Marshall ARC

The Acadiana Amateur Radio Association is announcing our 48th Annual Hamfest and the 2008 ARRL Louisiana State Convention on March 21st and March 22nd, 2008 in Rayne, Louisiana.

Our Hamfest falls on Good Friday and Saturday this year, so we have adjusted our schedule to accommodate the ham community. The Hamfest will be open to the general public and ham community at 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday, March 21st and again at 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 22nd. Vendors, dealers and flea markets can begin setup from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Friday and 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. Saturday.

We have contacted the vendors/dealers and this new time is very good for them. The new time schedule will allow vendors and flea market participants, 2 extra hours to sell their products and give the ham community more time also to attend and be home with family afterwards.

Please view the attached Hamfest Flyer in PDF format or visit our web site www.w5ddl.org/hamfest/ for more information.

Please note that we will be having our annual Crawfish Boil, but no Fais-Do-Do in observance of Good Friday. Due to the high cost of crawfish at this time of year, we ask that those interested in attending the Crawfish Boil, pre-register no later than by March 1st, so we can lock in the price and quantity of crawfish we must purchase. There is no guarantee that Crawfish Boil tickets will be available on Friday, March 21st. As usual, Gumbo furnished by the Rayne High School Band Scholarship Fund Group will be available.

We look forward to seeing each of you this year and renewing our relationships. Next year, our hamfest will begin to fall on the usual dates of the 2nd weekend in March. So in 2009 our hamfest will be on March 13 & 14, 2009 and 2010 will be on March 12th & 13th, 2010.

Happy New Year

73,

Roland, NA5Q

Hamfest Chairperson