Santa event a big hit

Santa event a big hit

This year’s American Legion Post 519 Amateur Radio Club's "Kids Talk to Santa at the North Pole" exceeded all expectations. The event coincided with the Guide Dogs of the Desert's annual 2017 Santa Paws 5k.

We set up our mobile base station strategically to get the attention of most of the kids and some adults, and next to 7-Eleven's free cookies and milk tables.

Our mobile base equipment was a Yaesu FT-857D with a Bioenno Power 12 Volt, 9 Amp Hour Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery and a Chameleon V2 mobile antenna clamped to a leg of a fold-up aluminum table. Frequency used was 146.940 - 107.2 DRATS repeater.

Auxiliary Unit 519 set up two tables next to us and gave many of the kids face paintings. They also ushered kids and parents to our booth. We had more than 100 kids and adults talk to Santa; we ran out of candy cane treats for the kids early.

Santa's elves were members of the radio club, Auxiliary and the Desert Rats Amateur Radio Club (DRATS).

73

Tom McLean (KJ6DZT)