BUCHANAN COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB RECEIVES GRANT FROM COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

INDEPENDENCE, IOWA, February 4, 2008 - Buchanan County Amateur Radio Club announced today that, in partnership with the Buchanan County Emergency Management Agency, it was a recipient of a grant from the Buchanan County Community Foundation in 2007.

The grant allowed the Club to purchase needed communications equipment and a weather station to equip the County’s Emergency Operations Center located at the old county home. This equipment will be used for training as well as in actual emergency situations to improve communications between Emergency Services

With the funding provided by the Community Foundation grant the club was able to purchase several mobile radios that can be used at the EOC and at the scene the incident Command Trailer, an HF radio that provides long distance communications over hundreds and even thousands of miles, a “TrunkTracker” scanner that allows interoperability by allowing the monitoring of other agencies, such as Black Hawk County, that use 800MHz trunked communication systems. According to Buchanan County Emergency Management Director, Rick Wulfekuhle, “This generous support will help us to build and sustain the necessary infrastructure to maintain communications for the safest efforts of all responders in the response to all residents in the event of any and all emergencies.”

A professional grade weather station was also purchased. This advanced system even includes a heated rain gauge and a heated anemometer, allowing it to function during periods of freezing precipitation. Originally it was planned to install the station at the old County Home, but it was later decided to place it at the Independence Fire Station, since that location is manned 24/7 and had an Internet connection available. Through an additional donation from Independence Fire, special software was purchased that allows this weather information to be obtained by anyone with access to the Internet by visiting http://weather.bcarc.net

Amateur (or HAM) Radio is a hobby that can save lives, instantly turns into a life saving service whenever there’s a disaster or large-scale emergency. On September 11th, it was ham radio that kept New York City agencies in touch with each other after their command center was destroyed. When hurricanes like Katrina, Rita and Wilma or tornadoes or floods knock out other communications, ham radio provides vital life-and-death capabilities. Wulfekuhle said, “Ham operators do this as a hobby to fulfill the enjoyment of corresponding all over the world. The overall benefit to true comprehensive Emergency Management is now more than ever being realized in the continued effort of these professionals in maintaining communications during any hazard that can occur.”

Today there are more than 670,000 Amateur Radio operators in the United States and more than 2.5 million worldwide. To find out more about Amateur Radio or how you can get started, contact Buchanan County Amateur Radio Club at (888) 232-6250, on the web at www.bcarc.net, or e-mail info@bcarc.net.

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This annual event, called “Field Day” is the climax of the week long “Amateur Radio Week” sponsored by the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. Using only generators, batteries or solar power, the hams construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls and back yards to test their skills under all situations. The slogan, “Ham radio works when other systems don’t!” is more than just words to the hams as they prove they can send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, internet or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis. More than 30,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year’s event.

“This event provide us an opportunity to practice establishing communications with surrounding counties, states even other countries under adverse conditions”, stated club president Clair Franzen. “This is part of our comment to serve the community and assist Emergency Management.”.

Over the weekend hams will be demonstrating AM, sideband, FM, digital, code and even satellite communications. Several clubs will also be experimenting with TV signals and incredibly high frequency equipment. It was from their practical experience as hams that many electrical engineers went on to develop the marvels of today’s communications.

There are 670,000 Amateur Radio operators in the US, and more than 2.5 million around the world. Through the ARRL hams provide emergency communications for the DHS Citizens’ Corps, Red Cross, Salvation Army, FEMA and many state and local agencies.

To learn more about Amateur Radio contact Clair Franzen at 563 932-2099, email KC0RFN@arrl.net or go to www.arrl.org/newham. Visit the Buchanan County Amateur Radio Clubs web site at www.bcarc.net. Local amateurs will be able to contact club members utilizing the county repeater during the event..

The Buchanan County Amateur Radio Club was formed earlier this year after months of preparation by several area hams. The club is currently working very closely with the Buchanan County Emergency Management Agency to develop a plan to provide communications in the event of an emergency. The main goals of the club are as follows: to provide public service and emergency communications, allow ham operators in Buchanan County and surrounding areas of Northeast Iowa a chance to socialize and share knowledge and personal experiences, generate new interest in ham radio within the community, and to have FUN!

Amateur Radio is about having fun, but it can also be an important communications resource during emergencies. When disaster strikes, Amateur Radio operators often volunteer for backup communications duty to help local officials, the National Weather Service and service agencies such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

Amateur Radio is very much alive and well in the 21st century. Hams are experimenting with cutting-edge digital communications, serving their communities in times of need and having fun making friends with people all over the world.

Today, there are more than 650,000 Amateur Radio operators in the United States and more than 2.5 million worldwide. For more information on the Buchanan County Amateur Radio club email info@bcarc.net or visit their website at www.bcarc.net. You can also receive information on how to get into Amateur Radio by calling the American Radio Relay League at 1-800-32NEW HAM.