West Michigan Section to host ARRL Field Day kickoff picnic luncheon with GVSU Student Branch and GVSU/GRARA Ham Radio Clubs on Saturday June 22
ALL WEST MICHIGAN SECTION IEEE MEMBERS, INCLUDING OUR STUDENT BRANCHES, ARE INVITED TO DROP-IN ANYTIME AT THE ANNUAL U.S. AMATEUR RADIO FIELD DAY (FD) CONTEST EVENT TO BE HELD FROM 2 PM SATURDAY, JUNE 28, THROUGH 2 PM SUNDAY JUNE 29. IT WILL RUN ALL SATERDAY NIGHT. AS LAST YEAR, THE LOCAL VERSION OF FD WILL BE HELD ON THE GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY, ALLENDALE CAMPUS. SETUP STARTS AT 10 AM ON SATURDAY.
The main GVSU FD sponsor is the Grand Rapids Amateur Radio Association (GRARA), with FCC issued association radio station call, W8DC. They are teamed with the GVSU amateur radio club, FCC station call, W8GVU, and the currently being formed CALVIN University amateur radio club.
The West MI IEEE Section will be the radio club’s guests and will provide a free “Jimmy Johns” picnic lunch from 1:00 PM to 2 PM on Saturday, June 28. This will be just before on-the-air activities commence. The Section’s EMC Chapter will co-sponsor.
The FD site is just inside the campus’ North entrance off M-45 and close to Lubbers Stadium. Specifically, the site is outside the Ravine Center (RaC) building. The address is 4310 W Ravine Center Dr, Allendale, MI 49401. See map below.
This is the same site GRARA used in 2024. Again, restrooms will be available inside the RaC. When you arrive look for the radio operator tents and antennas outside. See the Allendale campus map below. A GVSU parking sticker is NOT required on weekends.
To plan for enough sandwiches, any IEEE, GRARA, GVSU or CALVIN radio club members wishing to attend the IEEE sponsored luncheon from 1 to 2 PM, please RSVP to Ron Fredricks (K8DMR), West MI Section Vice Chair, by CBD Friday 27th, at ron fredricks@ieee.org Alternately, you may text Ron at 616-443-8576.
We are planning to order 3-4 different JJ trays depending on the number of RSVPs. Each tray contains 10 full size sandwiches cut into thirds. We also plan on having chips in individual packages and fruit assortments. GRARA will supply water, lots of water, as it looks to be in the 80’s and sunny for the picnic.
Date and Time
Location
Hosts
Registration
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- 4310 W Ravine Center Dr
- Allendale, Michigan
- United States 49401
- Building: Ravine Center (RaC)
- Room Number: Outdoors using tents
- Contact Event Host
- Co-sponsored by CH - West Michigan Section Chapter, EMC27
- Starts 25 June 2025 01:00 PM UTC
- Ends 27 June 2025 09:30 PM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
IEEE West MI Section, and Grand Valley State University anmd Grand Rapids Amateur Radio Association Radio Clubs
American Radio Relay League 2024 Annual Field Day Operattion
IEEE/Grand Valley State University/Grand Rapids Amateur Radio Association licensed amateur radio operators will describe their radio equipment and Field Day operation. They will make many Radio Contacts (hopefully thousands) during the 24 hour contest period
Agenda
1 PM Saturday the 28th: Assemble at the Grand Valley State University ARRL Field Day Site on Campus
1:30-2:00 PM Saturday the 28th, Picnic Luncheon (Jimmy Johns sandwiches, chips and desserts supplied by IEEE West Michigan Section)
2:00 PM Saturday - Sunday 2:00 PM: View, Participate, Kibbitz, or actually Operate (licensed radio amateurs or non-hams with a licensed radio amateur supervising)