MEDIA RELEASE
June 19, 2012
Clay County Amateur Radio Field Day

It’s time again for the Clay County Amateur Radio Emergency Service to participate in Amateur Radio Field Day.

Date/Time: 12 PM Saturday 23 June to 12 PM Sunday 24 June
Location: Lakeside Junior High School on Doctor’s Lake Drive, Orange Park

Adrian Gray, Emergency Coordinator of Clay County ARES, encourages residents to stop by the event to learn more about how these radio systems impact our community’s ability to communicate during times of crisis. ARRL Field Day is the single most popular on-the-air event held annually in the United States and Canada. On the fourth weekend of June each year more than 35,000 radio amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to operate from remote locations.

It is a time when many aspects of Amateur Radio come together to highlight its many roles. It is a contest, but it is also an opportunity to practice their emergency response capabilities. It is also a way to demonstrate amateur radio to the organizations that amateur radio serves in an emergency, as well as the general public. Amateur radio operators use these same skills when they help with events such as marathons and bike-a-thons, celebrations such as parades, and exhibits at fairs, malls and museums. But despite the development of very complex, modern communications systems — or maybe because they are so complex — ham radio has been called into action again and again to provide communications in crises when it really matters. Amateur radio is here to support the community with communications support in real disaster and post-disaster situations. Field Day is a picnic, a camp-out, practice for emergencies, an informal contest and, most of all, FUN! The public is welcome to come and see amateur radio in operation and participate. Please contact Adrian Gray by email at agrayt1@comcast.net.