Would you like to know more about amateur (ham) radio?
Are you a licensed ham and new to the area, been here forever or just have an interest in amateur radio, consider joining SMARC. Our 90+ members would enjoy meeting you, making a new friend and sharing the excitement. One good way to learn about SMARC is to join a Zoom session either every M-Th at about 8:30am to 10:15am or at a monthly meeting. Click the Join Zoom Link below. Passcode is w4olb. Are you already a ham and just need to ask a question and do not know who to reach out to, just click the Email us button below and ask your question.
The SMARC November Meeting was held only via Zoom out of an abundance of COVID caution.
There is no December meeting and the Christmas party has been cancelled. Next meeting is January, 2022
Meetings are the 4th Monday, at 7:00pm. Most start arriving before 6:45pm. Typical agenda will be recognizing guests and introductions, reports, announcement and then a program. The meeting will be back at the United Steel Workers, Local 309, in the lower level.
NOTICE! NOTICE! NOTICE!
The November had an election of officers for 2022 and a vote to review and update the Club Constitution. The members voted in Bob Wilson - President, Joe O'Boyle - VP., Bob Loving - Secretary and Dave Kaun, Treasurer. In addition, the Tax Committee was authorized to move forward in addressing the issues found for correction in the Club Constitution.
CLUB MAILING LIST
To get on our email list, just join our groups.io by clicking here. You will then be on an email list where you will be sent for more information and announcements of SMARC club meetings and activities. Just want more information or to contact SMARC leadership, click the button below to email us.
As a little background relative to SMARC, the early club history is described under the More tab on the ribbon above.
If you are not yet licensed, SMARC holds a regular Technician class and also routine FCC tests are given locally (see below). Some ask, what does amateur radio cost?
November SMARC Meeting
The November SMARC meeting was held via Zoom. A quorum of members, in excess of 47, attended. The agenda included regular business and our Treasurer, Carroll, reported $6,884.39 in the bank account which includes the Fusion repeater fund, now totaling $6,347. Carroll also reported there are 93 members. Treasurer's and Secretary reports received approval.
75th Anniversary Celebration. Bob mentioned again the planning for the club's 75th anniversary celebration and a Special Event Station. Charles is the Chair but no further information was reported.
Weekly Net. Melvin reported weekly net results. See the minutes for more information in the Member's section.
Many Special Event Stations and Nets. President Bob spent a good deal of time talking about how to find special events and nets that members may wish to check into. He suggested if there are questions, please contact him or Bob Loving.
Officers for 2022. Jordan (K4AVG) reported for the election committee provided a list that missed the president. Bob Wilson agreed to serve another term. Please note above the four officers elected.
SMARC is a corporation, presently an IRC 501c7. An effort is underway by a Club President appointed Tax Committee to look at the potential of moving towards becoming a IRC 501c3. A motion was made and adopted for the committee to take the next step to address a needed update to the club constitution. David Andrews (N1ESK) is chairing the committee.
Christmas Party Plan. The holiday party has been cancelled due to concern for COVID.
Bonfire. President Bob is thinking we should have a bonfire and Paul indicated they Boy Scout Troop he is involves with has a location. More to come.
New Fusion Repeater Update {11-23-2021}. The frequency assigned is 443.075 MHz by SERA, the coordination group. The Yaesu DR-2X Fusion repeater is now operational at its new home.
Blount County has another amateur radio organization, Blount Emergency Communications Service (BCECS), an Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL), is an active ARES group. This is not a club, rather a service group formed under the structure of the ARRL. ARES communications operators receive emergency communications training and offer services for the local community to such organizations as Blount County Emergency Management, Blount Memorial Hospital, the local American Red Cross chapter and other community organizations.
In 2019, SMARC donated their communications trailer in support of the Blount County ARES group. A grant request has been submitted to ARDC for funds to update the trailer and make some needed repairs. ARDC has announced the award to BEARS has been made and soon the funds will be made available. Plans by the ARES group will shortly begin. Planned upgrades include a new air conditioner, a DC power system, improved lighting, new chairs and changes to the generator plus of course the addition of radios and antenna systems.
The ARES group today meets at the Blount County 911 Center and its regular Thursday evening Net. Want more information? Contact the BCECS TEAMAPP button below and/or take part in the Net, it is open to all licensed amateur radio operators.
