Field Day, held the fourth full weekend every June, is the American Radio Relay League's "flagship operating event" -- an opportunity for hams, and those who would like to be, to get together and communicate with other radio amateurs all over the U.S.
The BGMRC held its 2008 Field Day event at the Coweta County Fairgrounds on Pine Road in Newnan.
Field Day weekend 2009 will be June 27 and 28. Operating begins at 2:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday and continues for 24 hours. Stations may run only on battery or generator power, but other facilities at the event, such as big box fans, may use regular grid power -- which is a big help on those sultry Southern summer afternoons.
Setup begins on the Friday before the actual event, with club members bringing radios, antennas and towers, power supplies, and refreshments (free grub is a highly effective inducement).
On Saturday the fun begins. BGMRC normally operates at least three radios in phone and CW, and as long as there's a qualified control operator anyone -- a Technician-class ham without HF privileges, or even a not-yet-ham -- can get on the air and make contacts.
Pictures from Field Day 2003 can be accessed here.