W 1 O
R S 
W 1 O
R S
Stratford Amateur Radio Club
Stratford, Connecticut USA 06614
History
Year in Review (1996)
the STRATFORD AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, inc.
(W1ORS)
Serving the Community for
50 Years
through
Amateur Radio
"Our Golden Anniversary"
1996
"YEAR in REVIEW" & "STATE of the CLUB"
At the January business meeting Club President, Bob, N1KPR posted a framed Certificate of Appreciation from the 1995 Special Olympics Committee for the participation of SARC members in that event (see 1995, year in review).
We
concluded our 50th
Anniversary Special Event on Friday, February 16th.
There was a lot of activity during that 2 week period. Many club
members participated, logging 181 QSOs. Our Club’s 50th
Anniversary was acknowledged by The Weak Signal Group, The
Connecticut Post newspaper and in QST under our Section manager’s
column (Betsy Doane, K1EIC).
See our 50th.
Anniversary Special Event photo gallery.
In February, the Nominating Committee submitted the following named individuals for the annual election:
President;
Frank Merkler, WA2TJR
Vice President; Bob Betts, N1KPR
Secretary; May Blakley, WA1EHK
Treasurer; Ted Kaszuba, W1ZQT
Communications Officer; Bob Giuliani, N2BQA
This slate ran unopposed.
At the March meeting, the Secretary cast one vote to install the slate of officers.
The first order of business at the May meeting was a motion to chair all business and adjourn in memory of Frank Merkler, WA2TJR who was now an SK after a long, brave battle with cancer.
Frank was the consummate Ham and experimenter. He was a gentleman, a very generous and giving person and loved by everyone. His contributions to the club, many of its individual members and the Ham community in general are far to numerous to list. Frank’s passing is a loss to all of us - Frank will be greatly missed.
Field Day is something we all look forward to each year. It is a time to enjoy our club and friends. This year Field day came and went in a rather methodical, uneventful way. Although it is always a great time to reaffirm old acquaintances and make new ones, there seemed to be a slight undercurrent of dispirit. We all did our jobs and we all had a good time. However, the topic of discussion frequently turned to Frank, WA2TJR. How could it not? Everywhere, there were little reminders of him. Yagi antennas homebrewed by him, equipment donated to the club by him, lessons we learned from his continued tinkering and, of course, conspicuous by its absence, the pervasive air of his presence.
At the July meeting, Bob, N1KPR, was nominated and ran unopposed for the open office of President. The secretary cast one vote and Bob assumed the Presidents chair for a third term. Carl Passafiume, N1ORW, took Bob’s place as vice president.
Bob, N2BQA, Communications Officer, reported that we scored 560 points during the June Field Day contest. Three stations were operated in the 3D class.
At the December meeting, Section Manager, Betsy Doane, K1EIC, presented the club with a plaque acknowledging the club’s 50-year affiliation with the ARRL.
This was a very unusual year for us all. The ups and downs were extreme – to say the least! We celebrated our Golden Anniversary as an Amateur Radio Club. We lost a great member and moral asset. We brought in several new members and lost some old ones, for various reasons.
One evening, on the week prior to Christmas, is designated for, if nothing else, our annual party. The poor little, old clubhouse can barely contain its visitors that night.
This year was no exception. We filled the place to near overflowing. As always, the food was abundant, varied and excellent. We closed the year with good food, good conversation and just a touch of good homemade red wine.
Merry Christmas and a healthy, prosperous 1997 to all.
Respectfully submitted, Robert Betts, N1KPR, Historian
Club
History Introduction & Forward Early Years 1945-1951
History (1945-1988) Text
Years of Revitalization
(1989-1993) 1994
Year in Review 1995 Year in Review
1996
Year in Review 1997 Year in Review
1998 Year in Review
Created and maintained by
Robert P. Giuliani, W1RPG
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