events

Community Events
GFAARC assists with communications, and manpower.
AT THESE and OTHER ANNUAL PUBLIC EVENTS
GRAB YOUR HANDHELD, A MOBILE, OR JUST COME LEND A HAND ...
NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED - We'll Show you what to do!
If you do not as yet have a radio, let someone know and we'll get you one to use for these events.

Listed below are community events that our organization has participated in for many years. Most of the general information does not change.
DATES, TIMES and any other CHANGES for the current year will be added as the information becomes available.

Click on an event below to view it's information.

KID's FISHING DAY - - - TOUR-De-CURE - - - CRUISE-R-LOSE POKER RUN
GFAARC SWAP MEET - - - BLUEGRASS on the BAY SKYWARN RECOGNITION DAY
HALLOWEEN GOBLIN PATROL

Click here for FIELD DAY INFO

Check Those Dates on our CLUB CALENDAR

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CRUISE-R-LOSE POKER RUN MAY 12th 2006 - PHOTO ALBUM

Amateurs are needed in two or three person teams to man seven POKER HAND DRAW STATIONS located at various business around the city. The teams will act as "official observers" as Poker Run participants stop at the station to DRAW a single card from a deck of cards to add to their poker hand. The team will then STAMP the participant's card to verify and authenticate the drawn card. This is an extremely FUN event, and as a plus, you get the see some of the "nicest and coolest rides" for hundreds of miles around.
THIS YEAR, GFAARC will sponsor a "FIFTY-FIFTY" draw, with tickets available at each Poker Run Draw Station. Winner to be announced at the end of the event (at Westside PIZZA HUT)
Check Out the "official" Cruise R Lose Website for more details about this event. or contact the club president to sign up to help.

KID's FISHING DAY: JUNE 3th 2006
Wadsworth Park 8:00 to 13:30 Amateur Radio Contact: ROY - W7MBV
NEED 6 to 10 Amateurs with HTs.

THIS YEAR, due to the dredging and other construction at Wadsworth Park, Changes in traffic flow, parking and pond access will be changed. Extra hams will be needed to help direct people to the correct places.

Amateur Radio Operators are needed to provide parking directions, assistance, and handicapped parking space enforcement to the hundreds of vehicles expected.    Most duties will involve a lot of walking / standing. This is an excellent opportunity to exercise our organizational skills "on the fly" as various parking situations develop. Most of the work will be in the morning as the major influx of vehicles start arriving. After about NOON, we will be pretty much done. Visitors are "on their own" to exit the parking area.

Amateur participants should come prepared for hot sun, wind, rain, or cold weather, as is always the case for springtime in Montana. Sun screen may be helpful to avoid a nasty sunburn, and mosquito repellant is a must as well. A Folding chair or two will be helpful to rest your feet from time to time.   Make sure you have a fully charged battery(s) for your handheld, and any other accessories you deem appropriate. (speaker mic/headset, etc) There are concessions available on the grounds, but save a buck or six, and bring a sack lunch / snax / drinks / etc.

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TOUR-De-CURE SATURDAY JUNE 17th 2006
We about 12 to 14 Hams to man 7 checkpoints as well as the Start / Finish.
Send an E-Mail to CAM - N7NBB to Signup
(or sign up at a Club Meeting)

As in the past, amateurs will be needed to staff SEVEN checkpoints along the route - (the I-15 frontage road between CASCADE and WOLF CREEK. The START / FINISH for the 2005 route will be in CASCADE.
In addition to 2 Amateurs to man the Start / Finish, we will also need at least one although TWO would be better to man the check points below.
NEW FOR 2005: The checkpoint and turn-a-round locations will be marked much better

1. FIVE miles EAST of CASCADE on Millegan Road. (out across bridge - NOT on frontage road)

2. Missouri River Inn

3. Stickney Creek

4. Wolf Creek Bridge Fishing Access

5. END OF ROUT TURNAROUND where the FRONTAGE ROAD meets the INTERSTATE Highway. PAST WOLF CREEK.

Bikers will start the long course (100 miles) at about 6:30am. First Checkpoint needs to be in place no later than 7:00am.

HALLOWEEN GOBLIN PATROL

On the evening of October 31st, GFAARC members assist local law enforcement by becoming extra "eyes on the street". Participants are assigned to areas of the city, and keep a watchful eye out for trouble, lost children, etc. We OBSERVE ONLY, and report suspicious activities to a GFAARC member located at the 911/EOC

SWAP MEET - SATURDAY MAY 1st, 2004
- - - - - NO SWAP MEET FOR 2006 - - - -

Our organization is planning a "SWAP MEET" and "JUNQUE SALE" for MAY 1^st 2004. This event will be held INDOORS at the Westgate Mall, here in Great Falls. This event will be open to any and all individuals and/or radio clubs who have an excess of equipment (like our club does), and wish to sell, trade, or otherwise liquidate their assets.

