News from four states, several TALARC outposts.
California American Legion Amateur Radio Service (CALARS) -- California American Legion TALARC members, led by Dan Curry, K6DLC, manned a membership booth at PACIFICON, the annual ARRL Pacific Division Convention (www.pacificon.org) in San Ramon, Calif., on Oct. 14-16, 2016. They signed 13 new members from 10 area posts, including Gordon West, WB6NOA, a prominent figure known for decades in ham radio for his instructional courses.
Hollywood, Calif., American Legion Post 43 has requested advice on starting an amateur radio club, and National Headquarters is working with CALARS chairmen to provide that material.
American Legion Post 275 Amateur Radio Station, K3TAL, Glenarden, Md., supported the 59th annual Jamboree On The Air (JOTA), a national amateur radio and Boy Scouts of America event conducted Oct. 14-16, 2016. Post 275's TALARC amateur radio operators set up a full radio station for the Scouts to communicate via amateur radio with the International Space Station and with other Scouts all over the country. This is the third consecutive year K3TAL has set up operating stations, educational displays, STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] classes, and science demonstrations for the Scouts. Pictures of the event can be found on the TALARC website, www.legion.org/hamradio.
W7LEV, Larry Braden, recently notified National Headquarters that "The Montrose, Colo. [American Legion] Post #73 just started up a TALARC unit! We have many hams in our area and an active ham radio club, so I'm needing some assistance in recruiting new members. Anything would be greatly appreciated."
KK4AXV, Pat Geran, TALARC member and station manager for the Brevard [Fla.] County Emergency Operations Center, notified National Headquarters that the emergency management agencies and various existing clubs in Brevard County "would be happy to help any American Legion post within the county with obtaining club call letters, teaching and getting members their amateur radio licenses, establishing stations and training in station operation."
There is likely a good number of TALARC members looking for guidance and encouragement to move toward formalizing a plan to become active and visible in their communities. What Pat has to offer for Brevard County can be where some TALARC members there – who aren't quite sure where to begin – can go to get the help they need. More information is available from Pat at: g_geran@yahoo.com.
- Ham Radio