The Mid-State Amateur Radio Club

Franklin,  Indiana
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As we enter the twenty second year of the Mid-State Amateur Radio Club it is a opportune time to reflect on the clubs early history.  The Johnson County Amateur Radio Emergency Service  JO-CARES was the forerunner to  the Club and JO-CARES membership was instrumental in taking action in an early 1984 meeting  to form the Club.   Some of those attending this meeting were: Paul KA9DTH, Tom N9AZD, Larry N9DLN, Joan N9DON, Dan KK9G the new EC and his wife Marge, Brad KA9OWA and others not mentioned in minutes.  It was determine at the February meeting by hand vote to:
             Form a club with elected officers. 
            Write a simple set of by laws.
                                                      Hold regular meetings with programs for all areas of ham
                                                           radio.
                                                      Offer to participate in community activities where possible.

It was noted that there is a group of active and interested hams and the new officers will have their hands full providing programs and activities for the Club.

On February 18, 1984 at the House of Franklin at 0730 hours the Johnson County Radio Club ARES meeting was called to order by Paul Thomas KA9DTH, with eighteen members attending.  During this meeting nominations for officers was opened and the following names were submitted to the membership. 
       President - Darrel Sego KM9S, Bill Fisher KG9K.
       Vice President - Dave Distler KM9E, Joan Kemp N9DON.
      Secretary Treasurer - Dan Cammack W9MLN, Dave Wendt KA9OOH.

The following members were elected to their respective offices, Bill, President, Joan, Vice President and Dan, Secretary Treasurer.  In addition Darrel Sego was nominated and elected as the ARRL Representative as this office required an Advanced License.  In addition, the question of Club dues was brought up and after discussion it was agreed that a sum of $5.00 would be assessed per member for the first year, to be collected at the next meeting.  Other business at that first meeting included the club meeting date and the location for Field Day activities.  It was agreed the meeting is to be held the third Saturday of each month at the House of Franklin at 7:30a.m.  Following the meeting the first actual club activity was a Fox Hunt/Hidden Transmitter, organized by Tom Carroll N9AZD, held at 9:00a.m on February 18, 1984.  The clubs own "foxy" Sandy WA9RDF as the crafty FOX , with Paul Bohrer W9DUU the first to locate the transmitter.

Some time after  the February 18 meeting the elected President Bill Fisher advised he would not be able to fulfill his obligation due to his work schedule and will resign.  At the next meeting March 17, 1984 was called to order at 7:30a.m. by Vice President Joan Kemp and the main items of business were the election of a President and the selection of a name for the Club.  Five club names were suggested:
                    HARK  Hoosier Amateur Radio Klub
                    HART  Hoosier Amateur Radio Team
                    MARC  Mid-State Amateur Radio Club
                    JO-CARES  Johnson County Amateur Radio Emergency Service
                    Ham Radio Operators Club
The name agreed to was Mid -State Amateur Radio Club. 


Next a new President had to be nominated and elected.  The following names were placed into nomination:
        Dave Wendt, KA9OOH
        Tom Cashion, KD9EQ
        Jay Chrisman Sr., KA9MUU   
Dave was ask prior to the meeting if his name could be placed into nomination, he agreed.  Dave said, he was new to the group, he had been nominated for Secretary Treasurer at the first meeting and lost, so thought he had no chance to be elected President.  Well, to Dave's surprise he was elected President. 


Other business at this meeting was the Committee Reports:
        Repeater report -- Darrel KM9S is checking on frequencies and tower location. 
            A repeater and cavities have not been located. 
        ARES -- Dan indicated that there was good attendance on check-in during Thursdays
            bad weather.  (The weekly NET was being held on Sunday using frequency 145.550
        Field Day --  report was given by Joan K9DON.  The Camp Atterbury location
            was agreed to and reservations will be made.

Coming events:  March 24 a Swap Meet at Columbus;  April 21 Fox Hunt  and the next meeting on May 19th breakfast at 7:30 and the meeting at 8:00 a.m.  The Club, only two month old, is well on its way to success.
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