Bellevue Amateur Radio Club

Organization

Organization/Club Name: Bellevue Amateur Radio Club, Inc. Founded in 1959.
Mailing address:  7518 Chandler Hills Drive, Bellevue, NE 68147-2108

The club By-Laws are available for review here.

President: Mike Turner, KDØAUM
Vice President: Wayne Fry, WH6BUL
Additional officer positions are listed here.
Committee positions are listed here.

The club operates a 2m repeater on 147.39+ MHz (tone on output 131.8 Hz), WØWYV.  The club also uses the WØWYV call sign for special event stations and to operate on Field Day.  Rules regarding the use of the club call sign can be found here.  The club also has a 10-10 International number for use with the club call sign when contacts are made on the ten meter band..

Requests for QSLs should be sent to the club address above.  Please include a SASE.  All requests for QSLs will be validated against club logs.

The Bellevue Amateur Radio Club is affiliated with the American Radio Relay League.  BARC is an ARRL Special Service Club — recognized for its leadership in the community, its training and educational programs, public relations, technical advancement, operational activities, and its participation in emergency communications.

The club also uses Yahoo! Groups for email communications to the membership and interested persons.  To sign up, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BellevueARC/. 

Monthly Meetings

Who?  Anyone and everyone is invited.  You don't need to be a member or a licensed radio operator to attend.  You are welcome to come and find out what we're about and what we're up to next.
What?  There is usually a short business meeting, followed by a presentation related to amateur radio.
When?  The 3rd Thursday of every month, except December at 7:30 PM
Where?  The Masonic Lodge Dining Hall, Franklin and 20th, Olde Towne Bellevue
Minutes from the meetings are published in the "Spark Gap," the official newsletter of BARC.
More info about the meetings including a map is here.

Membership

Number of Members:  Approximately 85

Membership requirements/fees: 

• An interest in the amateur radio. 
• Voting members must have a valid Amateur Radio license.
• Individual dues are $12.00 per year; family membership is $18.00; fulltime students are $6.00.
• Memberships run from January 1st through December 31st.
• New licensees may apply for a membership that is free for the remainder of the current calendar year.
• The membership application is here.

Visitors are welcome at all times at no cost.  We encourage you to come to our meetings to find out what we're all about.

Purpose of the Organization

To enhance the exchange of information and cooperation between members, to promote radio knowledge and individual operating efficiency, to lessen the burdens of the government, and to so conduct Club programs and activities to advance the general interest and welfare of Amateur Radio in the community.

Recurring Activities and Events

The club supports the following agencies and events:

• Sarpy County Emergency Management Agency in annual tests of severe weather warning sirens (April) and periodic training exercises in case of natural or man-made disasters
• National Weather Service by providing trained storm spotters (year-round)
• National Night Out activities in Bellevue, Papillion, and LaVista (August)
• Arrows to Aerospace parade (summer)
• Bellevue Bike Club Spoke and Hub ride (May)
• Springfield Day Parade (June)
• ARRL Field Day (June)
• Offutt Air Force Base Air Show (May)
• Alegent Health Family Walk Event (September)
• Multiple Sclerosis Bike-A-Thon
• Make-A-Wish bike ride (September)
• River City Round-Up Parade (September)
• JOTA for Boy and Girl Scouts (October)
• Nebraska Veteran's Day Parade (November)
• Many club members also support the Sarpy county RACES organization, ARES, the Douglas county EMA, the Omaha Metro Medical Response System (OMMRS), and the Mass Casualty Exercise

We are Radio Active!!!

The club also offers classes for obtaining the Technician Class amateur radio license about once a quarter.  Additionally, we offer ARRL/VEC amateur radio license testing for new amateurs as well as those who wish to upgrade their licenses.  Check the calendar for upcoming class and testing dates.

The Social/Events Committee plans and executes several non-technical social functions throughout the membership year.  These include club dinners once a quarter and an annual club picnic.