and operate multiple radio stations and compete with other stations nationwide and beyond. In a real emergency or disaster, this same equipment would be available to provide a communications link from Long Island to the rest of the world, even if all public power and all local/regional communications systems were not operational (worst case, but possible).   

Several clubs try to combine the best of everything: training, education, demonstration, and just plain socializing. Some clubs will use solar power in addition to a gas generator and auto battery power. Sometimes a very low power station  (less than 5 watts) will be added, since it will operate from readily available batteries for many hours or days and still be able to reach out long distances.   

Visitors are welcomed at Field Day sites! The latest information about local ham radio Field Day sites and operating hours can be found on the web site of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL):  http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator .

Welcome to TheRotary Club of Commack-Kings Park! 

Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 34,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self.

The Rotary Club of Commack-Kings Park, New York is located in the north-central part of Long Island, in an area that bridges New York City suburbs with the rural areas of eastern Long Island. Our community includes beautiful beaches, extensive shopping, state parks, as well as industrial areas. Our members are business and professional men and women who believe in their community and who seek to make the world a better place, from the local street corner to the farthest corners of the globe.

As you read about our activities in these pages, please consider whether you'd like to be part of the future of Rotary, and if so, please write to us.

Rotary was founded in Chicago, IL in 1905 by lawyer Paul Harris and three business associates who joined together for fellowship and business at a time and in a city where business practices were sharp and trust was hard to come by. The members of the first club soon became better acquainted with one another and developed relationships more like those in small-town America, which led to success as a natural by-product of those relationships. Within a few short years, the concept expanded to dozens of cities and the focus of the membership turned also to service. Today, over 33,000 Rotary clubs may be found in over 200 countries and geographical areas with more than 1.2 Million members. The Rotary Club of Commack-Kings Park was chartered in 1968 and since then has undertaken countless projects to better our local community, our region, and the world at large.  To learn more about the history of Rotary International, click here

1.  Friendship: In an increasingly complex world, Rotary provides one of the most basic needs of humans: the fellowship.  This is one of two reasons why Rotary began in 1905.

 2.  Professional contacts: This was the second reason for the emergence of Rotary.  Everyone needs a network of contacts.  Rotary consists of a cross section of professions from a community because Rotarians are involved in all commercial sectors and professionals, and help each other.

 3.  Personal Growth: Involvement with Rotary encourages personal growth in the area of human relations.

 4.  Leadership experience: Rotary is an organization of leaders and successful people.  Serving in Rotary positions is the greatest experience in leadership.  One learns how to motivate, influence and lead those who are already leaders.

 5.  Performance civic community: The connection with a Rotary club makes better citizens.  Typically, the Rotary Club brings together the most active citizens of a community.

 6.  Updated information: The weekly meetings of a club seeking to keep members updated on what's happening in the community, nation and world.  We discuss various topics presented by guest speakers.

 7.  Fun: Rotary is fun.  All weekly meetings, club projects and social activities and service are fun and interesting.  Additionally, service is fun.