Ron Cowan (Center) presenting the ARRL Special Service Club Award to Jeff Darby (Club President) & Marty Peters (Club Sec-Treas)
The Santa Fe Trail Amateur Radio Club, the first amateur radio club in Kansas to attain Special Service Club status, was recognized as such the morning of Saturday, July 9, at Perkins Restaurant in Gardner.
Ron Cowan, KBØDTI, Kansas section manager for the American Radio Relay League, did the honors, presenting Jeff Darby, KSØJD, the club president, with a certificate designating the club as an ARRL Special Service Club during the club's monthly business meeting at the restaurant.
Marty Peters, KEØPEZ, the secretary-treasurer of the club, also participated in the ceremony, as it was Marty who provided all of the necessary information documenting the club's previous and ongoing efforts in the area of community outreach and the testing and training of prospective and licensed amateur radio operators.
Ron, who lives in the La Cygne area, also gave Jeff a small vertical banner suitable for hanging on a wall that reads "ARRL Special Service Club."
"You guys have already been doing that (service to the general public and Amateur Radio) for quite a long time," Ron told those who were present for the meeting either in person or via ZOOM. “It's kind of exciting in a way," he continued. "You're the only one (Special Service Club) in Kansas right now. I'm real happy that you guys got involved in that program. I like to hold you guys up and talk about your activity.” “Good work ... keep up the good work," Ron said as he prepared to conclude his informal remarks to the club. "That's (being the first Special Service Club) something you can point to ... and congratulations!”
The ARRL defines a Special Service Club as a club "that exists to go above and beyond for their communities and for Amateur Radio" in providing "active training classes," pursuing "technical projects and operating activities," and publicizing events and programs associated with Amateur Radio.
The SFTARC is an affiliate of the ARRL, which was organized in 1914 and serves as the national association for Amateur Radio in the United States.
For additional information about the American Radio Relay League, visit
www.arrl.org.