As I am sure is true in other areas as well, Great Falls has had quite a few new and upgraded hams. They are a ready market for reasonably priced used HF, VHF, and UHF gear. We will provide the marketplace to bring it all together, and YOUR pocketbook can benefit. What a better way to clean out your shack, and at the same time, help someone advance in the hobby. But don't stop at just complete fully functioning radios! Bring your bits, pieces, parts, and junque. You never know when someone else may want what you have. We only ask that you limit the items to those related to Amateur Radio and/or Electronics. Please: No Antique Butter Churns, 1953 Buick Hubcaps, Used Corn Poppers, Stuffed Jackelopes, and the like. Companions of those displaying radio gear may however, bring their "craft items" to sell if they have them.

There will be NO admission charged, NO "percentage on sales", and NO cost to you if you want to bring a table or two to display your items. This is simply a "Hand of Friendship" we are extending to other clubs and individuals in the interest of promoting Amateur Radio.

PLEASE NOTE: LIMITED AC power will be available for testing and demos of equipment (only). The room(s) will be locked overnight to safeguard your treasures. Tables and chairs will NOT be provided by G.F.A.A.R.C., so you will need to bring your own. Or spread out a blanket on the floor to display your wares (Hamfest Style!)

Those with RV's are welcome to use the mall parking lot for overnight stays, however there are NO HOOKUPS of any kind, (power, water, sewer, cable T.V., telephone, etc). Motel accommodations are plentiful nearby as well.

The mall has a restaurant within, and also one just a short distance away in the same parking lot. The mall area also convenient to many chain and local fast food establishments, and fine restaurants.

The ONLY stipulations are:
1.) There will be NO ITEMS left behind. Attendees are required to either "pack it back home" or deposit it in the dumpster when leaving. This extends to cardboard packing boxes, meal wrappers, etc.
2.) No alcohol is permitted in the mall common areas or in the swap meet room(s). There are taverns in the mall and nearby where you may go for that type of refreshment.

Plan now to attend. We would prefer an E-Mail confirmation if you are planning on coming, HOWEVER, if you decide at the last minute to come check it out that's fine too! Gather your items, get 'em priced, load 'em up, and come to the FIRST ANNUAL G.F.A.A.R.C. Spring Swap Meet.

To confirm you are coming, or for more specific information, you may E-Mail: info@w7eca.org this letter is also available for review at our organization’s website - at the following link: http://www.w7eca.org/events#swap

Hope to see ya here in May.

BLUEGRASS ON THE BAY

For those NOT attending HAMFEST, the third weekend in July is also a special date here in Great Falls. Many Bluegrass bands, groups and other music makers gather from across the state at Broadwater Bay for an evening of music, vocals, and other entertainment. The Great Falls Area Amateurs have been assisting the Great Falls Police Department, by providing extra manning to help with crowd control. Two Amateurs are stationed at the EOC / Dispatch center, and several (four or five) Amateurs mingle with the crowd. Security and crowd confrontations are very minimal, so there is ample time to enjoy the fine musicians and shows.

Contact: Roy Patte - W7MBV to assist with this event.

SKYWARN RECOGNITION DAY 2006 - WX7GTF
December 2nd - from 0000z to 2400z (Begining at 5:00pm Local Time (MST) Friday the 1st)
Contact: Ken Hanks - W7GMC to join in the fun !

Skywarn recognition Day is a nationwide event honoring Amateur Radio's contribution to the NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
Nationwide, HAM Radio operators "deploy" to their local National Weather Services Offices, or set up in mobile command posts.
From there, they operate for a 24 hour period.

HAM Radio operators can then contact these Skywarn stations, and obtain a certificate from the National Weather Service. You can obtain a certificate
by contacting just ONE National Weather Service Office. Certificates are standard letter size ( 8.5" 'x 11" ). To obtain your certificate mail a list of
NWS stations contacted, along with a suitible envelope and postage to: (certificates will be mailed in January or February 2006)

SKYWARN Recognition Day
920 Armory Road
Goodland, KS 67735

( If you do not want your certificate folded, you will have to send a large manillia type envelope. )

NOTE: Plans are still in the works for getting our signal into the air. We have decided to use an G5RV / Inverted V located at the NWS building on their tower as in the past few years. Also there is a possibility of using a steppir antenna located in the nearby field. No more Freezing our fingers trying to assemble the beam and tower trailer in -20º temps as in the past. The outdoor work will be done well before the event, with finishing touches performed Friday Dec. 1st.

The station will be available for the entire 24hour period, however if the past is any guide, all activity seems to drop off to nothing around 10:00pm or 11:00pm. We'll pick back up in the morning. This event is a great time for non-hams to investigate or technician hams to get some HF experience. ALL are welcome.

If you are interested in helping get the radios and antennas set up, or taking a turn on the mic, please contact Doug - W7MEX or Cam - N7NBB. Come on up, help get the radios set-up, and take a turn at the mic. .

More info to come..... please check back.