SCARS Events…

The South Canadian Amateur Radio Society (SCARS) holds a number of annual events. Use this page to watch for your favorite activity.

January: Field Day – Winter

Winter Field Day Association (WFDA) is a dedicated group of Amateur Radio Operators who believe that emergency communications in a winter environment is just as important as the preparations and practice that is done each summer but with some additional unique operational concerns. This years event will be held on January 26/27, 2019, and the SCARS group will attempt to build our second Winter Field Day.

If you are serious about emergency communications as we are; we welcome you to join us for our yearly event. We are sure you will find this event a pleasant change and challenge to that of a normal summer time field day.

February: 2018 Technician / General License Class

SCARS will offer a combined Tech / General class that started on February 6th, 2018. This class will be held at Fire Station #7 near Westheimer Airport / Field at 2207 Goddard Avenue, Norman, OK 73069.  We use the ARRL Technician and General study guides. These books will be available for about $22.50. The class syllabus is the same as the 2016 version, and is available on the class page.

March: Elk City Hamfest

This annual event started in 1989. This years event will be Saturday, March 3, 2018, from 8:00 am to ??:?? pm. This will be held at the Elk City Community Civic Center, 1016 E Airport Industrial Rd., Elk City, Oklahoma. It’s a great little hamfest, and neat to see some new and old friends.

ARRL VE testing will be 1:00 pm and a Hamburger Supper will be held on Friday night at 6:30 pm. Set up times are available on Friday Afternoon, from 1:30 pm until 9:00 pm. $5.00 registration fee, and $5.00 tables.

March: NWS Offers Storm Spotter Training

Each year the National Weather Service (NWS) offers storm spotter training for our area. There are a number of opportunities to obtain this training, including online webinar presentations, available on the spotter talk web page.

ARES storm spotters need this training either this year or last year to be a part of the storm spotter program for the upcoming season.

April: SCARS Spring Picnic

Each spring, after the Technician / General class, SCARS holds a picnic. This year the spring picnic will be April 28th and will be at the WA6DKD ranch. Details are available on the w5nor.org homepage.

April: Green Country Hamfest

This annual event is again billed as the BIGGEST and the BEST in Oklahoma! This year, this event will be on April 13th and 14th, 2018. Doors will be open from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Friday, and from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday

There will be ARRL VE testing, keynote speakers, vendors, and flea markets tables. Tons more information is available on the Green Country Hamfest website.

April: OKC Memorial Marathon

Each year the Oklahoma City Amateur Radio community provides communication assistance to the annual OKC Memorial Marathon. This year is no exception, and the Public Service Committee chair, Mike Rockey KE5EQC, is providing an opportunity for about 100 hams again this year. This year’s event is scheduled for April 29th, 2018, and typically the hams work the whole day, from about 6:00 am to 3:00 pm. Registration and more information is available on the SCARS Memorial Marathon page.

May: Xenia (Dayton), OH – Hamvention

This annual event started in 1952, and brings tens of thousands of hams together with vendors, classes, and a giant flea market. This is generally the second weekend in May. This year, that will be May 18, 2018 – May 20, 2018. More information is available at club meetings, and on the web at http://www.hamvention.org/

June: Dallas, TX – Ham-Com

This annual event started in 1977 and brings thousands of hams together with vendors, classes, and a giant flea market. This is generally the second weekend in June. This year, that will be June 8, 2017 – June 9, 2018. More information is available at club meetings, and on the web at http://www.hamcom.org/

June: Field Day – Summer

The American Radio Relay League, (ARRL) sponsors an Annual Field Day competition. Each year, SCARS participates in these activities and operates emergency radios for 24 hours straight. Each year this is on the fourth full weekend in June. This year, that will be June 23, 2018, through June 24, 2018. Contact any SCARS officer if you’d like to be a part of the fun. More information is available at club meetings, and on the web at http://w5nor.org/fd

July: Central Oklahoma Radio Amateurs’ Ham Holiday

This annual event started in 1974 and brings thousands of hams together with vendors, classes, and a giant flea market. This is generally the fourth weekend in July. This year, that will be July 27, 2018 – July 28, 2018. More information is available at club meetings, and on the web at HamHoliday.com or on Facebook at Facebook.com/HamHoliday

September: Bike MS Event Communications

In 2018, this will be held September 15th & 16th. About a dozen amateur radio operators provide communication between the race leadership, and the vehicles on the 160 mile course. This is a two-day event that will run from Norman to Guthrie on day 1, and from Guthrie to back to Norman on day 2. For more information about the Bike MS program, visit this SCARS Bike MS site.

October: Jamboree On The Air (JOTA)

This annual event is usually held in the middle weekend in October. In this event, the Boy Scouts will meet to learn about radio, talk on the radio, communicate with other Boy Scouts at similar events across the globe. Here in Norman, they typically meet at a local park, and various SCARS members bring radios, antennas, and other systems for the scouts to set up, and use. There’s also a training opportunity that will allow scouts to obtain their radio merit badge. For more information about the JOTA program, visit this Scouting site. More information is available at club meetings, and from the Boy Scout Troops.

October: SCARS Fall Picnic

Each fall, typically in October, after the Technician / General class, SCARS holds a picnic. This year the Fall picnic will be September 15th and will be at the WA6DKD ranch. Details will be available on the w5nor.org homepage.

October: National Weather Festival

nwf

The annual National Weather Festival highlights the many weather related organizations and activities in central Oklahoma. Visitors can view the National Weather Center’s premier facilities at 120 David L Boren Blvd, in South Norman, including National Weather Service forecast operation areas. The 2017 Festival was held on October 21st, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

In 2017 SCARS operated W5F Special Event Station from the National Weather Museum’s display, the Norman Emergency Management area, and the Moore Emergency Management trailer. We had operating demonstrations of HF, VHF, UHF, D-STAR, and DMR radios. About 30 hams came out to help celebrate the weather festival.

This unique event features hourly weather balloon launches with local TV meteorologists, emergency response vehicle and equipment displays, children’s activities, weather superheroes the “Weather Friends”, and weather-related information and products. For more information, contact the National Weather Festival web site.

October: Texoma Hamarama

This year’s event will be held Saturday, October 27 & 28, 2018. Friday from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Saturday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. This was held at the Ardmore Convention Center, in Ardmore, OK. More information is available on the Texoma Hamarama website.

ARRL VE testing is available, and there’s lunch available on site. $8.00 registration fee, and $15.00 tables.

November: Enid Hamfest

This year’s event is Saturday, November 3, 2018, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. This is at the Hoover Building on the Garfield County Fairgrounds, at 305 E Oxford Ave., Enid, OK. More information on the Enid club website.

ARRL VE testing is at 1:00 pm, and there’s a free hot dog lunch from 11:30 am to 1 pm. Set up times are available on Friday evening, from 6:30 pm until 9:00 pm, and on Saturday morning from 6:30 am to 8:00 am. $3.00 registration fee, and $3.00 tables.

December: SCARS Annual Christmas Party

This annual event started in 1978 and brings tens of hams together with for a great meal, and a ‘White Elephant’ Christmas gift exchange. Last year there was a maximum $10 spend on each gift, and “No Free Harbor Freight items were allowed”. This is generally the first Tuesday in December. Bring your wrapped gift labeled as from/for either a “male”, or “female”. This year this will be December 5, 2017, at 6:00 pm, at the Golden Corral, in Norman, OK. More information is available at club meetings, or on the SCARS Facebook Group.

2018 SCARS Past Meeting Topics

2017 SCARS Past Meeting Topics

2016 SCARS Past Meeting Topics