Local STARS, TALARC groups grow together

This is KC6YOT, a member of American Legion Post 71 in Cabot, Ark. I am also the treasurer for the STARS (Small Town Amateur Radio Service) Club, W5STR, in Cabot, Ark. When my HAM club was looking for a place to meet I approached Post Commander Jim Sanders, and he approved allowing the STARS club to meet at the post once a month. Many members of STARS, because of the close proximity of Little Rock Air Force Base, are active-duty, veterans, Guard, reserve or retired. The synergy of both clubs coming together has been fantastic as we are both into public service in our community. Once the post commander found out about TALARC, I was approached about establishing an amateur radio station at the post. With the post commander’s and STARS Club members’ approval I started the project. Both organizations have gained new members; as STARS members joined The American Legion I have encouraged them to also join TALARC, and Legion m embers have joined STARS.
At the last post meeting I reported that the Post 71 Amateur Radio Station was up and operational as of June 23, 2015. The STARS Club provided the following for the station: Astron RS-20M power supply, Yaesu FT-8800 UHF/VHF, Yaesu FT 857 HF, LDG YT-100 Auto Tuner, OCF Windom HF antenna, Browning UHF/VHF mobile with a Tram ground plane adapter, desk and bulletin boards. The following American Legion and STARS members put this station together: Mason Creager, AF5WN; James Cope, AI5Z; Kenny Esau, KC5KVU; and myself, Frank Adkins, KC6YOT.
I believe we are the first Legion post in Arkansas to have an amateur radio station established at the post.

http://www.legion.org/hamradio/photos/229478/local-stars-talarc-groups-g...