| This
article was written by Charles Seay, KN4HL
The Dickson County
Amateur Radio Club was started by a group of local amateur radio
operators in the early months of 1990 with the first organizational
meeting being held on March 5, 1990 at the Bank Of Dickson downtown.
At that meeting a unanimous vote was taken to start a new club.
Charles Seay was elected temporary president.
Several amateur radio clubs had previously been started but had
ceased operation due to lack of participation of local amateurs.
The next meeting occurred on May 5th, 1990. It was decided that the
club would meet every two months and that most club business could
be handled between the regular meetings by the establishment of a
local net on 28.325MHz which met at 8 p.m. each Sunday evening.
Everyone was excited about our first Field Day under the club
banner. It was at this May meeting that The Dickson County Amateur
Radio Club was selected as the club's official name.
It wasn't long before our meeting room began filling to capacity at
each meeting and it was decided to meet on the second Monday on a
monthly basis. This has continued to the present time.
It wasn't long before their were several amateurs who wished to
upgrade and a local Volunteer Examiner team was formed consisting of
Jeff Clark NY4N, Bryan Vaughn AB4KX and Wayne Marsh N4QYO. This
team, consisting of different members with the exception of Jeff
Clark NY4N has continued to give examinations as the need arises.
The Dickson County Amateur Radio Club has participated in the ARRL
Field Day each year and has performed well. In 1998 the club finish
in first place in the 4A battery category.
Most members of the club are certified NOAA weather spotters and
have assisted the Weather Service during several bad weather
warnings. Most members are communicators with the Dickson County
Emergency Management Agency and are subject to call by the agency at
any time.
The Dickson County Amateur Radio Club in cooperation with and under
the direction of the Dickson Police Department conducts "OPERATION
GOBLIN" on Halloween each year. Members are used as civilian patrol
units which are trained by the Chief Of Police to observe and report
acts of vandalism during the Halloween celebration.
Besides participating in Field Day, Weather Spotter Activities and
Operation Goblin, the club also has two add-a-dish picnics each year
for club members. Each member brings one or more dishes of food. No
one has ever gone away hungry from a club picnic. During these
picnics a White Elephant Sale is conducted. Member place items in a
brown paper sack and each sack is auctioned off to the highest
bidder. It is a unique way of raising money for club projects. Since
members of the Dickson County Amateur Radio Club don't have dues to
pay, voluntary donations are collected at each club meeting.
The Dickson County Amateur Radio Club currently meets at the
Renaissance Center on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p. m.
Everyone is invited to attend. Exceptions to the meeting dates
includes picnic meetings and our annual club Christmas Party . |
