Athens Amateur Radio Club Articles & Awards

— KV5R is disabled. Please help. —

News Items About Us!

Alice at Work

From www.athensreview.com

Local Man Overcomes Odds to Earn Amateur Radio License

by Alice Smith

Athens Review - November 29, 2001

It's not every day that you come across a guy like Dick Oakes.

As you step through the doors of the nursing facility where he lives, a fellow with a broad smile and a blue cap with the words "Mena HamFest" is sitting in his specialty wheelchair, wearing headphones and listening intently to a tape on his cassette player.

Oakes is studying for his amateur radio general class license.

Many folks in the Athens area are doing the same thing, but Dick is a quadriplegic and cannot read.

Since September 2000 Dick has been studying, with the assistance of Rick Smith, vice president of the Athens Amateur Radio Club. Rick (call sign AA5TI) has been an amateur radio operator since 1985 and was tutored (or, in Ham radio lingo, "elmered") by another operator. Dick, who had been interested in CB radio in the 1970s, expressed his desire to be a Ham radio operator to Rick's wife, Alice, who was working at South Place where Dick lives.

This wasn't going to be easy. Anyone can get on a CB radio and talk, but to communicate on amateur radio bands requires a license which can only be obtained by passing the tests.

Alice (N5WBH) approached the Radio Club and inquired about a way that Dick could be assisted in studying and taking the test. Her husband decided to take the time to work with Dick. So each Friday afternoon, the two of them would meet in the therapy room and study the test questions. Videotapes were used for Dick to study during the week. His roommate, Tom Kerls, who is also a Ham operator, would also discuss questions with him.

This past February, the club held a test session at the Athens Central Fire Station, where the volunteer examiners offered an opportunity to become a Ham or upgrade a license. Dick wanted to see if he could take the test orally. He missed 50 percent, but was encouraged by the other Hams who also had failed their first time out. When the annual club's field day rolled around in June, Dick attended and took the test again. Again, he missed too many questions and was beginning to get discouraged.

"Do you really think I can do this?" he asked Rick.

Rick assured his friend that he could, but they would have to study harder.

Some of the club members suggested putting the test questions on tape with the correct answers, so Dick could study during the week. After a trial test using the tapes, Dick's scores began to improve. Meanwhile, he would listen in on the Athens amateur club network each Monday evening on frequency 147.220 on his police scanner, and the club always acknowledged him as part of the net, even though he was just monitoring.

Last month, Rick and two other volunteer examiners, David Pulley and Tom Kerls, administered the test again in Dick's room.

This time, he passed. Within days, his technician call sign - KD5QAV - was posted on the Internet, and his license came in the mail shortly after.

Dick Oakes overcame and accomplished a goal with two disabilities. Many people with normal faculties would have given up on the first try. There are still some obstacles to overcome in locating and adapting equipment for his abilities, and many club members are working on that now.

But last Monday night, for the first time, Dick checked into the Athens Radio Club Net with these words: "This is KD5QAV calling, the name here is Dick."

Currently, Dick is studying Morse code, as well as the questions for the general class license, which will enable him to talk not only in Athens, but around the world.

Scouts Talk to the World

Athens Review: January 07, 2002

Special to the Review

Be prepared. That's the Boy Scout motto.

In that spirit, local Scouts recently attended a Radio Merit Badge class sponsored by the Athens Amateur Radio Club. The purpose of the class was to give Scouts the skills necessary to communicate when nobody else can, such as during emergencies.

The all-day class was held in conjunction with the 44th annual Jamboree On The Air event. JOTA is an "on-air Scout meeting" which allows Scouts around the country to talk to each other over short-wave radio. Hundreds of campsites and radio classes worldwide participated.

In addition to making some new friends in other states, local Scouts from Troop 343 also studied basic electronics, electrical safety, satellite communications and emergency communications techniques.

Although class activities were designed to be fun for all, the primary emphasis was geared toward preparedness.

