What is the Coleto Creek Amateur Radio Club?
The Coleto Creek Amateur Radio Club (CCARC) was established on February 6, 2003. Ham radio, as it is known is a fun hobby, but also provides a variety of services to the community.
What services are available?
The main goal of the Coleto Creek Amateur Radio Club is to establish emergency communication nets during floods, hurricanes, fires and other major disasters. An amateur radio operator must pass testing in order to be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. The amateur service is for qualified persons of all ages who are interested in a hobby involving radio technique. Amateur radio operators have been instrumental in providing communications for such national disasters as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, 9/11 and the wildfires in California.
How can these services be obtained and how much do they cost?
The Coleto Creek Amateur Radio Club meets on the first Thursday of each month, with the exceptions of June, July and December, at the Trust Texas Bank in Yorktown, located at 225 East Main St, Yorktown, TX 78164 at 7:30 p.m. A covered dish meal precedes the meeting at 7:00 p.m. so bring your favorite dish and something to drink and enjoy the fellowship. A membership drive occurs every January, however anyone can join at any time. Yearly dues for licensed members are $15 for individual and $20 for family memberships. Non licensed persons may join the club as full members without voting rights for $5 per person per year. Testing is held periodically according to the rules of the Federal Communications Commission, the U. S. Government Agency responsible for licensing amateur radio operators.
What are the goals of the Coleto Creek Amateur Radio Club?
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Educate the community about amateur radio
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Be active in community programs in time of emergency
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To assist the National Weather Service in gatering local weather information with the Skywarn Program
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To assist with communication in events such as bike races, car tours and the Texas Water Safari
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To communicate with more than 2,000,000 operators by voice, teleprinting, telegraphy, facsimile and television in all parts of the world and in space
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To get others interested in becoming hams
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To share knowledge with other hams regarding radio technique
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To have fun with amateur radio as a hobby