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 29 (December 2023). Club officers are: President:
John D. Hymes, W8HY ; Vice President: Gary D. Godbey K8GDG   Secretary: Daniel L. Simmons, KE8KEA; Treasurer: James E. Pate Jr, KD8WRL; Executive Committee Member at Large: Tim Carter, N8CU.

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, April 9th, 2024 at Golden Corral 1320 N Eisenhower Dr., Beckley. Annual election of officers will take place at the March meeting, so all members please try to be in attendance for those. 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.

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.


 

THANKS FOR VISITING OUR SITE AND COME AGAIN SOON!!!