In one activity, Scouts received sealed envelopes containing descriptions of specific emergency situations which they might encounter while on an outdoor excursion. Each Scout had to read his scenario and demonstrate in front of the class how he might use radio to get help in that situation.

Scouts and their leaders reported that they found the class to be fun and informative. Some expressed interest in getting their ham licenses. The Athens Amateur Radio Club plans to sponsor the class every year.

Tune in to adventure

When tornadoes, hurricanes or floods strike, normal means of communications are usually knocked out or overloaded. That's where Amateur Radio (or "HAM Radio") shows it's true worth.

During the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, phones and cellular systems in the area were overloaded and virtually unusable. Even police communications was knocked out when the twin towers collapsed.

But a few New Yorkers who were hams were able to contact loved ones as they fled the area. During rescue efforts, Amateur Radio provided vital communications for relief organizations such as the Red Cross and Salvation Army.

In addition to being a highly reliable means of emergency communications, Amateur Radio can also be a valuable classroom tool - aside from the fact that it's great fun.

Teachers find that ham radio can enhance their existing math, science and social studies programs. The National Association for Amateur Radio is currently establishing a grant program which aims to place amateur radio programs in every middle school in America at no cost to the schools.

On the Net:

National Association For Amateur Radio - www.arrl.org

Boy Scouts of America - www.bsa.scouting.org

In Memory of Jim Kluth, K5EPH, SK

Jim Kluth, long time member of the Athens Amateur Radio Club, passed away January 1, 2001 in Athens, Texas.

He was born October 1, 1928 in Anderson County Texas. He served in the Army National Guard for 37 years. He also worked for several years with Henderson County Sherriffs Department serving at the county jail and the county juvenile department. He was also a reserve peace officer for the Athens Police Department for several years.

Jim was a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge and was a member of the Scottish Rite Temple Valley of Dallas having attained his 32 degree in Masonry and his red cap. He also held degrees in the York Rite, and was a member of the Athens Masonic Lodge #165, having served as master of the lodge. He was a past District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District #17. He was a past master of the Adam Royder Lodge in Welborn, Texas, as well as a member of the College Station Lodge at Bryan, Texas.

Jim was also very active in Boy Scouts having been a scout master for over twenty years. Jim was awarded the Order of the Arrow for his excellent service in scouting, along with the Boy Scout Merrit of Excellence.

Of course we knew Jim as K5EPH. Jim was a friend to all in the local amateur radio community. In his honor, we have obtained his callsign, under the FCC's Vanity Callsign program, for the club and repeater call.

Two Members Receive Statewide Awards

by Harold Melton, KV5R

San Antonio, April 8, 2002 -- The Texas Volunteer Conference honored two of our members with awards for their exceptional volunteer service in the Senior community. They were selected from a statewide pool of nominees.

Tom Kerls, WB5VTZ, was awarded Resident Volunteer of the Year. He received this award for:

• "Elmer" service with quadraplegic Amateur Dick Oakes, KD5QAV (see Articles),
• Weather Spotter in the Skywarn net
• Promotion of Kid's Day in the nursing home, encouraging intergenerational interaction;
• Promotion of Amateur Field Day activities;
• Encouraging men in the facility in Amateur communications using his equipment.

Over the years, Tom has been involved with community public service agencies in establishing their radio communications systems.

Alice Smith, N5WBH, was awarded Volunteer Manager of the Year, in recognition of her work with Senior Olympics of East Texas.

She was also awarded Activity Professional of the Year, for innovative use of Amateur Radio in activities in assisted living and nursing homes.

Alice is currently serving as Vice President of the East Texas chapter of Activity Professionals, and Vice President of Activity Board of Directors, Texas Health Care Association.

Texas Volunteer Conference receives statewide nominations and presents annual awards for volunteerism in the Senior community.

Comments and suggestions are welcome!
For more information, info et athensarc.org.