Greetings! It’s that time of year when everything turns a sickly shade of greenish-yellow and folks walk around constantly blowing their noses. Everyone loves pollen, right? Right?
April has arrived as always, with blooms, leaves, gardens, and severe weather events that may be right around the corner.
The Decatur Amateur Radio Club is working to be ready for those weather events, as well as any other emergencies that may require our assistance with communications. We will hold our monthly meeting for April in the basement auditorium of the Morgan County Courthouse in Decatur on Tuesday evening, April 2nd. We plan to start this meeting at 6:30 like we began doing last year, so don’t be late! Please come to the lower entrance off of Lee Street, and be early! The building stays locked, and we must keep someone at the door to admit members and visitors.
The Morgan County Emergency Management Agency has purchased some ham radio “Go Boxes”. At his meeting we will look into them, learn about their operation, and discuss their uses with a representative from EMA. Come join in!
The meeting should be streamed on Microsoft Teams. If you are unable to attend, log into the meeting on your computer and participate anyway!
Here is the online information:
- Title: DARC
- When: Occurs the first Tuesday of every month . . . from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM.
- Organizer: EMA Operator <MCCEMA@morgancounty-al.gov>
- Description: DARC monthly members meeting.
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting:
<https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZDlmMjIxMTAtY2VmZC00ZjVjLThhMzMtNmRhYzVhOGIzNDBh%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%222d5e12da-b7d0-4d9a-bcf4-099f1b50984b%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%221660d6c4-034c-4150-9149-03cb174c170b%22%7d>
Learn more:
<https://aka.ms/JoinTeamsMeeting>
If you have issues, please contact me at this email address or contact club president Thomas Garner KN4MDE at his address (his callsign @ outlook.com).
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 scheduling license testing 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 ID (especially your FRN, which is required on the license application) and your $15 fee. And, most importantly, PLEASE send an email to DecaturHamTest@w4atd.org so we can have the testing materials prepared and available for you. April 6th and May 4th are our next scheduled testing dates. PLEASE NOTE: WE DESPERATELY NEED VOLUNTEER EXAMINERS TO HELP WITH THE TESTING PROGRAM! If you want to help in some way (Extra class license is required), please let us know! And if you send an email and do not get a timely response, please let the secretary know.
Have you paid your dues for 2024? It’s only $20.00 for the year. If you have family members who would qualify for membership, they are only $5.00 each. See one of the officers at the meeting, or mail your dues to DARC, PO Box 9, Decatur, AL 35602-0009.
Remember also that the roster of current club members is now 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, April 2nd, 2024, at the Morgan County Courthouse at 6:30! Don’t be late!
