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Southwest Iowa Amateur Radio Club

344 bytes added, 17:59, 3 March 2019
/* Organization Review */
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SWIARC is a very large club for the area it is in and operates two amateur radio repeaters.  The club's primary repeater K0SWI VHF has an impressive coverage footprint.  The repeater lacks a PL tone for access.  The repeater also has two receive sites for better receive coverage.  The repeater on 146.82 MHz is considered by many the most active area ham radio repeater.  The secondary repeater is a lower power UHF repeater with limited coverage and mix mode operation.SWIARC was once a very large club for the area and it currently operates two amateur radio repeaters.  The club's primary repeater K0SWI VHF has an impressive coverage footprint.  The repeater lacks a PL tone for access.  The repeater also has two receive sites for better receive coverage.  The repeater on 146.82 MHz is considered by many the most active area ham radio repeater.  The secondary repeater is a lower power UHF repeater with limited coverage and mix mode operation.''The review rating of this club has been demoted as of 2018 due to internal corruption, election of an illegitimate president presiding in 2018, and actions contrary to the club's own bylaws.   ''The review rating of this club has been demoted as of 2018 due to internal corruption, election of an illegitimate president presiding in 2018, and actions contrary to the club's own bylaws.  This club does not adhere to the official club constitution.    For the area the SWIARC club is a very active club, probably one of the two most active clubs around Omaha and Council Bluffs.  Members of the SWIARC club are involved in many club sponsored activities including a number of radio field events and annual participation in ARRL Field Day in June.  The club also has an annual dinner in December.For the area the SWIARC club is a very active club, probably one of the three most active clubs around Omaha and Council Bluffs.  Members of the SWIARC club are involved in many club sponsored activities including a number of radio field events and annual participation in ARRL Field Day in June.  The club also has an annual dinner in December.Club officers are elected by members.  Election for club president occurs on an annual basis.  The club has a constitution of by-laws available for review by club members and the public.  Club membership is available to anyone at a very reasonable annual fee.   Club officers are elected by members.  Election for club president occurs on an annual basis.  The club has a constitution of by-laws available for review by club members and the public.  Club membership is available to anyone at a reasonable annual fee.   SWIARC has experienced a number of surges in new membership over the years.  During new licensing spikes SWIARC typically sees many new faces at monthly meetings.  As has been observed with any club, only a certain percentage will become regular attendees and begin paying club dues.  The first year of a new licensee is free membership in SWIARC, a common practice for area ham clubs.  SWIARC's membership continues to remain strong in the past and recent years with sufficient numbers to support ongoing club events.SWIARC has experienced a number of surges in new membership over the years.  During new licensing spikes SWIARC typically sees many new faces at monthly meetings.  As has been observed with any club, only a certain percentage will become regular attendees and begin paying club dues.  The first year of a new licensee is free membership in SWIARC, a common practice for area ham clubs.  SWIARC's membership has experienced a decline in long term renewals while also finding an influx of many new operators which has resulted in a noticeable shift away from traditional club conduct.Monthly club meetings are conducted in an orderly manner.  All members are given an opportunity to voice an opinion as well as meeting attendees that are not members.  Voting is reserved for club members only.  The club is fairly lenient in regards to when dues are paid, those members that are a few months behind in payment are still allowed to vote and considered reliable to pay before becoming too outstanding.  Monthly club meetings are conducted somewhat loosely based on Robert's Rules or Order.  All members are given an opportunity to voice an opinion as well as meeting attendees that are not members.  Voting is reserved for club members only.  The club is fairly lenient in regards to when dues are paid, those members that are a few months behind in payment are still allowed to vote and considered reliable to pay before becoming too outstanding.  It should be noted that as it is likely the most active repeater in the area it resides, it will be more likely to have the occasional poor operator just by volume.  More total people often results in more marginal people as well as good people no matter where you go.  The club has taken measures to improve conditions, however, more could be done. For example, some net control operators on this repeater tend to permit questionable dialogue and failure to adhere to FCC required operating practice.  This could be corrected by bringing the matter to the attention of the net control operators by the club's own governing body.It should be noted that as it is likely the most active repeater in the area it resides, it will be more likely to have the occasional poor operator just by volume.  More total people often results in more marginal people as well as good people no matter where you go.  The club has taken some token measures to improve conditions, however, more could be done. For example, some net control operators on this repeater tend to permit questionable dialogue and failure to adhere to FCC required operating practice.  This could be corrected by bringing the matter to the attention of the net control operators by the club's own governing body.Although problems have been observed, nothing in particular has ever been seriously egregious and for the most part conduct on this Iowa repeater is of a much higher standard than the average VHF repeater in California.  The removal of a couple nighttime operators would clean up the majority of aforementioned problems as one in particular is responsible for vocabulary resulting in one of the most recent Official Observer notifications.The removal of a couple nighttime operators would clean up the majority of aforementioned problems as one in particular is responsible for vocabulary resulting in one of the most recent Official Observer notifications.  One SWIARC club member, that is also an ARRL VE Examiner has been observed using profanity on this club repeater, with recordings available to substantiate.  The individual has never been sanctioned by the club.  Lack of club enforcement against violators is a major factor in continued problems with the club VHF repeater.In a balanced review the bad has to be mentioned along with the good.  The majority of criticism is in regards to the VHF repeater and not the organization, or events.  Events have always been tasteful and family friendly.  The VHF repeater is considered "family friendly" during the daytime and the repeater trustee is of good character as well as taking repeater operation seriously.  It is certainly a very open repeater with the highest likelihood of ham operator response on a request for QSO made by locals as well as visitors passing though mobile.  No other repeater in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area probably has as high of a ham call response rate.   In a balanced review the bad has to be mentioned along with the good.  The majority of criticism is in regards to the VHF repeater and some also relating to club administration.  Events, such as SWIARC Field Day and the annual flea market have always been tasteful and family friendly.  The VHF repeater is considered "family friendly" during the daytime and the repeater trustee is of good character as well as taking repeater operation seriously.  It is certainly a very active repeater with the highest likelihood of ham operator response on a request for QSO made by locals as well as visitors passing though mobile.  No other repeater in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area probably has as high of a ham call response rate.   
Bureaucrat, administrator
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