Greetings! Two-thirds of this year have passed already. Where did it go?

I know: it washed down the storm drains with all of the rain we’ve had in the last month. Someone downriver must have a few extra days or weeks that we lost to the heavy rains!

Regardless of the location of our lost hours, we can redeem some of the time by enjoying the fellowship of other hams with some good food. Come up Priceville Mountain on Tuesday, September 1st, for the quarterly “eatin’ meetin'” of the Decatur Amateur Radio Club at Libby’s Catfish and Diner on Highway 67. We are planning to start the proceedings and devourings at 6:00 on Tuesday evening so that we can order food, eat, talk, laugh and do all of those other things that accompany a good social event. Some will especially brag about the treasures they uncovered at the recent Huntsville Hamfest. Come up the hill and meet (and maybe brag) with us.

If you’ve never been to Libby’s (WHAT??), take the Beltline (Highway 67) out of Decatur towards I-65. Keep going east past the Interstate and head up the hill towards the large white cross. Libby’s is just past the cross on the right side of the highway. Someone will likely be on the 147.00 repeater if you get misplaced and need to be pointed in the right direction.

Don’t show up at the Aquadome in southwest Decatur like we’ve done for the last several months unless you’d like to go swimming or do Tai Chi or something like that.

Please continue spreading the word to fellow hams or those wanting a new or upgraded license that the Decatur club is still giving amateur radio 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 ID (especially your FRN, which is required on the license application) and your $5 fee (please note the reduced price). And, 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, September 1st, 2026, at 6:00 at Libby’s Catfish and Diner in Priceville! Be there, be on time, and be hungry!

And get “radio-active!”