The Wabash Valley Amateur Radio Association, Inc. W9UUU / K9IKQ

W.V.A.R.A.
P.O. Box 81
Terre Haute, IN 47808-0081

Check the Calendar of Events on the main page for dates of any activity.

Club Services:

2-Meter Voice Repeater: Located just west of the Honey Creek Mall, on the Commercial Radio Service tower, the 146.685 (negative offset on input) repeater provides valley-wide coverage on 2 meters. Its call sign is K9IKQ. PL Tone of 151.4 required unless a weather net or ARES event is in progress.

Amateur Radio Classes: The WVARA generally holds classes for new amateurs each fall and upgrade classes are held periodically according to demand. Times and locations are published widely by flier, over the various nets and here on the web.

Amateur Radio Testing: ARRL Volunter Examiner (VE) testing is generally held on the first Sunday of the even-numbered months in Terre Haute, Indiana at 1715 South 6yh Street, and on the second Saturday of the odd-numbered months in Paeis, Illinois at the Burkybile Law Office. See the current calendar of events for up to date scheduling.

Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS): The WVARA sponsers the W9UUU-10 APRS Digipeater located at the Repeater Site operating on 144.390MHz.

Amateur TeleVision (ATV): Interested in Amateur Television? So are a number of our club members. Come and share your knowledge.

Brentlinger Award: Each year the WVARA sponsors the Brentlinger Award to an outstanding ham or hams in the Wabash Valley. Nominees need not be club members. Written nominations are to be received by January 15th. A banquet dinner is held ib March, at which time the award is presented. See the complete list of Brentlinger Award Winners.

Christmas Party: This Annual RSVP event is another good excuse to get together.

Club Station W9UUU: Located in the Red Cross Building basement, it is open each Thursday evening at 7:00 pm till about 9:00 pm and the on weekends by request and/or during contests.

Dayton Hamvention Bus: Each year the WVARA sponsors a day trip bus to the Dayton Hamvetion. Cost for the trip is published and announced in advance. The bus usually goes on Saturday of the Hamvention leaving Terre Haute around 4:30 am, Arriving at the Hamvention at 8:00 am. The bus then leaves Dayton at approximately 4:30 pm and returns to Terre Haute around 8:00 pm. The bus is a Turner Coach and makes stops in Greencastle and Plainfield and usually a stop for breakfast and supper accordingly. You must indvidually register for the Hamvention either in advance or at the door. Reservations are accepted upon receipt of your check. Click here for a current reservation form.

Drawings: Each month a varity of door prizes are given away.

Equipment Auction: Periodically the club sponsors an auction where you may be able to unload some equipment that has been in your way and get some new equipment to fill the hole back up that you just cleaned out. Items are either sold on comission (10% goes to the club) or are donated (100% goes to the club).

Field Day: Each year on the 4th full weekend in June is the ARRL-sponsored Field Day. This is a nationwide emergency preparedness exercise to check amateur radio equipment and services during "adverse" operating conditions. WVARA participates in the exercises at a site around the Wabash Valley in a park or similar setting.

Hamfest: Formally "Tail Gate Party" Each year, usually in March, the club sponsors a Hamfest where you may be able to unload some equipment that has been in your way and get some new equipment to fill the hole back up that you just cleaned out. Admission is typically low and is the same amount wether you are selling or buying. Food is available. Items may be sold from the Club table and sold either on comission (10% goes to the club) or are donated (100% goes to the club).

Listserv: The WVARA has a E-Mail listserv. This is an open form for all those with email and an interest in Amateur Radio to send there thoughts and general discussion. Please note that the comments on the listserv do not necessarily represent those of the WVARA. Additionally as with the Amateur Radio Service, participants are requested to keep a level of decency. Violators can and will be removed or rejected from the listserv.
Visit http://listserv.indstate.edu/ for more information.

Meetings:


Board Meetings: Generally held following the Club Meeting of each month. These meetings are open to all who wish to attend. Those who wish to make presentations to the board are asked to notify the president in advance so that we make sure you get on the agenda and that you have time for your presentation. See the calender of events to get the latest news on the next meeting.

General Meetings: Typically held the first Friday of each month at 7:00 pm local time. The months of July and August are optional at presidents descretion. See the calender of events to get the latest news on the next meeting.

Newsletter: The official WVARA newsletter, The Bandspread, is sent to all households who have paid their dues. The newsletter will discontinue after February for those members who have not paid their dues. Subscriptions will begin receiving a regular copy once the dues are paid. The Bandspread is publish monthly with the exception of the the summer monthes when only one issue may be published. All official club business and many announcements are published in the Bandspread. Some complementary issues are available.

Packet Radio: A WVARA Sponsered Packet Radio Node (W9ISU-7 / WVARA) located on the College of Education Building on the Indiana State University Campus at 180' operating on 145.05MHz.

Picnic: Each August, all amateurs and their families, members or not, are invited to a carry-in picnic.

Special Events: From time to time the WVARA is called upon to provide communications for special events. In 1995 and 1997 the WVARA was called to help with on campus communications for Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology as the solar car teams from SUNRAYCE stopped at Rose-Hulman overnight. In addition we have been called on for Diabetes Walk, Aces Wild Duo-athlon and various Public Relations events. If you or your organization have a special event that requires communications support please contact the club.

Weather Spotter's Class: The Indianapolis office of the National Weather Service provides a class each year in late Winter or early Spring for those who are interested in becoming certified as official weather spotters. This class is open to the public.