Great Falls Spring Swap Meet, 11 April 2015

[KA2ODP/7]

Although this was already mentioned in another posting by Bill (K7MT), I wanted to create a separate post so hopefully more folks would get the word.

The Great Falls Area Amateur Radio club (GFAARC) is sponsoring a "Spring Thaw" swap meet on Saturday, April 11th from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM at the Cascade County DES facility on the west side of town. Bring your ham gear that you have been looking to sell, or search for a piece of equipment you need! There is no cost to participate, so clean out all the unwanted gear in your radio shack and haul it over to the swap meet.

There will also be Amateur Radio demonstrations featuring our Communications Trailer, as well as some of the new digital ham radios now available. If you know someone who is interested in getting their Amateur Radio license, this would be a great chance for them to see what ham radio is all about. Call in on 146.520 MHz simplex or phone (406) 868-2212 for directions if you get lost.

By the way, a new Yaesu DR-1 digital "System Fusion" repeater is coming to the Great Falls area. As a result, GFAARC is selling raffle tickets for a digital handheld and a digital mobile radio. Only 100 tickets will be sold at $10.00 each, so the odds of winning a new digital radio will be in your favor! If you want to purchase a ticket before they are all gone, please contact George (AA7GS) at AA7GS@ARRL.net.

We plan on having hot dogs, chips, and soda for sale at a minimum cost. So if you get hungry, there will be food available.

Licensed Amateur Radio operators are eligible for a special Door Price to be awarded at 1:00 PM. You must be present to win!

As an additional bit of detail, the Cascade County DES building is located at 521 1st Avenue NW. This is the old location of the Cascade County Weed and Mosquito Management office, as well as the County vehicle shop (both of which moved out to the new facilities near Manchester several years ago).

After normal business hours and on weekends, access to the DES building is through the vehicle yard on the back side of the building. Look for the large chain link fence gate off of 6th Street NW. If you are coming from the direction of Central Avenue West, go past the Salvation Army thrift store and turn right just before Chuck's Chinese Restaurant & Casino. Look for the park bench seat with the yellow back rest advertising "Sherlock's Home" on the right side of the street. Turn right just BEFORE this park bench.

You may park up by the building, but PLEASE remember one important thing:

-DO NOT PARK IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE DOORS! These are used at all hours of the day and night by the Cascade County Search & Rescue group. They need unhindered access to their equipment at all times!

Please help get the word out to everyone! See you there!

[KA2ODP/7]

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the GFAARC “Spring Thaw” swap meet! We had around 40 people who attended, including at least 12 tailgaters with radio items for sale. A mobile radio installation demonstration was done by George (AA7GS). Ray (AE7JN) won the door prize of a gift bag full of goodies. Special thanks to Rod (AE7JJ) for organizing the event. The feedback from folks was so positive, we will probably do it again next year!