Greetings! October has begun, and as they (whoever “they” are) say, “Fall has fell!”
Last week’s thermometer readings would like to have a word with “them”!
Undoubtedly, cooler weather is on the way. And all too soon some will be complaining about needing more heat. Just like they complained all summer about needing cooler air. Some folks just cannot be content!
The first Tuesday of October is now here, and the regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Decatur Amateur Radio Club also arrives, right on time. The meeting will be held on October 6th at 6:30pm in the Wilson Room at the new Decatur Recreation Center, located at 270 Beltline Road SW, Decatur, AL 35603. It’s the new facility at Wilson Morgan Park off of the Beltline. I believe the current access drive is off of Sandlin Road across from the small strip mall (pick us up some Marco’s Pizza while you’re there!) If Google Maps won’t help you find it, give a call on the 147.00 repeater to get directions. Find a good parking place and enter the main door. 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. The room will be available beginning at 6:00.
Now, as mentioned in an earlier message that was sent on September 18th, you MUST be registered for a FREE General Membership to the center. The RecDesk web portal is located at this link:
https://decaturparks.recdesk.com/Community/Home
Instructions and guidelines are included in the earlier email. I can resend it if you can’t locate your copy. The process is fairly simple.
We will begin discussions about officers, programs, and projects for next year. There’s a rumor going around that there will be a program about Meshtastic. We’ll see. Be ready for a lot of talking regardless, because that’s what hams do!
The club meeting will still not be streamed on Microsoft Teams. Hopefully we’ll make new arrangements for an online meeting in our new place.
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. November 7th and December 5th 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, October 6th, 2026, at the Decatur Recreation Center in Decatur at 6:30! Be there (have you registered yet??), and be on time!
