Conclusion

Hamfests can be termed as "family reunions", because as an amateur radio operator, you are part of a worldwide "family". While you may not be able
to go to as many hamfests as you would like, go to the ones that you can attend.

Many clubs that put these on use them as fundraisers for the expenses that their club incurs each year, with the repeaters, etc.

If you're licensed, bring your HT...especially if you're coming as a family
or group, to keep track of each other. FRS Radios are available for
purchase at area stores for those who aren't licensed...to keep track of
those in your group...as it's easy to get lost among a large crowd of
people.

If you are a part of a club that puts these on, you'll find out in a hurry
that there is a LARGE AMOUNT OF VOLUNTEER WORK to be done...before, during,
and after the hamfest...and it takes a large commitment to make the hamfest
a success. Whether you do Talk-In, Admissions, Concessions, Security, VE Testing, Forums, Parking, Website, or something else...your offer to help
will be greatly appreciated.

Sadly, many hamfests are disappearing, for a lack of people wanting to put
in the effort to put on the hamfest in the first place. So, when you attend
a hamfest, let the organizers know how you felt about it. While no hamfest
is perfect (there are bound to be glitches), simple encouragement, and "constructive criticism" to those who work with it can help prevent those things from occurring at a future hamfest. Don't berate and lecture them as
if they committed the unpardonable sin...this spirit of discouragement is
one of the reasons that folks don't want to put on hamfests anymore...as if monetary costs (high gasoline prices, etc.) nowadays weren't enough of a deterrent to hamfests.

So, the future of the hamfest...and of the hobby of amateur radio is up to
you. Do what you can to keep it alive...and be part of the solution...not
part of the problem.
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)