Support Your Parks – GSARA Spring Meetup Recap
Pillsbury State Park, Washington, NH
If there’s one thing we proved this weekend, it’s this: ham radio operators will show up… even when the weather and propagation are both actively trying to ruin the party.
And honestly? That’s exactly what made it awesome.
A Day in the Park (The Real Kind—Not the Instagram Version)
Yesterday’s Support Your Parks (SYP) Meetup at Pillsbury State Park brought together about 17 operators and friends scattered across the dam, campsites, and even the park store. It wasn’t exactly postcard weather—chilly temps and propagation that can best be described as “are the bands even on?”—but that didn’t slow anyone down.
Because here’s the thing about POTA folks:
We don’t wait for perfect conditions… we make the most of whatever shows up.
📡 First Activations, Big Wins
One of the best parts of the day?
Over 8 operators gave POTA a shot for the very first time.
Let that sink in.
That’s 8+ people who:
Set up gear in the field
Called CQ from a park
Logged real contacts
And officially became an activator
That’s how this hobby grows. Not from perfect setups—but from people just trying it.
Even better, most attendees met their 10-contact target and walked away with a qualified activation. That’s no small feat given the conditions. That’s skill, persistence, and just enough stubbornness to keep calling when the bands aren’t cooperating.
The Crew (and the Controlled Chaos)
We had folks spread out across the park doing their thing:
Tim held down the wayside area just outside the entrance
Joined by Annie, Barry, and Chris
Others, like Keith, Georgine, Jay, Merchon (and more), made their rounds before settling into the main area
It wasn’t one centralized “perfect setup”—it was better.
It was organic, flexible, and real—exactly how POTA should feel.
Why This Stuff Matters (More Than You Think)
According to POTA:
“The purpose is to get out in the parks and have as much fun as possible.”
Mission accomplished. But there’s a second layer here that matters just as much…
Events like this turn us into ambassadors:
For GSARA
For amateur radio
For anyone walking by, wondering “what are these people doing with antennas in the woods?”
And when they stop and ask? That’s the moment everything clicks.
The Real Takeaway
This wasn’t about perfect propagation.
It wasn’t about big numbers.
It wasn’t about fancy gear.
It was about:
People showing up
Helping each other
Trying something new
And just enjoying the hobby together
That’s the stuff that actually keeps people coming back.
A Huge Thank You
A big shoutout goes to Christian N1COW for coordinating the event. Pulling something like this together—especially with scattered setups and unpredictable conditions—is no small task. It showed, and it paid off.
Well done.
What’s Next?
If this were the “cold, questionable propagation” version…
The Summer Support Your Parks event is shaping up to be something special.
Better weather.
Better bands (we hope 😄).
And even more operators are getting on the air.
We’re already looking forward to it.
If You Missed It…
No worries—you’ve got another shot. And if you’ve been on the fence about trying POTA, take this as your sign:
You don’t need perfect gear.
You don’t need perfect conditions.
You just need to show up.
We’ll help with the rest.