The Smoky Mountain Amateur Radio Weekly Net is held each Thursday at 7:00 P.M. on the W4OLB Club Repeater (146.655 MHz, Tone 100.0 Hz) with the backup repeater being the WB4GBI (146.625 MHz, Tone 118.8 Hz). All amateurs are welcome to take part. Net Control will ask only for your Call Sign, Name, Location and Affiliation. We also hold a simultaneous Zoom video conference which you are welcome to take part in by clicking here and using passcode 'w4olb'.
Join the "The Bobs or Mike" every Monday through Thursday morning for the very informal KK4XA Morning Net beginning at 9:00 A.M. on the W4OLB Club Repeater (146.655 MHz, Tone 100.0 Hz) or the KK4XA DMR Repeater, 444.075 MHz, CC1, TG 314742. We also invite you to join the Zoom Conference, just click here and use passcode 'w4olb' to join the KK4XA Morning Net Zoom.
The KK4XA DMR repeater is connected to the internet via Brandmeister, thus these two repeaters can be accessed from anywhere by connecting to Talk Group 314742.
>>>>> NEXT TEST SESSION <<<<<
December 13th, 7pm - Parish House, St. Andrew's Church, 314 W. Broadway Ave, Maryville, TN
SPECIAL NOTES - ALL TEST APPLICANTS
Applicants must use an FCC Registration Number (FRN) for all license transactions with the FCC. Examinees must register in CORES and receive an FRN before exam day. As of May 20th, ALL electronic batch filed applications that do not include a candidate's FRN will be rejected. The Social Security/Licensee ID Field will be disabled. The FCC will use the FRN rather than a Social Security number with all interactions after May 20th.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBTAINING AN FRN. Register in CORES (COmission REgistrati
TECHNICIAN CLASS to begin January 11, 2022
SMARC trainers will begin delivering a Technician License class via Zoom on Tuesday, January 11th. More information to follow soon.
The Smoky Mountain Amateur Radio Club Meeting: We are now again having our monthly meetings in-person at the United Steelworkers Union Hall, 339 S. Hall Road, Alcoa, TN. We meet the fourth Monday of every month at 7:00 P.M. Members and non-members are welcome to attend.
As a special note, meeting will also be on Zoom, please carve out the date/time. To join the Zoom video conference, click here. The passcode is w4olb. If you are not a member of our groups.io, please click here to join. There will be an email sent out to club members before each meeting including the credentials necessary to join the meeting. Thank you for your patience and we hope that you and your family are well.
SMARC also has a Club Board meeting the week before (3rd Monday of every month) at 7:00 P.M. via ZOOM video conferencing. Announcement of the meeting and any changes to the schedule will occur via email. All are welcome to attend this meeting.
Please Note: There are no meetings in June due to Field Day and in December, as this meeting is replaced by our Christmas Party. If you have any questions or need directions, please click here.
EVERY THURSDAY: Want to get involved in a face to face technical discussion? A number of members meet at TC's Grill on 2514 Old Niles Ferry Road, Maryville starting about 11:30am every Thursday. Just come in and look for the big group of folks in the back of the restaurant. All are welcome to stop by.
EVERY FRIDAY: We also welcome you to join a number of our members, spouses and guests for breakfast at TC's Grill on 2514 Old Niles Ferry Road, Maryville every Friday morning at 9am. Just come in and look for the big group of folks in the back of the restaurant. All forms of radio any other topics are likely discussed. See: S.M.A.R.C. (w4olb.org)
FOX HUNTS and PICNIC: This event will be planned as weather permits where the club sponsors a picnic and then has a fox hunt. Announcement of the event, location, time and date will be sent out via email to all registered on SMARC groups i/o. {NOTE: This event is subject to COVID restrictions.}
TAILGATE and POT LUCK: This event is usually held in the spring where members are invited to bring any ham related equipment to sell and then afterward for a pot luck with meat dish provided. {NOTE: This event is subject to COVID restrictions.}
CHRISTMAS PARTY: This event is held of course in December, in place of the normal club meeting where the meat dish is provided and attendees are required to bring a salad or desert to share. {NOTE: This event is subject to COVID restrictions.}
WANT TO KNOW MORE: Just go to the SMARC Team APP for most up to date information.
© 2019 Smoky Mountain Amateur Radio Club
