Anyway, greetings! Another year has mercifully ended and is presenting us with another one that looks to be just as scary and unpredictable as its predecessor. It behooves each one of us to be ready for whatever is coming. And that’s where we come in as amateur radio operators with our communications skills and willingness to assist in times of trouble or emergency. Make a new year’s resolution to be prepared and to be “radio-active” in the new year.
The Decatur Amateur Radio Club exists to serve the community with communications when and where needed. We will hold our 1st monthly meeting of 2024 in the basement auditorium of the Morgan County Courthouse in Decatur on Tuesday evening, January 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.
At the November meeting, we elected officers for the coming year. Come and welcome them to their positions. Let’s discuss what we can do as a club to be better prepared and to serve our community better.
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 the 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 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. January 6th is our next scheduled testing date. 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.
It’s time to pay 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, January 2nd, 2024, at the Morgan County Courthouse at 6:30! Don’t miss it!
