Public Service by STARC Members

All to often in our lives, we come upon people in difficult situatiions. Amateur Radio Operators can sometimes help, by putting their radio equipment and skills to work in service of the Public. Members also devote time to helping others become prepared to serve the Public. Documented below are brief reports on those events.

02/26/06 at 14:30 hours:
N1ETS was driving on Rt#109e just outside of Eden Vt. when he came upon an auto accident. He tried his Cellphone which had no service. Then he put out a call for help on the STARC N1STA 2m Repeater.

I was monitoring at my Base QTH and replied to his request and called (911). I gave the 911 Dispatchers the info that he passed to me about the Auto accident. I informed them that this request for help was being made though Amateur Radio bands. The rescue personal was very surprised on how the call came into them! (911)

The Police Dispatcher who was on the line told them Ham Radio Repeaters work where Cell phone don't!

Fortunately the people involved didn't have serious injuries.

This is why we as STARC Club Members should be Proud that our N1STA 2m repeater was ready for serious times like this.

73 N1ARN-(Arn)

3/18/06 at 1300 hrs:
Fifteen Vermont State Guard members earned their Technician licenses!

Congratulations to each one of them, and WELCOME!

Under the leadership of Earl, K1YLB, a Captain in the Vermont State Guard, 15 members of the Guard studied the ARRL Now You're Talking publication in preparation for 2 class review days held at the St. Albans Armory on March 11 th and 12 th .

Those candidates who wished to take the test were tested on Sunday afternoon on the 12 th , while the remaining candidates elected to study for one more week. They took their tests on Saturday, the 18 th . The 15 new Ham Radio Operators are the FIRST of those we hope will be many Vermont State Guard members who will become Hams. Another group of candidates will study, on their own, and be tested on or about May 19 th . Enrollment is in progress.

Members of STARC who coached and instructed candidates at the review sessions were: Volunteer Examiners were: New Technician Licensees in the Vermont State Guard are:
KB1NIL -- John Tichonuk KB1NIG -- Roger Livingston KB1NGW -- David Boocock
KB1NGP -- Roy Maskell KB1NIK -- Linda DeCell KB1NGT -- Eric Royce
KB1NGV -- Carl Gleason KB1NGS -- Howard Dachs KB1NGR -- Rick Lane
KB1NGU -- Robert Johnston KB1NIM -- Homer Wetherby KB1NIJ -- Josh Cohen
KB1NIH -- Gordon Stafford KB1NGQ -- Tom Long KB1NNI -- Maurice Connary

06/10/06 St. Albans Bay Watershed Association:
Thank you letter