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By By Norm Fusaro, W3IZ
ARRL Affiliated Club/Mentor Program Manager
August 26, 2004
People are motivated to get involved in Amateur Radio for many different reasons. Sometimes it is because a parent is a ham. Although her father was a ham, this was not the case for Marci Campbell of Eureka, California. Marci remembers her dad taking her to ham radio events but as a child she was shy and found the whole experience uncomfortable.
Marci and her husband, Don, had talked about getting their ham radio licenses but it wasn't until three earthquakes had devastated Humboldt County in April of 1992 that they enrolled in the next Amateur Radio licensing class that was offered by the Humboldt Amateur radio Club. The quakes and all occurred with in a few hours of each other ranged from 6.7 to 7.1 on the Richter scale. Marci says "It's amazing how a 7.0 quake will fill up a ham radio class."
Because of the irregular terrain of Humboldt County the club relies on a network of VHF simplex stations and HF radio to provide solid communications during times of Natural disaster and other emergencies. The American Red Cross and other agencies have purchased radio equipment for their facilities and the club maintains the stations and supplies operators when there is an emergency. It was this tried and tested system that made communications and rescue efforts possible during the 1992 earthquakes. The club trains extensively for emergencies and it is this training that ensures efficient communications when the whistle blows.
The class that Marci and Don attended was taught by Clem Cantu, WA6TVQ. Marci says that Clem always maintains a positive attitude and is encouraging to all new hams. He has been her mentor since the first day she met him. Marci and many other club members are thankful to Clem and all of the time that he donates to Amateur Radio. Quick to compliment each other, Clem claims that "Marci has been a real sparkplug for the club."
A ham since 1975, Clem says that he has a lot more time to offer ham radio since he retired from his regular job in the 1989. In addition to mentoring new hams he has been the club's treasurer for many years and edits the monthly newsletter. Clem realized a long time ago that the way to make a club healthy was to teach new hams. He started teaching licensing classes in 1982 and has always made himself available to new hams so that they can gain from his years of experience. Clem says "We all have to give something to the guy just coming into ham radio." His son Roy, KC6VGX, is also active in the club and serves as the club's webmaster.
 HARC club members at the ARRL San Francisco Section Convention. |
Humboldt ARC has an active mentor program and teaches two
license classes each year. Since that class in '92 Marci has become President
of the club and Don teaches some of the classes. The club also sponsored the Redwood Coast Amateur Radio
Convention for the ARRL San Francisco Section.
This is the fifth year that the club has hosted the convention.
 ARRL is committed to support Affiliated Clubs in their efforts to mentor new hams. [Full Story] |
Several years ago Clem and his friend Billy Allen, KC6IGY, started a program to take ham radio to the fifth grade classes in Humboldt County. They outfitted an old motor home with radios and other gear and took the show on the road. Clem said that the children are always very excited about Amateur Radio. Since that first show the club has received grants and has been able to update the program and retire the original old motor home and get a newer vehicle.
According to Clem the secret to being a good mentor is being able to listen and to have an ability to explain things as simply as possible. He also adds that a good mentor agrees to disagree and doesn't force his likes or dislikes onto the new ham. Clem believes that a good ham club is a good social club too. "It's the people that make a club." said Clem, as he explained how many of his friendships in the club go beyond Amateur Radio. Not wishing for another earthquake, Clem knows that because of all of their training and dedication to Amateur Radio and each other, the members of the Humboldt ARC have the ability to get the job done if and when it should happen again.
Richter Magnitude Scale
M=1 to 3: Recorded
on local seismographs, but generally not felt M=5: Felt widely, slight damage near epicenter. M=6: Damage to poorly constructed buildings and other structures within 10's km M=7: "Major" earthquake, causes serious damage up to ~100 km (recent Taiwan, Turkey, Kobe, Japan, and California earthquakes). M=8: "Great" earthquake, great destruction, loss of life over several 100 km (1906 San Francisco). M=9: Rare great earthquake, major damage over a large region over 1000 km (Chile 1960, Alaska 1964). |
