Cross-Potomac Summer BBQ 2022

The ARRL Sections of Virginia and Maryland DC, and Ham Community, are pleased to invite you to our First Annual Amateur Radio Cross-Potomac Summer BBQ.

This is our chance to mingle with fellow amateur radio operators, both from clubs right next door and from the other side of the Potomac. This is not an operating event or a hamfest, it’s what it says, a good old BBQ, with some music, a couple of fun ice-breaker games, the usual tasty BBQ nourishment, very few and very short speeches, maybe some QSL card swaps, and that’s it. And it’s in the fresh air, so no major worries about covid, though we do encourage those that are at risk to observe recommended precautions.

Name tags and club swag encouraged!

LOCATION: Seneca Creek State Park, 11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878

SUBLOCATION: Nuthatch Pavilion

DATE: Sunday 21 August 2022 (rain or shine, but remember, the pavilion is covered!)

TIME: From Noon to 1700L

FEE: We ask $20 per person to cover all fees, food, refreshments, etc. – Children under 18: FREE.

• Note that admission to the Park is payable at the gate – let's support our State parks!
  • MD resident: $3, Out-of-state: $5; Veterans: free.
• We are limited to 200 people so book as soon as possible.
• You cannot pay at the location - tickets must be pre-purchased online.
• If you can't attend, we're not complicated... a full refund will be issued as long as you cancel up to the night before 1159L.

FUN ACTIVITIES:

• THE HAM HISTORY CHALLENGE: Let’s see how well we all know our amazing journey? Can you identify a KWM-1 by just looking at one of its knobs? Do you know when Field Day was first held? Do you know who sent a signal between two kites in Virginia in the 1800s?
• THE TABLE KNOCK CW CONTEST: It’s one thing to read a beautifully clean signal sent from that superb bug or paddle key, it’s another to read a table knock. Let’s have some fun ‘knocking out’ some Morse.
• POTA: More info to come, but we are in a park, after all.

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: You are being jointly invited by ARRL VA | ARRL MDC | HAM COMMUNITY

• Jack Smith KE4LWT - ARRL VA Section Manager
• Marty Pittinger KB3MXM - ARRL MDC Section Manager MDC
• Mike Aimone WA8AHZ - ARRL VA Section ACC
• Chris Van Winkle AB3AWG - ARRL MDC Section ACC
• Jim Alyanak K3MRI - Ham Community
• Jonathan Vomacka W2JVO - Ham Community
• Ilhan & Maria Alyanak - Ham Community 

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

• From Washington, D.C, Virginia and points south:
  • Take I-270 north towards Frederick, Maryland.
  • Take Exit 10, Clopper Road (Route 117).
  • Turn right at the light at the bottom of the ramp.
  • The park is approximately 2 miles on the left.
• From points north:
  • Take I-270 south towards Washington, D.C..
  • Take Exit 11 (MD Route 124 west).
  • Turn right at the light at the bottom of the ramp.
  • At the second light, turn right onto Clopper Road (Route 117).
  • The park is approximately 1.5 miles on the left.

PARKING: Parking is limited. We recommend you try to car pool as much as possible and try to arrive early if you'd like to be close to the pavilion.

IF YOU COME EARLY: You're welcome to come to the Park early and enjoy its many features including: the ball field, boat rental, disc golf, fishing, hiking trail, and the playground right next to the pavilion.

WHAT TO BRING: We encourage you to bring:

• Club swag if you have it – wear your club shirts and caps
• Club banner - you can put up one banner per club
• QSL cards - QSL swaps are encouraged 

FOOD: You will have a choice of: beef hamburgers, turkey sausages, vegan patties served with multiple chips, snacks, etc. and condiments. Cookies and other pastries, including vegan and gluten free, will abound.

DRINKS: We will provide soft drinks. You may bring your own beer or wine; we have secured an alcohol permit. We ask that no hard liquor be brought.

PETS: The Park is pet-friendly.

TALK-IN: We will have a talk in on 146.54 MHz {simplex}

AGENDA: First and foremost, meet, greet, discuss, eat, get together with old friends, make new ones. But also, we will have a couple of fun games (more details will follow).

NEXT YEAR: Virginia, here we come! If you know a good place, tell us!

PHOTOS: Don't forget to take lots of photos. And when we're done, don't forget to upload them all here: https://hamcommunity.com/gallery/album/52-cross-potomac-bbq-2022/

WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US!

REGISTER HERE

AND THEN CLICK HERE TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS