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 site manager: James E. Pate Jr. KD8WRL.
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 2025). Club officers are: President: Gary D. Godbey, K8GDG ; Vice President: John D. Hymes, W8HY Secretary: Daniel L. Simmons, KE8KEA; Treasurer: James E. Pate Jr, KD8WRL; Executive Committee Member at Large: Randy Kerbawy, KE8RB.
BDARC owns and maintains a repeater which operates on frequency 145.370 MHz. it has a 100. cps tone with negative offset, located, on the old EOC tower in Beckley, West Virginia.
BDARC runs a Service and Information net once a week on Friday night at 9:00PM. This net is; First, to pass emergency traffic; Second, to pass non-emergency traffic and announcements; and Third, to meet on the air and see that everyone is OK, and to give each operator an opportunity to comment on their past week of events or reflections. All check-in's are welcome, comments are encouraged but not required.
B.D.A.R.C. Business
Meeting: will be held
Tuesday, May 13th, 2025 at Golden Corral
1320 N Eisenhower Dr., Beckley. Our
meetings are the second Tuesday of every
month (except December, when we have our
Christmas Dinner). Anyone is welcome to
attend; those wishing to enjoy a meal
and fellowship with the group need to
show up at 5:30pm, the meeting will
start promptly at 6:30pm. Golden Corral
closes at 8:00pm so we have moved the
time up 30 minutes in case the meeting
should run long, so not to interfere
with restaurant closing.
Annual dues are $20 plus
$10.00 for each additional family member,
so a husband and wife can both join for
$30.00/year. The membership year is April
1st thru March 31st. A new "Lifetime
Membership" level has been added (by
request) and voted in by majority; where a
single club member can pay 20 times the
current annual membership rate, at this
time the rate of $400.00 - will pay your
club dues for life! Visit HamClubOnline
get a logon and password and search for
WV8BD or BDARC if you would like to join
our club. PayPal is accepted.Club activities include: Participation in Field Day each year, sponsoring a W5YI sanctioned volunteer examination team, "special events" stations; such as an annual Summertime picnic, and 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 James E. Pate Jr, for additional information. [email protected]
Also, we welcome visitors to our club meetings if you'd like to check us out before deciding whether to join.
