For nearly nine decades, Jefferson County Amateur Radio Club members have worked to keep countians informed about weather events and other emergencies.
The JCARC was formed in 1936 by Charles Herbert, Emanual Roth, Walter Hample and Tyndle Police, and as early as 1937, Roth loaned his radio to KMOX to help with Red Cross relief work during a flood event, according to the group’s website, jcarcmo.org.
That community service has continued for 86 years, and today the club provides radio service for the Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management and Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City.
Club members also relay information to the National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration during severe weather events, club vice president Ray Benton said.
“When the cell phones don’t work, telephones don’t work or all other means of communications don’t work, ours works,” said club president John Tucker, 74, of Arnold.
Auction
The club will hold an auction Saturday, Sept. 24, in the Windsor Intermediate Center, 6205 Hwy. 61-67, in Imperial, and ham radio enthusiasts and those looking to enter the world of amateur radio are invited.
Doors open at 9 a.m., and the auction will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The entry fee for the auction is $3.
More than 50 pieces of radio equipment that belonged to the late Robert Laughlin of St. Louis will be available to bid on either during an oral auction that runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or a silent auction that runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Amateur radio operators may bring equipment to be placed in either auction.
The club, a nonprofit organization, will keep 10 percent of the money raised through each sale, and the other 90 percent will go to the person who placed the item in the auction, Benton, 69, who lives in the Festus area, said.
“Everything is planned out. The one thing we don’t have right now is who is going to show up,” he said. “We hope to have about 100 ‘hams’ (amateur radio operators) there. There is seating for 150.”
Benton said the club organized the auction because it was looking for a new way to bring together local amateur radio operators, also known as ham radio operators.
He said he and Tucker had discussed holding a Hamfest, or an amateur radio convention, but felt too many already were held in the area since there are annual ones in St. Louis, St. Charles and Illinois.
Benton said Tucker suggested an auction, which had been held in the past.
“About an hour later, my phone rings, and it was Laughlin’s widow (Laura). She somehow got my name and phone number. She wanted help with the equipment left to her after (her husband) passed away,” Benton said. “She knows nothing about amateur radio, and he had all of this stuff that she didn’t know what to do with it.”
Benton said he told Laura about the club’s idea of holding an auction, and they agreed to sell her husband’s equipment at the event, which gave organizers confidence they would have enough items to auction and draw a crowd to the event.
“We were wondering if anyone would show up with stuff to auction,” he said. “We don’t have to worry about that.”
Some of Laughlin’s equipment to be auctioned may be viewed on the event’s web page: easternmobeacon.com/jefferson-county-ham-radio-auction. Those who want to enter items into the auctions may pre-register them on that page.
Benton said the auction is a good event for someone interested in becoming an amateur radio operator or someone who recently took up the hobby.
The auction not only will allow them to purchase equipment, but also will give them the chance to talk to club members about how to become an operator.
“You can’t substitute having someone with experience sitting with you and talking to you and answering questions,” said Benton, whose website, easternmobeacon.com, also provides information about becoming an amateur radio operator. “We definitely want people who are brand new or thinking about getting into the hobby to come and join us.”
Those interested in joining the JCARC may fill out a membership application on the group’s website, jcarco.org. The club also meets at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month at St. Clement Health Care Center, 300 Liguori Drive, in the Barnhart area.
More than a hobby
Tucker said because of evolving technology, amateur radio operators can communicate with nearly anyone around the world.
“There is no limit to what you can do with it, and people can find whatever thing excites them about amateur radio,” he said.
Amateur radio operators also can play a vital role in protecting their communities.
JCARC members assist the Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management when severe weather impacts the county and club members tune into a specific frequency to provide real-time updates that are monitored by the Office of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, club treasurer Lori Robinson said.
She also said the members may be called into the command center in Pevely to provide help with communication during an emergency.
“They bring the ability to augment our communication capabilities, especially in worst-case scenarios, to ensure we have communications with critical partners, not just in Jefferson County but across the state,” said Warren Robinson, Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management director. “We have used the club many times. They are doing a lot of good for the county on a daily basis almost.”
Club members meet once a month at Mercy Hospital Jefferson to test the hospital’s ham radio equipment to ensure it will work if all other lines of communication are cut off.
“It is an extremely important relationship that we have with the group, not only in Jefferson County but across all the hospitals,” said Brett Alley, the director of public safety at Mercy hospitals in Jefferson County, Washington and Troy. “They donate so much of their time to ensure we have our communications available no matter what. It is a lot of hours to donate, and it is not only for the hospital; it is for the community.”
The club doesn’t just assist entities during emergencies. It also provides communications for events like the recent Bottleneck Bridge Ride, a cycling event that was held Aug. 21 in the county.
Members set up communication points along the bicycle paths and contact organizers if a cyclist needs help, said Lori Robinson, 64, of Mapaville.
While Jefferson County has not seen the worst-case scenario of traditional lines of communications being knocked out, the club is trained and ready to help if a disaster hits the area.
“People do not realize the need that can happen” Lori Robinson said. “We live in somewhat of a sheltered lifestyle of not realizing what these storms can do. We have been fortunate not to have a major event strike and have communications taken completely out of the picture.”
But if the worst happens, the club is ready to lend a helping hand … and ear.