Present Club Officers from Left to Right
Tom McIntee, Dean DeMain, Andy Kadvan, ARRL Director(George Race),
Jack Sovik, Jerry Veile, Al Johnson
List of club services
There are many different types of Amateur Radio clubs in our area and across the country. Some are oriented toward money-raising projects such as hamfests, still others are centered around contesting or DX activities.
The MVARA has been, since its founding as one of the country's first amateur radio clubs in 1919, a SERVICE ORIENTED CLUB.
Although we do sponsor an annual contest and have DX-related programs at some of our meetings, our primary goal is to serve the amateur community at large, members and non-members alike, and advance the hobby by making it accessible to new hams. Some of our MVARA club services include:
MONTHLY MEETINGS: Our meetings on
the SECOND THURSDAY of each month begin at 7:30 PM at the Park Vista Retirement
Community on Fifth Avenue in the University District and are open to ANY interested
person. Each month we try to have an educational, informative and hobby-oriented
program following a short business meeting. You do not have to be a member
of the MVARA to attend the
meetings although you cannot vote or participate in club administrative
activities unless you are a member.
LICENSE EXAMS: Our MVARA VE (Volunteer Examiner) Team offers exams for all license classes at least eight times per year. Our VE Team is affiliated with the ARRL VEC, the largest VE group in the world, and has received numerous commendations. Exams are given on the THIRD THURSDAY of each ODD-NUMBERED month or VE Testing Directions link on main page, as well as several times a year at other locations. For more information on exams call (330) 534 -1394
W8QLY REPEATER: Our 2 meter repeater
on 146.745 is the high profile repeater in the Mahoning Valley and is operated
as an "open" repeater. In other words, it is available for use by ANY licensed
amateur operator, weather a member of the MVARA or not.
W8QLY is also the primary repeater for Skywarn in Mahoning County,
a system for spotting and reporting severe weather to theWeather Bureau.
While there are several special features that are available to members
only such as the phone patch, the basic functions of the repeater can be
used by anyone holding a license with 2 meter privileges. W8QLY operates
on a 24 hour schedule year round.
FCC FORM SERVICES: The FCC's form is the primary method of making any changes to your license. If your license is due for renewal, you must file a Form with the FCC. The MVARA keeps a supply of current Forms on hand and they are available at any of our meetings or by calling (330) 534 -1394. In addition, we have experienced people on hand at each meeting who can assist you in filling out your Form.
HAM CALL LICENSE PLATE SERVICE: If you are a licensed amateur and live in Ohio, you can get special Ohio license plates with your ham call on it. The MVARA offers a service wherein you can do all the paperwork to get your ham call plates at any MVARA meeting rather than fighting the long lines and wait at the regular license bureaus. By the way, in OHIO your ham call plates only cost $10.00 over the regular cost of the plate. Ask for details at any MVARA meeting.
LICENSE PREP CLASSES: Each year the MVARA offers classes to teach non-hams how to become licensed and other hams how to upgrade for additional license privileges. We offer classes to help you learn code or to help you pass your written exams. As with all MVARA services, there is NO CHARGE for these classes. Students may be required to obtain a textbook for some classes, but they can be often borrowed from former students who have passed their exams.
ANTENNA SCHOOL: Our annual antenna school offers newer amateurs the chance to get some hands-on experience in designing and building simple antennas. Subjects covered include measuring, cutting, soldering, cable and connector attachment and testing. Attendees can bring along the materials and build their own antenna for use at their home stations.
INFORMATION TABLE: At each meeting we feature a table full of helpful information that you can pick up free. Items may include flyers for area hamfests, frequency charts, operating schedules, ARRL brochures, article reprints, contests notices and many other helpful and informative items. Our offerings change from month to month so be sure to check the Information Table every month following the meeting.
This is a sample of the services from the MVARA. We are constantly looking for ideas that we might develop into additional services. If you know of a specific need in the hobby, please let us know. Additional services from the MVARA are announced on our Monday night net at 9:00 PM on W8QLY when they become available and in the VOICE COIL, our monthly newsletter to members.
If you would like to become a member of the Mahoning Valley Amateur
Radio Association, Inc. and help us in serving the amateur radio community,
just come to any meeting or call (330) 534 -1394. We will be glad to give
you our club brochure that tells you about the history of the MVARA as
well as outlining even more features that we haven't covered here.
