Field Day is always the fourth full weekend of June, beginning at 1800 UTC Saturday and running through 2059 UTC Sunday. Field Day 2011 will be held June 25-26, 2011.

Field Day is an annual amateur radio exercise, widely sponsored by IARU regions and member organizations, encouraging emergency communications preparedness among amateur radio operators. In the United States, it is typically the largest single emergency preparedness exercise in the country, with over 30,000 operators participating each year.

Since the first ARRL Field Day in 1933, radio amateurs throughout North America have practiced the rapid deployment of radio communications equipment in environments ranging from operations under tents in remote areas to operations inside Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs). Operations using emergency and alternative power sources are highly encouraged, since electricity and other public infrastructures are often among the first to fail during a natural disaster or severe weather.

"[Field Day's] origins go back to 1933 when it was started as "a test of the emergency availability of portable stations and equipment," (F.E. Handy in QST, [June] 1933) and today it has transformed into a broad demonstration of what our hobby has to offer to community officials, served agencies and individuals in times of communication's need."

To determine the effectiveness of the exercise and of each participant's operations, there is an integrated contesting component, and many clubs also engage in concurrent leisure activities (camping out, cookouts, etc.). Operations typically last a continuous twenty-four hours, requiring scheduled relief operators to keep stations on the air. Additional contest points are awarded for experimenting with unusual modes, making contacts via satellite, and involving youth in the activity.

Field Day is, above all else, a chance for us to have some fun with our hobby. After all, while it is a regulated service and there are serious aspects to our use of the bands, the true “amateur spirit” of our hobby (defined by Paul Segal, W9EEA, back in 1928 in “The Amateur’s Code”) is found in “slow and patient operating when requested; friendly advice and counsel to the beginner; kindly assistance, cooperation and consideration for the interests of others.”

Field Day operations will begin with an informal breakfast at the Denny's at Lindbergh and Midland as usual and the setup will begin at the shelter at about 9:30 AM. Field Day begins at 1:00 local time on Saturday and continues for 24 hours.

SLSRC Field Day will feature plenty of opportunities to operate rather you are an experienced HF operator or would like to learn with the help of a Field Day Elmer. There will be educational opportunities, both formal (as an dipole calculating and building project) and informal through questions, conversations and hands-on learning with members of SLSRC.

A dinner for all at about 5:00 PM on Saturday. The club dinner is for all who wish to come, there is no charge but a donations "kittie" will be present if you wish to donate towards the cost of the dinner. Food and snacks for operators and visitors will be available throughout the weekend.

Please mark you calendar ... remember, Field Day is the most operated Ham event in the yearly calendar of events.