The Watertown Amateur Radio Club, UA (WARC) was established on June 17, 1982. The Club is a non-profit "unincorporated association" which operates under a Constitution and By-Laws.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Club shall be to promote interest in Amateur Radio, to promote the knowledge of radio technology, to assist the government and the public in communications in times of emergency, to provide other public service from time to time, and to carry on any other activities of a nature which are compatible with and will enhance the purposes set forth above (Constitution - Article III).

MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to all persons interested in Amateur Radio and shall be by application and election at a regular meeting of the Members. To join WARC you may print out the application and mail it to the Club Secretary, WA9KCU. The Club will act on it at the next meeting.

DUES

Dues are $12.00 per year ($18.00 for a family membership), prorated on a quarterly basis for those joining after March 31, June 30 and September 30.

MEETINGS

The Club meets regularly on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 P.M. in Room S-114 at the Watertown Senior High School, 825 Endeavour Drive, Watertown. An e-mail (or snail-mail if you prefer) newsletter containing minutes of the prior meeting and a notice for the next meeting is sent to Members and prospective members by the Secretary.

OFFICERS

The Club elects Officers each January. The current Officers are:

Lucky Lasanske, K9LUK, President
Gerry Prockl, W9GP, Vice President
Claude Held, WA9KCU, Secretary
Tom Wrensch, N9HR, Treasurer
To Contact an officer send an e-mail to mail@warcwi.org

ACTIVITIES

Annual activities include a national Field Day contest/picnic each June during which as many radio contacts as possible are made in a 24-hour period using emergency power. Club members enter the Wisconsin QSO Party, a contest held every March. There is an October Ground Hog Party and a Dinner Meeting in December or January. The Club participates in certain Swapfest/Flea Markets held by other clubs in the area. The Club also provides communications for events like festivals and parades. Finally, each May some Club Members travel to the Dayton Hamvention, the largest ham radio convention in the World.

At the regular monthly meetings there is usually a special program, such as a technical presentation, a tour or some other radio related activity.

As technology has advanced, hams are becoming deeply involved with computers. If you have an interest in computing, you will want to try some of the digital modes like "packet radio", "APRS", "PSK31" and "slow scan tv".

AMATEUR RADIO SUPPORT GROUP

In 1988 the Club organized an Amateur Radio Support Group (ARSG) to assist the City of Watertown in communications in the event of an emergency. Club ham radio equipment is installed at the Fire Department, and antennas are installed at the Fire Department and Hospital and the Ixonia Fire Station. Any licensed Club Member is eligible to participate in this local public service aspect of ham radio. Contact ARSG Coordinator Claude Held WA9KCU at 920-261-9421 for information. The ARSG is separate from formal ARES/RACES for Dodge and Jefferson Counties, although some ARSG members also are ARES/RACES certified.

WEEKLY NETS AND LUNCHES

Persons holding amateur licenses are encouraged to participate in Club weekly nets held at 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday evenings on repeater 145.19 MHz. PL 123.0. Members will want to monitor that Club frequency daily for general amateur use. In the event of an emergency ARSG notifications and assignments will be made via that frequency. The Club also maintains the WA9YVE repeater in Ixonia on 442.025 MHz. PL 114.8 and has a web site "www.warcwi.org". Check the web site for the latest Club news, and to find out which restaurant Club members and guests are going to meet at for the weekly Wednesday noon lunches, and dinners held on the third Thursdays of each month.

OBTAINING A LICENSE

There are several license classes currently available to amateurs: Technician, General and Extra. A morse code proficiency test is no longer required, but there are written radio theory and rules tests for each level of license. Examinations are given by Volunteer Examiners who are hams approved by the FCC.

ARRL

There is a national association of ham operators known as the American Radio Relay League. Membership in the ARRL entitles you to receive a monthly magazine called "QST". Club Members are not required to join the ARRL. There also are other organizations of hams such as AMSAT, QCWA, etc. Finally, there are magazines devoted to the hobby: CQ, World Radio, Badger State Smoke Signals, Monitoring Times and more.

JOIN WARC! AMATEUR RADIO IS PART OF THE NEW FRONTIER OF COMMUNICATIONS!
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