[SMCARA] Potomac Valley Radio Club -

[Tom Shelton]

The PVRC is not associated with SMCARA - while SMCARA is a general interest
club, the PVRC is a contest club, recognized by the ARRL and other contest
sponsors - That said, many SMCARA members are also PVRC members.  

What is PVRC?

PVRC is a regional amateur radio club devoted to excellence in the
competitive aspects of ham radio, particularly contesting.  Currently, the
club has over 750 members, of whom over 500 live within the 175-mile radius
<http://pvrc.org/pvrc_circle/PVRC_Circle.htm>  that ARRL and CQ have decreed
for eligibility to participate in club competition in the 14 contests they
sponsor each year that have that category.  PVRC places high nationally in
all of these contests, and wins at least one or two nearly every year.

What are the requirements for membership?

The only requirement for membership is an amateur radio license (any class)
and an active interest in contesting.  It doesn't matter whether you have
your own station, or how elaborate it is.  It doesn't matter whether your
interest is HF, or VHF, or you don't even know yet. 
All members need to reside or operate inside the 175-mile circle to
contribute points to PVRC in the major club
competitions.  Your local chapter chairman can confirm that your QTH is
inside the radius.

Otherwise, the situation is pretty simple.  You need to attend two meetings
to become a member.  There are no dues for PVRC, except by voluntary
donation.  Instead, we think your "dues" should be the submission of scores
for the club in 2 (hopefully more) of the contests we enter as a club every
year.  If you can't operate from home, we'll be glad to help you line up an
opportunity to operate, either as part of a team at a multi-operator station
or as a "guest op" at a member's station.  PVRC members help each other with
antenna work, with technical issues, and with operating skill development.
Learn how to contest with PVRC, and you'll have the satisfaction of watching
your skills (and your scores) grow year by year.

Some people tend to think of PVRC as composed entirely of "big guns."
Nothing could be further from the truth.  In fact, the average PVRC member's
station probably consists of a transceiver, a tribander, and wires for 40
and 80 meters, on a city lot.  some of our members even operate in contests
with indoor antennas and QRP power.  

So c'mon, join the fun!

 

The next meeting of the Southern Maryland Chapter of the PVRC will be
Wednesday, October 15th, at Nicolletti's Pizza located at: 22741 Three Notch
Road, California, MD 20619.  Phone: 301-863-2233.  Check out their menu
here: http://www.nicollettis.com/Menu/Starters/

 

All are welcome - PVRC members, PVRC prospective members, PVRC Curious,
Guests, etc.  Meet and Eat 6:30 - 7:30, PVRC meeting afterwards.  Talk in on
the N3NO Repeater 145.350 (-) PL 156.7, located in Prince Frederick, MD.

 

Additional opportunities this month to get information about the PVRC, get
meeting credit, or just come by for a quick meet and greet.

 

After the St. Mary's County Amateur Radio Association meeting on Thursday,
October 23rd.  The SMCARA meets at 7:30 at the Patuxent River Naval Air
Museum: 22156 Three Notch Road, Lexington Park, Maryland 20653 -
http://paxmuseum.com/page/reaching-us

The meeting will be an ad-hoc get together once the SMCARA adjourns its
meeting (usually around 9:00).

 

I will be sponsoring a table at the SMCARA Tail Gate Fest (Swap meet) on
Saturday, October 25th.  See HTTPS://k3nhk.org for more information.  Again,
stop by the table for an ad-hoc meeting at 10:00 AM.  This swap meeting is
free to enter and $5 to sell.

 

Finally, our regularly scheduled meeting (always the last Wednesday of the
month) is October 29th at Nicolletti's Pizza located at: 22741 Three Notch
Road, California, MD 20619 Phone: 301-863-2233.  Check out their menu here:
http://www.nicollettis.com/Menu/Starters/

Tom Shelton, ND3N

Ham Radio, Motorcycling, and a Loving Wife who lets me play with both

What more could a man need