SCARS Events…

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

Field Day

The American Radio Relay League, (ARRL) sponsors an Annual Field Day competition. Each year, SCARS participates in these activites, 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 24, 2017 through June 25, 2017. 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

2017 Technician / General License Class

SCARS offered a combined Tech / General class that started on February 7th, 2017. We used the ARRL Technician and General study guides. These books were be available for about $22.50. The class roster was the same as the 2016 version, and is available on the class page.

SCARS Spring Picnic

Each spring, after the Technician / General class, SCARS holds a picnic. Details will be available on the w5nor.org home page.

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 21, 2017 – July 22, 2017. More information is available at club meetings, and on the web at: HamHoliday.com or on Facebook at Facebook.com/HamHoliday

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.

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 years event is scheduled for April 30th, 2017, and typically the hams work the whole day, from about 06:00 am to 03:00 pm. Please visit the registration page at https://www.cuetoems.com/ocmm_2017/Volunteer.aspx to sign up. Use PSC17 as your registration code. These events are great ways to put your radio skills to good use, they’re always great fun, and they provide great stories for future use.

Elk City Hamfest

This annual event started in 1989. Last years event was Saturday, March 4, 2017 from 8:00 am to ??:?? pm. This was held at the Elk City Community Civic Center, 1016 E Airport Industrial Rd., Elk City, Oklahoma.

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

Green Country Hamfest

This annual event was again billed as the BIGGEST and the BEST in Oklahoma! This year, this event was on April 8th and 9th, 2016. 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.

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 9, 2017 – June 10, 2017. More information is available at club meetings, and on the web at: http://www.hamcom.org/

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 year the HamVention has a new home in Xenia, OH. This is generally the second weekend in May. This year, that will be May 19, 2016 – May 21, 2016. More information is available at club meetings, and on the web at: http://www.hamvention.org/

Bike MS Event Communications

This annual event is usually held in the third weekend in September. In 2016, this was September 24th & September 25th. About a dozen amateur radio operators provide communiction between the race leadership, and the vehicles on the 160 mile course. This is a two day event that runs from Norman to Guthrie on day 1, and from Guthrie to Stillwater on day 2. For more information about the Bike MS program, visit this SCARS Bike MS site.

Jamboree On The Air (JOTA)

This annual event is usually held in the middle weekend in October. In 2016, this was October 15th, at Andrews Park, here in Norman, OK. 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.

SCARS Fall Picnic

Each fall, typically in October, after the Technician / General class, SCARS holds a picnic. Details will be available on the w5nor.org home page.

Texoma Hamarama

This year’s event was held Saturday, October 21 & 22, 2016. 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.

Enid Hamfest

This year’s event is Saturday, November 5, 2016 from 8:00 am to ??:?? 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 were 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.

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 Festival is usually held on the first Saturday in November, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Last year SCARS was a part of the National Weather Museum’s display, and talked with hundreds of local folks that were interested in amateur radio. We had operating demonstrations of HF, VHF, UHF, DStar, and DMR radios. Operating as WX5NWM we were also able to make a handful of contacts with people all over the continent. Next year we plan to operate a special event station from the top of the building. We need your help to make this happen!

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.

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”. Last year this was December 6, 2016 at 6:00 pm, at the Golden Corral, in Norman, OK. More information is available at club meetings, or on the SCARS Facebook Group.

OKC Memorial Marathon

Detailed signup instructions are available on the Aeronautical Center club’s website at W5PAA.org

Each year the Oklahoma City Amateur Radio community provides communication assistance to the annual OKC Memorial Marathon. This year was no exception, and the Public Service Committee chair, Mike Rockey KE5EQC, provided an opportunity for about 100 hams again this year. This years event was scheduled for April 24th, 2016. Typically the hams work the whole day, from about 06:00 am to 03:00 pm. These events are great ways to put your radio skills to good use, they’re always great fun. They also provide great stories for future use.

2017 SCARS Past Meeting Topics

2016 SCARS Past Meeting Topics