| Visitor Comments: What this really says is local hams ONLY do community minded things to retain their license, and get publicity and or new members. Miranda didn't do you guys any favors in this story OR you fed her the info with the wrong emphisis. Real nice gesture on the clubs part but not good PR for ham radio in general. Hams know what you mean but the public thinks we only do community service when we stand to loose something.
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Local radio club reaches out to community
Miranda Baines
Staff Writer
Friday, December 23, 2005
The Rockingham County Amateur Radio Club, Inc. is bringing some holiday cheer to one family in Eden this Christmas. The non-profit club's president-elect, Russell Harrison, explained, "We have been blessed to be able to pursue our hobby (radio communications) and at the very least we need to give back to the community."
Harrison said another reason why the club decided to adopt a family for Christmas was to gain publicity and attract new members.
The radio club consists of amateur radio controllers, also known as "hams," living in or around Rockingham County. The club currently boasts around 40 members and is at its "most coherent and strongest in years," according to Harrison.
Ham radio operators have two main objectives - to serve as a secondary form of communications in disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and to experiment with technology in order to invent new forms of communications.
"Hams have pioneered a lot of the technology we use today," said the Rev. Henry Pollock, club member. For instance, "the repeater system that radio amateurs use is the precursor of today's cell phone," explained Harrison.
Amateur radio control operators can send out signals worldwide and operate on diverse frequency levels.
Although this is the first year the club has participated in a community service project, the club offers its services to the community free of charge on a regular basis.
For instance, the radio club does communications for local events such as Christmas parades and walk-a-thons. Club member Frank Rogue said, "Giving back to the community is part of the requirement of having a radio control license. If we don't do community service, we can't keep our license."
The radio club worked with the Red Cross to coordinate this year's community service project.
The Red Cross gave the club the name of a family in Eden in need of holiday cheer. The family includes a single mother with a daughter and two sons. Harrison and club member Sarah London worked as co-chairs of the project and solicited donations from members. The club spent about $90 per child and bought all the presents on the children's wish lists. They also provided the family with $150 worth of staple items, such as a Christmas ham and canned goods.
Harrison said the community service venture has been "a tremendous success" and the club plans to adopt another family next Christmas. "This will be a Christmas this family will never forget," added Harrison.
The amateur radio club is open to anyone interested in obtaining a radio controller's license. The club has a business meeting the third Tuesday of each month at the Red Cross on N.C. Highway 14. Anyone interested in learning more about the Rockingham County Amateur Radio Club should go to the club's web site at www.rcarc.com or call Russell Harrison at (336) 348-1860.
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Nice site. Great to be able to read Rockingham County Ham News here in Texas. Keep up the good work.