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 On
January 13, 1977, the Baldwin Amateur Radio Club was organized at the old Town
Hall in Robertsdale, Alabama. The original members were: Dennis Goodwin K4JIE,
Jim McCabe, Ray Prolsdorfer W4CRY, Charlie Vasut WA4GOC and Bert Lacey W4TBT.
The
club got off to a slow start... Poor attendance or nobody showed up to unlock
the doors at the new meeting place which was now located at the Fairhope EOC.
It
wasn't until December of 1984 when the South Baldwin Amateur Radio Club came
into existence at the WHEP studios on Highway 59. Present at that meeting were:
Donald Todd WB4OWS, Don Rhodes N4BWX, Harry Weeks WD4MON, Frank Brown, Steve
McGill WB4TJT, Charlie Vasut AF4I, J.P. Sweeney K4PQ, Elmer Wolfe WB4TSC and
several others.
The
first regular meeting was held on January 17, 1985 at Doering Tire and Supply in
Foley. Steve McGill was elected President, Charlie Vasut was elected
Vice-President, Don Rhodes was elected Secretary-Treasurer and at that meeting,
Don made a presentation on new technology . . . personal computers!
The
SBARC was on a roll after this first meeting. Meetings were now held at the
Kilowatt room. Attendance was good and the meetings were interesting discussing
various topics such as radio controlled airplanes, cable TV, mountain topping,
packet radio, satellites and more. The club also began holding various events,
such as fox hunts, Field Day, auctions and dinners. This is also the time when
the clubs' Constitution was written and revised.
During
the years from then until the present day, members have come and gone, meeting
places have moved and technology has changed. Some things haven't changed
however. Comradery among members and other hams is still an important priority
along with helping new hams learn the hobby and assisting the community in times
of crisis.
The
club manages it's own repeater and holds it's meetings monthly at the Baldwin
County Emergency Operations Center. This is also where the club's radio shack is
located. At this time the club has approximately 65 members from all over
Baldwin County.
On Feburary 15, 2018 the
South Baldwin Club assimilated the remnants of the North Baldwin Club, changed its name to the Baldwin County Amateur Radio Club,
and has now obtained 501(c)(3) status..
From this day forward we strive to be the leading organization for radio
amateurs in Baldwin County.
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