Ham radio operators use two-way radio stations from their homes, cars, boats and outdoors to make hundreds of friends around town and around the world. They communicate with each other using voice, computers, and Morse code. Some hams bounce their signals off the upper regions of the atmosphere, so they can talk with hams on the other side of the world. Other hams use satellites. Many use hand-held radios that fit in their pockets.

Hams exchange pictures of each other using television. Some also like to work on electronic circuits, building their own radios and antennas. A few pioneers in Amateur Radio have even contributed to advances in technology that we all enjoy today. There are even ham-astronauts who take radios with them on space shuttle missions and thrill thousands of hams on earth with a call from space!

Using even the simplest of radio setups and antennas, amateurs communicate with each other for fun, during emergencies, and even in contests. They handle messages for police and other public service organizations during all kinds of emergencies including hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes and floods, motorist accidents, fires and chemical spills, and search and rescues. They help organize parades and other local events... the list goes on and on.

The above was adapted from "Hello Radio " on the ARRL web site. Give them a visit... there's lots of interesting stuff there.

Executive Board — Thursday, March 11

The Executive Board will meet at 7:30 PM, at Elmhurst Fire Station #1, in the basement conference room. All Executive Board members are requested to attend; any interested club member may attend. Click the "Maps" link in the top menus for a map to the meeting place.

Regular Meeting / VE Testing — Friday, March 19

The regular Club meeting will be held at the Community Bank of Elmhurst, 330 W Butterfield Rd, where Spring Rd intersects. The meeting will begin at 8:00 PM. Click the "Maps" link in the top menus for a map to the meeting place. Click the "Maps" link in the top menus for a map to the meeting place. We welcome any and all whose interests include amateur radio.

Program topic:

The York Radio Club is pleased to present Kermit Carlson, W9XA as our featured speaker for the March meeting. Kermit was recently elected Vice-Director of the Central Division of the ARRL and will talk about the current affairs of the hobby and the ARRL.  Perhaps he will also talk about some of his current radio projects. 

VE testing for all FCC license elements will begin at 7:00 PM at the meeting site. Those taking the test are welcome to stay for the meeting. For an appointment or more information, call Mark, KB9TVD at (708) 562-6027.

The York Radio Club will hold a 2-day Technician Class license class, including the giving of the Technician Class examination, on Saturday and Sunday, March 20th and 21st. Details and a registration form are available on this site: hover your mouse over the "Classes-Training" link on the top menu and slide down to "Technician."

Club members who know of good places to put 8.5" x 11" flyers can download a PDF version and print as many as they need: just click HERE. 

Our classes are intensive over the two days, but we also have a better than 98% success rate when students take the examination on Sunday afternoon! 

The Elmer List is back! This list includes all active (paid-up) club members with their phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, call signs, etc. The list is in PDF format and is available to any active club member who wants it. Just use the CONTACT YRC link in the main menu at the left side of the page to request yours. Include your name and call sign in the request, and MAKE SURE YOU ACCURATELY ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS! You will receive your Elmer List in your in-box shortly after you request it.

Why not just make it download-able? For security reasons this information is restricted to club members and this seemed to be the easiest way to make sure it stays that way. 

The most up-to-date version is from January 16, 2010.