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 Previous: The K7RA Solar Update |  Next: Southern Florida SEC Jim Goldsberry, KD4GR, Silent Key |
By Norm Fusaro, W3IZ
ARRL Affiliated Club/Mentor Program Manager
December 29, 2004
The Austin Amateur Radio Club of Austin, Texas, celebrated their 85th year as an Affiliated Club of the ARRL. Over ninety members and guests turned out for the club's holiday party where ARRL West Gulf Division Director Coy Day, N5OK, presented the club with a plaque from ARRL honoring their milestone. South Texas Section Manager, Ray Taylor, N5NAV was unable to attend the event but he did speak to Club President John Suchyta, KG5O by telephone and sent his congratulations to all the members of the club.
 Western Gulf Division Director, Coy Day, N5OK presents ARRL Carter of Affiliation to AARC President, John Suchyta, KG5O |
The club gave away many door prizes at the party. Some of those prizes included an ARRL Handbook, Antenna Book and other publications as well as a couple of handheld transceivers. The actual date of the anniversary was December 5, 2004 and one of the door prizes, won by Kevin Kane, AD5RA, was the actual state flag that flew over the state capitol on that day. The flag was donated by Texas State Senator Ken Armbrister.
Austin ARC is an active club with interests as diverse as its membership. Each summer, along with the Texas VHF-FM Society, the clubs jointly sponsor the Austin Summerfest. It is an all day event with guest speakers, forums and flea market. The clubs have been jointly sponsoring the event for the past twenty years and this past year it was the site of the 2004 ARRL Texas State Convention.
Club members are quite active on the air in the Texas State QSO Party and other operating events on all the bands. They have a very active ARES membership and practice emergency communications on various nets.
AARC is also active in introducing Amateur Radio to
youngsters. In addition to sponsoring a
scholarship program for students, the club is involved with the ARRL Education
& Technology Program, a.k.a "The Big Project". The club supports the LBJ High School Amateur Radio Club in
Austin. Teacher Ronny Risinger, KC5EES,
administers the program and with the help of the AARC they formed the club in
April 2004 and have put together a modest station at the school. Students are active on 14.265 +/- between
15:20 -- 16:00 UTC during the week when school is open.
 George Toone, WB5FBJ, entertains the members at the celebration. |
According to Mark Spencer, WA8SME, Director of the Big Project "Their's is one of the more successful programs. Ronny has been very proactive with the program and has accomplished quite a lot there." At the last test session Ronny had 11 students earn their Amateur Radio licenses including seven students who had passed the element 1, CW exam. KC5EES was one of several teachers from around the country that attended the Teacher's Institute held at ARRL headquarters this past summer. The institute is a week long affair where the teachers receive hands-on lessons and seminars on various lesson plans and programs that are part of the Education & Technology Program.*
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Mitch London, KD5HCV, says that in addition to the Big Project, "We hold two VE testing session each month and sponsor the Jesse Copeland Scholarships. We realize that the kids in high school today are the future of ham radio, so we want to nurture that spark of curiosity and welcome those that want to learn more about ham radio." Austin ARC is celebrating their past but they are always looking forward to their future.
* For more information
on the ARRL Education and Technology Program please contact Mark Spencer,
WA8SME, at mspencer@arrl.org or
860-594-0396
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