About the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club
The FCARC’s base is Franklin County, in north central and north western Massachusetts. Our repeaters are also accessible from parts of adjacent Berkshire, Hampshire, and Worcester Counties of Massachusetts as well as from southeastern Vermont and southwestern New Hampshire.
Whether you live here or are just visiting or passing through, you are welcome to join our activities. Please contact any of the FCARC club officers for more information.
The FCARC is an American Radio Relay League (ARRL) affiliated club. The club’s core area is part of the ARRL Western Massachusetts Section.
GROWING AND GIVING: MEMORIES TO REMEMBER
The history of the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club exemplifies the principles of amateur radio: public service, particularly in emergency communications support; growth in our technical skills, and enhancing the application of those skills; expanding the reservoir of trained operators; and promoting good will.
The F.C.A.R.C. had its beginning in 1987 when a number of local hams, using a private 2 – meter repeater owned by WA1EDC, formed the Franklin County Repeater Club. WA1EDC served as the first President. The Club met, first, in the cellar of N1EWK’s home, and later in the Wesco Electric Building. As membership grew, meetings moved to the Greenfield High School. In March 1988, the club affiliated with the ARRL, and initiated our Thursday night information net.
In 1989, WB1GUY built a 2 – meter club repeater that was installed on Shelburne Mountain. Later, to reduce interference and expand its range, the repeater was moved to Frizzel Hill in Leyden when KC1RH offered space on his FM tower there. A 440 repeater was added in June of 1992 and installed on Rocky Mountain where it was equipped with a ten- meter link.
The club’s name was changed to the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club in March 1991, and we legally incorporated on December 10, 1991. The original membership of fifteen has expanded to sixty-five.
Club socializing, public service activities, and emergency communications support have grown with the club. Today, F.C.A.R.C. is actively engaged with the Franklin County Emergency Management team and participates in EOC training and exercises. We also have a regular Tuesday evening ARES net in addition to the Thursday net. The club holds a monthly program meeting and a monthly breakfast where we learn together and exchange information. We also sponsor several annual club social functions and publish a monthly newsletter. We offer radio license classes as needed, and sponsor regular license examination sessions throughout the year. Club members participate in ARRL’s annual Field Day and the National Traffic System. We provide amateur radio communications support for a variety of Franklin County events each year.
We continue to grow in both our own technical skills and in our ability to give to our community. Growing and giving are the historical, and the present, roots of the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club.
Come grow with us!
Article written by KB1KRS