Thousands of ham radio operators across the nation will show off their emergency capabilities this weekend. In McLeod County, the Crow River Area Amateur Radio Club will demonstrate amateur radio at Hutchinson’s airport, Butler Field, from 1 p.m. Saturday, June 28, through noon Sunday 29.

Club members invite the public to see ham radio's new capabilities and learn how to get their own FCC radio license before the next disaster strikes.

During the past the past year, the news has been full of reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications in emergencies including the California wildfires, Oregon and Michigan storms, tornadoes and other events worldwide. During Hurricane Katrina, amateur radio — often called "ham radio" — was often the only way people could communicate, and hundreds of volunteer "hams" traveled south to save lives and property.

When trouble is brewing, ham radio people are often the first to provide critical information and communications.

This weekend, the public will have a chance to meet and talk with these ham radio operators and see for themselves what the Amateur Radio Service is about. Hams will show the newest digital and satellite capabilities, voice communications and even historical Morse code.

The annual event, called Field Day, is the climax of the week long Amateur Radio Week sponsored by the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. More than 34,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year's event. To learn more about amateur radio, go to www.emergency-radio.org [2].