Greetings! The month of August has arrived already! We’re in the full grip of summer with the heat, afternoon storms, bugs, and (hopefully) vacations! Unfortunately for some, however, school begins this month also. Booo!
The first Tuesday of the new month, August 4th, has also arrived right on time, and the regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Decatur Amateur Radio Club comes with it. The meeting will be held at 6:30pm in Meeting Room A at the Aquadome facility in southwest Decatur, located at 1202 5th Avenue SW, Decatur, AL 35601. It’s at the corner of 5th Avenue SW and 8th Street SW. If Google Maps won’t help you navigate your way there, give a call on the 147.00 repeater to get directions. Park in the front parking lot and enter the main door on the 5th Avenue side. Vehicles with callsign license tags or multiple antennas sprouting from the top and sides are a good clue that you’re in the right place. And please come early so you can find out where we are. adn enjoy the air conditioning.
We will discuss matters about the club’s repeaters. We’ll also talk about the upcoming Huntsville Hamfest, scheduled for August 22nd and 23rd.
The club meeting will still not be streamed on Microsoft Teams. Someday we’ll make new arrangements for an online meeting.
Please continue to spread the word to fellow hams or those who are wanting to take a test for a new or upgraded license that the Decatur club is still giving license tests every month on the first Saturday of each month. The testing sessions will be held in the Decatur Public Library on 6th Avenue NE (Highway 31) at 1:00. Please bring your ID (especially your FRN, which is required on the license application) and the $5.00 administration fee. Most importantly, PLEASE send an email to DecaturHamTest@w4atd.org so we can have the testing materials prepared and available for you. September 5th and October 3rd are our next scheduled testing dates. PLEASE NOTE: WE ALWAYS NEED VOLUNTEER EXAMINERS TO HELP WITH THE TESTING PROGRAM! If you want to help in some way (an Extra class license is normally required), please let us know! And if you send an email and do not get a timely response, please let the secretary know.
Check out the roster of current club members online at www.HamClubOnline.com. Set up your free account and if you have paid your dues (and the Secretary has updated the database) you should see that you’re associated with the DARC. If there’s an issue, let us know.
See you on Tuesday evening, August 4th, 2026, at the AQUADOME in Decatur at 6:30! Be there, be cool, and be on time!
