Why it is Important for You to Join.

Why should you join The Grand Strand Amateur Radio Club?

We can think of many reasons. First, and foremost among them, the opportunity to meet and get to know other ham operators in your community. There are almost one million amateur radio operators in The United States, but within your local community they are probably not on every block. We are a minority of the general public, so we band together to assist each other with our hobby, and to socialize with likeminded individuals. Particularly for the newcomer, joining a club is almost a necessity, and here is why. 

When anyone first gets into a hobby, they have questions, lots of questions. Some of the answers can be found in books or online, but like any hobby, ham radio has a lingo all its own. For the newcomer, the lingo can be very intimidating. Being in a club allows one to absorb some of the language just by hearing it in context. Most hams are only too happy to explain it to someone else as well.

Where the question of equipment is concerned, the choices are overwhelming. Club members can help make sense of the choices and direct you to solutions that make sense for your unique situation.

People live in different kinds of communities and have different restrictions on what they can put up for antennas. Within the home, the space available for amateur radio might be a whole room, or it might be just a little space on a desk somewhere. Spouses also have different ideas on what and where they will be happy with radios in the house or the car. Since family always must come first, the advice of more experienced operators can be invaluable in getting amateur radio and your own personal zoning board to happily co-exist. 

Inevitably, at some point the new ham operator is going to come up against a problem. It could be equipment related or antenna related or any of dozens of other problems. Trying to work it out alone can be difficult to say the least. If you belong to a club, it is a simple task to ask another member with more experience for help or advice. Down the road, someone will be asking you similar questions and suddenly you realize that you have become the expert that newcomers look to for help.

Lastly, The Grand Strand Amateur Radio Club owns, operates and maintains six local repeaters that you will probably enjoy using. A portion of your club dues goes toward the maintenance of those repeaters. 

Members must abide by the GSARC Constitution, By-Laws, and FCC Part 97 Rules, which are available at the top of this page.

 

So jump in ! Join us.  Use the "Membership Application" button to print and fill out the application. Mail it to the address shown at the top of the application and please plan to attend our next meeting. We look forward to meeting you !