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On a cool but sunny Saturday morning, 44 southern Ohio amateur radio operators gathered at the Liberty Park Harmony Lake Hideaway in Hillsboro for the monthly Highland Amateur Radio Association brunch. However, the rally marked two special events. This was the club’s first “meet and greet” and celebrated the club receiving a national honor.
HARA President Pat Hagen, N8PAB, has officially welcomed the newly licensed amateurs in the Highland County area to the amateur radio community. They were Chris Osborne, KE8RVJ, and David Wolfenbarger, KE8RVM, of Hillsboro; Joe Holdren, KE8RVL; and Rindy Matthews, KE8RVP, and Stella Wardlow, KE8RVQ, of Leesburg. Seth Hawthorn, KE8RVO and Steven Frazier of Washington CH were also featured.
Jennifer Ritter of Hillsboro, KE8QKX and Kyle Fauber of Leesburg were unable to attend.
Also present at the gathering were representatives of the national amateur radio organization – the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). Great Lakes Division Deputy Director Scott Yonally, N8SY made the early morning trip from the Mansfield area and Ohio Division Director Tom Sly, WB8LSD came from Kent to present to the club the official designation of the ARRL as a special service club. According to the league’s website, a special service club is defined as “a club that exists to go beyond its communities and ham radio.” These are the leaders of the amateur radio community who provide active training courses, advertising programs and actively pursue training projects and operational activities.
Of the more than 100 amateur radio clubs affiliated with the ARRL in Ohio, only 12 have received this designation.
Representatives from the Dayton Amateur Radio Association were on hand to discuss 2021 plans to watch the Dayton HamVention. HamVention spokesperson Michael Kalter, W8CI, and general chairman Rick Allnutt, WS8G, said that although health and travel concerns have canceled the world’s largest gathering of amateur radio enthusiasts, there are will have online and live activities to keep the HamVention spirit alive this year. . HamVention is normally held at the end of May and brings together between 25,000 and 30,000 amateur radio operators from all parts of the world at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia.
Founded in 1974, the Highland Amateur Radio Association is an organization of over 130 Federal Communications Commission licensed amateur (amateur) radio operators in the Highlands and surrounding counties. More information on amateur radio can be found at www.arrl.org or by contacting the club’s information officer, John Levo, at 393-4951 or highlandara@gmail.com.
Submitted by John Levo.
Pictured, left to right, Bob McFarland, Jeff Collins, Harley Maines, Ron Bogart, John Levo and Lee Bishop.
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