The 13th Annual GHRC Hamfest 
in Bozeman, Montana!
October 3, 2009!

Learn about Amateur Radio Operations, buy gear & gadgets, get great advice, take your first ham operator test or upgrade your license, attend a seminar or lecture and have a great time with old friends and new!  
SEE YOU THERE!!!!!!

 

Click here to download the 2009 Bozeman Hamfest Flyer!

(133K)

 

8am - 4pm Saturday, October 3, 2009
Admission $3 (includes one raffle ticket!)
Seminars:  11-2  /  VE Test Session at 2pm
Door Prizes and Dual Band Mobile Grand Prize!

 

BOZEMAN HAMFEST

 

            The Bozeman hamfest is to be held on October 3rd, 2009 at the Sacajewa Middle School, 3525 South 3rd Avenue, Bozeman, MT.

 

            The main theme is to have a fun, no rules hamfest. It is an approved ARRL hamfest.

 

            Doors are open from 8 am to 4 pm.  Seminars between 11 am and 2 pm.  VE sessions at 2 pm.  There will also be prize drawings, food and snacks, fox hunt, and swap/vendor tables.

 

            Directions to the hamfest:  From I90 go south on 19th avenue, past Main and Kagy to Goldenstein Lane, then east to south 3rd, then north to the school.

 

            Talk in on 146.88, 100 Hz tone, minus offset.  website: www.w7ed.com  Contacts: N7ODN or W7LR.  Telephone 587 3511 or 586 8021.  or w7lr@aol.com

 

 

HAMFEST OPERATION

 

            There are two hamfest operating choices:

                        Open door, the tail gate approach

                        With controls

 

            The choice affects swap table activity but has a bigger effect on how hams view or participate in the hamfest.

 

            In a hamfest we visit with old friends and make new ones and exchange ideas and information and tell sea stories.  There is much more.

 

            Many swap table items have seen bygone days.  Much of that is still left as the hamfest winds down.  Newer items can be obtained from vendors or online.  If you don’t get here at the crack of dawn you won’t miss much.

 

            On hamfest operating choices:

                        With the open door method all that attend are treated equally.  There are no insiders or outsiders.  No one has to sit in the hallway to wait.  No one has to be told to stay here or don’t go there.  The hamfest doors are open from 8 am to 4pm. Once registered you may enter any hamfest room or area at any time.  Swap table setup or sales may take place at any time.

                        With the control method, there are timetables, controls or signs. It is a little easier for swap table setup. 

 

            Based on careful consideration the open door method was selected.

            The chairman and club for next year can decide on their approach.

 

REGISTRATION AND MORE

 

            Hamfest registration can take place by mail (the preferred method), at the Bozeman club meeting September 3rd, or at the hamfest.

 

            There is also preregistration either by mail (the preferred method) or at the club September meeting.  Preregistration ends September 3rd. 

 

            Registration is $3, or Preregistration is $3.00  (You do only one or the other). Those that preregister will receive two tickets, one color for the preregistration prize, and another colored ticket towards the raffle prize drawing.  For registration after September 3rd, you will receive only a raffle prize drawing ticket.

 

            Raffle tickets will be available at the hamfest for $1 each or six for $5.

 

            The preregistration prize is a Daiwa cross needle SWR and power meter for 2m and 440, with the drawing at the hamfest.  The main prize is a FT8800 dual bander.  The value of all the prizes is about $1000.  Other prizes are: HT gain antenna, QSL cards printed and donated by K7NM, Astron 20 amp power supply, Power Pole system, and ARRL books.  Prize drawings take place at intervals during the hamfest.  You don’t have to be present to win the Main or Preregistration prizes.

 

            To preregister, send your check for $3 made out to GHRC, to Mr. Don Regli, KI7OJ, Registration chairman, 48 Sundance Trail, Bozeman, MT, 59718.  In some manner of your choice, include your name, call, address, and email address.  For both local and out of town hams, doing this by mail would make it easier for Don at both the hamfest and at the September meeting.  At the hamfest, have your $3 check and application type information ready for Don and his registration committee.

 

            Swap tables are $10 each.  See Jim Hall, AA8Y, at the hamfest for that payment and table assignment.  Further information will be forthcoming on the club website, organized by Laura, KJ7UN, about seminars and other hamfest activities. 

 

            Thanks to my hamfest committee and others for help and advice on all of this, and to the many volunteers who will make this a fun and worthwhile hamfest.

 

            I have had some health issues. Rather than me resigning as hamfest chairman,  Jack Myers, N7ODN has agreed to be my co-chairman. We are well along with plans for a good hamfest.         73, Bob, W7LR    July 4th, 2009.

 

 

The 2009 Hamfest Flyer!  (coming soon!) 
Click to view or right click to download (240K PDF)!

**********************************************************

----------------------------------------------------

 

Click here for pictures from the 2002 hamfest!