Amateur Radio Club holds annual dinner meeting

After a catered meal served by Avery Elliott, Highland Amateur Radio Association Club President John Willis recently welcomed approximately 100 members and guests from throughout Ohio to the Club’s annual meeting and Christmas dinner party at the Hillsboro Global Methodist Church. 

Following the meal, the evening started with self-introductions and a moment of silence observed for deceased members Rachel and Rodney Chamblin.
 
Club Information Officer John Levo then recapped another successful year for the Club. Among the activities he highlighted was participation in the annual American Radio Relay League’s Field Day emergency operating and preparedness training exercise. He also told of setting up a portable emergency style station to promote Rocky Fork State Park during the statewide Ohio State Parks on the Air operating event.  

Additionally, members activated their personal stations during severe weather as a part of the National Weather Service’s  SkyWarn amateur radio storm spotter reporting program.  

Levo noted community involvement by the decorating of veterans' graves at the Hillsboro Cemetery for Memorial Day, providing the City of Hillsboro with communications and lineup assistance for the annual Christmas parade and assisting with the local Girl Scout merit badge program. He noted the Club held several Federal Communications Commission test sessions resulting in a number of new amateur licenses issued to area residents as well as conducted test sessions at two Cincinnati area radio club events. 

In May, several team members traveled to Xenia to assist the Dayton club give over 300 examinations during the world’s largest gathering of amateur radio operators. On behalf of Vancouver, Washington’s Clark County Amateur Radio Club, Levo presented Dave Gunderman, Jeff Collins, Roy Hook, Steve Stuckey, Ken Lightner, Gary Poland and Ken Davis certificates of appreciation for their assistance during the Lewis and Clark Trail on the Air special event activation.

Levo then introduced elected American Radio Relay League officials Scott Yonally, Roy Hook and Tom Sly. Yonally, who traveled from the Mansfield area and Sly from Kent, commended the Club for being a leading Club in the state and the nation and one other clubs inspire to be like.  Hook, who lives in Delaware County, called attention to being a Wilmington native thanked the Club for serving as an example for others. Also speaking was Michael Kalter representing the Dayton Hamvention. He urged every ham to attend the event and presented the parents of the newest and youngest HARA member, 13-year-old Milo Greenwood, with passes to the event. 

Nominating committee chairman Lee Bishop announced the re-election of John Willis as president, Demond Crider as vice president, Kathy Levo as secretary-treasurer and Ken Lightner as past president. Bishop announced Randy McFarland defeated Gregg Wardlow and will join the executive committee as a three-year trustee. Other Trustees are Jeff Collins and Sara Crider.

Following the program, a gift exchange was held and door prizes awarded to those attending.

Since its 1977 founding by 20 local amateurs, HARA today has a membership nearing 100 and is one of the largest amateur radio clubs in Ohio. Although membership does not require an FCC issued amateur radio license, most hold some level of amateur or commercial license. Presently, the FCC data base lists over 200 amateur radio licenses issued to Highland County residents with 116 held by Hillsboro residents. In 2022, the Club was named the Dayton Hamvention Club of the Year which is usually acknowledged as the best ham radio club in North America.

Information about amateur radio and how individuals, governmental bodies and communities benefit from its service during emergencies, its STEM benefits for students plus how it is an enjoyable and educational hobby can be obtained by visiting the American Radio Relay League’s www.arrl.org website. Those wishing information about the local Highland Amateur Radio Association, its license classes and test sessions as well as community involvement may contact the Club at highlandara@gmail.com, visit the Club’s Facebook page or contact Levo at (937) 393-4951.  

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