Amateur Radio “Field Day” June 23 and 24

Maple Grove – Members of the Maple Grove Radio Club will participate in the national Amateur Radio Field Day exercise Saturday, June 23 at 1 p.m. through Sunday, June 24 at 1 p.m. at Gleason Fields, 18815 67th Ave N, Maple Grove, MN 55311.

Since 1933, ham radio operators across North America have established temporary ham radio stations in public locations during Field Day to showcase the science and skill of Amateur Radio. This event is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend. We will have opportunities for anyone to use a radio and get on the air. In addition, we plan to provide Morse code and other digital mode demonstrations, and conduct hands-on usage of radio test equipment.

The Club is a long-standing Special Service Club member of the American Radio Relay League, provides public service communications, conducts various educational programs, and administers federal licensing exams to help people of all ages to get started in the hobby.

Amateur Radio operators provide a critical public service for our community in a number of ways. During threatening weather situations, amateur radio operators become weather spotters, reporting severe weather conditions and damage to the National Weather Service (NWS), as part of the Skywarn program. The Maple Grove Radio Club is one of three clubs in the Metro area providing Skywarn Net Control operations by passing critical severe weather traffic to and from the NWS, and by disseminating warnings and weather statements issued by the NWS to the amateur radio community.

This public service is easily extended during non-emergency civic events, such as parades, marathons, and street festivals. Our club is very active in the community. We provide radio communications for the Maple Grove Jim Deane Memorial Rice Lake Classic Run. In addition, several members provide communications for other events, such as: Minnesota MS 150 Bike Race; Antique Car Run; Twin Cities Marathon; John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon and the City of Osseo Lions Roar Parade just to name a few.

During times of disaster, we are able to provide reliable communications when the normal infrastructure is offline. Licensed by the Federal Communications Commission and trained in the art and science of radio communication and basic electronics theory, we own and maintain our own communications equipment.

The Club has monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Maple Grove Fire Station 2, located at 13450 Maple Knoll Way, Maple Grove, MN 55369, and welcomes everyone interested in amateur radio to attend its meetings. For additional information about the Maple Grove Radio Club, visit our Web site, www.k0ltc.org. Any questions can be directed to Melanie Olson, Maple Grove Radio Club Public Information Officer, by email: media@k0ltc.org.

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