Highland Amateur Radio Association receives international recognition
Lead Summary
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Courtesy of Highland Amateur Radio Association
Since its 1952 beginnings at the Biltmore Hotel in Dayton, the Dayton Hamvention has grown to be one of the two largest gatherings of amateur radio operators in the world.
In 1964, the popularity and attendance of the event caused it to leave downtown Dayton to seek larger facilities at the HARA Arena in nearby Trotwood where there would be sufficient vendor display area and enable the electronic flea market area to expand.
By 2016, as many as 32,000 people from all over the globe attended the three-day event, causing the event’s sponsor, the Dayton Amateur Radio Association, to relocate the show to the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia where larger facilities were available to allow even more growth.
Since the beginning, the Hamvention Awards Program has honored many amateurs and clubs for their dedication and selfless contributions to the service/hobby, their communities and mankind. Since Hamvention is the largest single gathering of amateur radio operators in North America, these awards are considered by many as the “Academy Awards” of Amateur Radio.
Besides the awards for technical achievements, one award presented is that for the “Hamvention Club of the Year.” This award is presented to a club that “clearly demonstrates their involvement in various aspects of amateur radio for the greater good of their community and/or the nation.”
Basically, being named as the Club of the Year designates that club as the most outstanding one in North America, and perhaps the world.
The winner of the 2022 Dayton Hamvention Club of the Year was Highland County’s Highland Amateur Radio Association.
Accepting the award at the awards ceremony, Club President Pat Hagen commented about this being the first time the award has been awarded to a club serving a smaller populated, rural, Appalachian area of the nation that’s “in the middle of nowhere.”
HARA members also attending were Vice President Tom Mongold, Jr.; Secretary Kathy Levo and former club presidents Lee Bishop and Bob McFarland. John Levo, who recently was awarded the national American Radio Relay League Phil McGan Silver Antenna Award for his promotion of ham radio, also was recognized.
The Highland Amateur Radio Association was founded in 1977 as an organization to promote amateur radio in the Highland County area. From those early beginnings it has grown from the 22 founding members to in excess of 130. Most of these members live within Highland County.
Information about Hamvention can be found at www.hamvention.org. Those wishing to learn more about the local club can visit the Club’s Facebook page, email highlandara@gmail.com, or contact the club’s information officer, John Levo, at (937) 393-4951.
Since its 1952 beginnings at the Biltmore Hotel in Dayton, the Dayton Hamvention has grown to be one of the two largest gatherings of amateur radio operators in the world.
In 1964, the popularity and attendance of the event caused it to leave downtown Dayton to seek larger facilities at the HARA Arena in nearby Trotwood where there would be sufficient vendor display area and enable the electronic flea market area to expand.
By 2016, as many as 32,000 people from all over the globe attended the three-day event, causing the event’s sponsor, the Dayton Amateur Radio Association, to relocate the show to the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia where larger facilities were available to allow even more growth.
Since the beginning, the Hamvention Awards Program has honored many amateurs and clubs for their dedication and selfless contributions to the service/hobby, their communities and mankind. Since Hamvention is the largest single gathering of amateur radio operators in North America, these awards are considered by many as the “Academy Awards” of Amateur Radio.
Besides the awards for technical achievements, one award presented is that for the “Hamvention Club of the Year.” This award is presented to a club that “clearly demonstrates their involvement in various aspects of amateur radio for the greater good of their community and/or the nation.”
Basically, being named as the Club of the Year designates that club as the most outstanding one in North America, and perhaps the world.
The winner of the 2022 Dayton Hamvention Club of the Year was Highland County’s Highland Amateur Radio Association.
Accepting the award at the awards ceremony, Club President Pat Hagen commented about this being the first time the award has been awarded to a club serving a smaller populated, rural, Appalachian area of the nation that’s “in the middle of nowhere.”
HARA members also attending were Vice President Tom Mongold, Jr.; Secretary Kathy Levo and former club presidents Lee Bishop and Bob McFarland. John Levo, who recently was awarded the national American Radio Relay League Phil McGan Silver Antenna Award for his promotion of ham radio, also was recognized.
The Highland Amateur Radio Association was founded in 1977 as an organization to promote amateur radio in the Highland County area. From those early beginnings it has grown from the 22 founding members to in excess of 130. Most of these members live within Highland County.
Information about Hamvention can be found at www.hamvention.org. Those wishing to learn more about the local club can visit the Club’s Facebook page, email highlandara@gmail.com, or contact the club’s information officer, John Levo, at (937) 393-4951.