We hope you enjoy your time here and find the information provided helpful. We are interested in any feedback you may have that will help us make the site more useful and enjoyable. Feedback can be sent to the two site managers: Zandal Cline AC8DU [email protected] or Ed McKinney KB8QEU [email protected].
BDARC was formed in 1955. Like most clubs it has seen its membership fluctuate over the years. When the hobby first went to the "no code tech" licensing system in the early ‘90's there was a drastic increase in the number of folks entering the hobby and a correspondent increase in club membership. We had a membership of close to 100 people in those days. In later years those numbers have dwindled - we think in large part due to the widespread use of cell phones and other communication devices. However we now see a renewed interest in the hobby with the move away from Morse Code altogether.
Our current membership is 32 (April 2013). Club officers are: President: John Hymes W8HY, Vice President: Zandal Cline AC8DU Secretary: Randy Kerbway KD8JEB, and Treasurer: Kathy Hymes, KA8THY.
BDARC owns and maintains a repeater which operates on frequency 145.370 Mcs. it has a 100. cps tone with negative offset, located, on the old EOC tower ,n Beckley, West Virginia.
BDARC meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the month at Ryans Restaurant 1320 North Eisenhower Drive, Beckley, West Virginia at 7:00p.m. Come early if want to eat.
Annual dues are $15 plus $7.50 for each additional family member, so a husband and wife can both join for $22.50/year. The membership year is April thru March.
Club activities include: An information and service net on Friday evenings at 9p.m., Participation in Field Day each year, Sponsoring a W5YI sanctioned volunteer examination team, Annual HamFest in June, Working with boy scouts at the annual Jamboree on the Air, Setting up various "special events" stations, An annual Christmas dinner/party. All activities are open to any amateur, but we hope you will like us enough to join the club and help support repeater operation. Anyone interested in joining the club can contact Kathy Hymes, KA8THY, or e-mail [email protected].
Also, we welcome visitors to our club meetings if you'd like to check us out before deciding whether to join.
