Washington Area Amateur Radio Club (W0ARC): A Strong Option with Diverse Activities and Active Community (Washington, Iowa)

The ARRL search revealed the Washington Area Amateur Radio Club (W0ARC) as a strong contender. Their recent information, diverse activities, strong community focus, and public service involvement make them a very promising option.

Detailed Description and Active Club

Founded in 2002, the Washington Area Amateur Radio Club boasts a membership of around 31. Their website (http://www.waarc.net) provides a detailed description of their activities, making them a very transparent and informative club. Here's a glimpse into what they offer:

• Public Service: They actively participate in events like Winter Field Day, ARRL Field Day, and local events. They also have a fully equipped emergency communications trailer, highlighting their commitment to public service.
• Repeaters: They manage multiple repeaters supporting both analog and digital communication (Yaesu System Fusion).
• Mentorship: They offer mentorship programs to help new hams learn and grow.
• Diverse Activities: They have entry-level license classes, regular meetings with presentations, a yearly picnic with a fox hunt, weekly nets, and co-sponsor a local Hamfest.
• Digital Modes: They seem to be open to exploring digital communication modes.
• General Interest: They cater to a wide range of ham radio interests.
• Hamfest: They co-sponsor the Southeast Iowa Hamfest, which can be a great way to meet other hams and find equipment.
• License Test Sessions: They offer license test sessions every other month.
• VHF/UHF: They have repeaters for both VHF and UHF communication.

Detailed Contact Information and Meeting Schedule

• Meeting Time and Location: Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM at the Washington Public Library (115 W Washington St., Washington, IA).
• Contact: Reach out to Mark L. Lukins AB0DX, the president, using the provided phone numbers (daytime: (319) 461-4675, evening: (319) 855-4007) or email (irepair4u@msn.com).

Making a Choice

The Washington Area Amateur Radio Club might be a great fit if:

• Location: You're in Washington, Iowa and the meeting location works for you.
• Focus: You're interested in a variety of ham radio activities, including public service, repeaters, mentorship, diverse activities, digital modes, and VHF/UHF communication.
• Experience Level: You're a beginner looking for license classes and mentorship or a seasoned ham radio enthusiast seeking an active and diverse community.

Recommendation

Given the detailed information, diverse activities, strong community focus, public service involvement, and active website, the Washington Area Amateur Radio Club seems like an excellent option, especially if you're interested in emergency communication, digital modes, or attending a Hamfest. However, you might also consider exploring other options in your area (Southwest Iowa Amateur Radio Club, South West Iowa Amateur Radio Association, Iowa Wireless Amateur Radio Network, Buchanan County Amateur Radio Club, Iowa City ARC, or Northland Amateur Communications Group) to compare based on your preferences and desired focus areas.