[K3CAL] CARA History

Sun Nov 6 16:59:45 EST 2011

I forgot that you were around back then John.  Glad someone remembers some
of the club's history!

The Tandy computer was at MHCC for the longest time.  John Caplins was the
club's repeater guru into the early 1990's. He was assisted by Gail/W3IRE
(SK) who owned a radio broadcast station back in Michigan at one time.  

Shawn Donley/N3AE and Bob Balint/KF3AA removed two antennas and took the
tower apart the 100-ft tower so the County could place the 300-ft tower
currently at MHCC.  The club decided to purchase the Station Master Antenna
we are currently using while the Shawn & Bob took the tower apart. Our new
Station Master was placed on top of the new 300-ft tower but for years we
had Interfence issues caused from the blinking tower warning lights.  A few
years later the FM radio station on Rt. 231 behind Don's General Store
located on Thunder Hill was sold.  The new owners moved the radio station
antenna to be place 80-feet on top of the 300-ft tower.  When that work was
done the tower lights were moved to the top of the now 380-foot tower which
stopped the tower light interference we had been experiencing.  

Prior to your father-law, Don/WB3JVK moved to Florida he had asked the club
if we wanted a dish antenna at his home on 5th Street in Owings.  We did not
know what we would do with the dish and decided not to take it.  

CARA asked the County Commissioner if they would present Woody/W3ZNW with a
Proclamation for his radio work in the County.  Not sure what year it was
but can check later - the Commissioners presented Woody with a Proclamation
attended by at least 60 Amateur Radio operators. CARA had the Proclamation
mounted & framed.   

Woody was one of the founders of CARA, the first RACES Officer and manned
U.S. Coast Guard Station Cove Point every weekend operating the radios
there.  Woody would go to the EOC every third Tuesday (I think that is the
one day a month RACES has their drill) to check into the State RACES Net
(MEMA) and call the RACES Net for Calvert County.  

John Horseman was the County's Emergency Manager at the time.  John is
currently a member of Prince Frederick VFD.  The phone in the radio-room at
the EOC is one of the last in the State that connects directly with MEMA.
As far as I know is still operational today. 

After John Horseman left as EM, Don Hall became the EM for years.  He
eventually left for an EM job in Jacksonville, FL.  Don later returned for a
short period to do the EM job again.  Bobby Fenwick eventually replaced Don
Hall as EM and is so today. 

From: k3cal-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:k3cal-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of John Mumper
Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2011 2:23 PM
To: Calvert Amateur Radio Association - K3CAL
Subject: Re: [K3CAL] CARA History

Guys,

I think the computer screen in the photo may be the Tandy TRS-80 we got to
do packet in the mid 80s. I think the president at the time was John Caplins
(KC3LX), then a Sergent Major in the Army.

We had to remove the repeater from NRL CBD about 1984 or 5 because the Navy
was removing the tower it was on. It was an ex-NOAA unit (GE or Motorola
with tubes) in a large cabinet (I know, I helped move it) we put in my
father-in-law's (Don WB3JKV) basement until we could come up with a new
site. If I recall correctly, it sat there off the air for the better part of
a year. We finally got the MHCC site & moved in there. We started out with a
50' tower & I climbed that in order to help install another 25' section &
attach guy wires. Don & I were on the tower when Don passed out from the
heat (we were using safety harnesses so he didn't fall). Vince climbed up
from the ground & I came down from the top to rescue him. He woke up shortly
after we got to him & was able to assist in getting him down. We got an
ambulance & her went off to the hospital for awhile to chill out.

I hope this helps out some.

John / N3EDD

On Sat, Nov 5, 2011 at 12:02 PM, Dennis N3QHC <n3qhc at verizon.net> wrote:

Ron,

I have some of that information.  The actually start of the club is not in
any paperwork that I have.  However, the founders are;

Woody Schwartz /W3ZNW (SK)

Don Liddy/WB3JKV

Gail Griner/W3IRE (SK)

Vince Thrasher/ KB3FS

Don, Gail, Vince and Woody have told me the history of CARA.  Just wish I
documented what they said at the time.  There is a chance some may be on the
HD of an old computer I still have.

CARA Started cir 1954  

CARA located on Naval Base Chesapeake Beach first with old weather radio
(NOAA) equipment.  Don was Jack's (AB4FO) boss.  In cir 1972 they had to
move from Naval Base to Mt. Hope. Woody purchased repeater a newer repeater
in 1986 (see attached receipt).   I need to find what year the County placed
the 300' tower at MHCC which should not be difficult.  We were on a 100'
tower prior to the higher tower.  

In 1993 I wrote the first club Constitution & By-Laws > using Constitutions
8 By-Laws from SPARC, St. Mary's, Charles ARC, AARC, PG ARC and others.

As far as CARA President's and you may have better information - this is
from my memory;

1993

Jack AB4FO 

1994

Bob KF3AA

1995

Dave N3TZO

1996

Don KR3A

1997

Dennis N3QHC 

1998

Dennis N3QHC

1999

Dennis N3QHC

2000

Dennis N3QHC

2001

Dennis N3QHC

2002

Dennis N3QHC

2003

Dennis N3QHC

2004

Dennis N3QHC

2005

Dennis N3QHC

2006

Dennis N3QHC

2007

Dennis N3QHC

2008

Dennis N3QHC

2009

Dennis N3QHC

2010

Dennis N3QHC

2011

Dennis N3QHC

2012

Dave W3PQS

Not 100% sure but think this is fairly actuate.  I do know the order was
n3tzo + kr3a + n3qhc.

Hope this helps.  I'll email what more I have when I get the opportunity to
dig for it.  It is not a lot.  Also, I have several old newsletters.

73, Dennis

From: k3cal-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:k3cal-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of wa4prr at comcast.net
Sent: Friday, November 04, 2011 7:15 PM
To: K3CAL at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [K3CAL] CARA History

Hi Everyone:

I am about to update the new About_CARA page for the new website.  Does
anyone have some historical info on the club - its founding, founding
members, dates, etc.?  If someone could furnish me with a writeup that I can
post to the website, it would be very helpful.

Thanks,  73

Ron WA4PRR

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