We’re looking for a few good…yes, GREAT hams…
One of the reasons that the Tulsa Amateur Radio Club is able to do all the activities that we do is…there are club members that volunteer their time, talent, experience and love for the ham radio hobby!
And my own personal experience has taught me that you can never have enough volunteers and every club position needs a backup. As President of TARC, I have a backup in the 1st Vice President position. As a backup to the 1st Vice President position, we have the 2nd Vice President position (or as Ky KY5VAR likes to say, “1st loser Vice President)! We now have two club members as Public Service Liaisons with Bobby KJ5CLV and Robert KI5WDD. One can backup the other.
All the nets that I know of all have multiple Net Control Operators, just in case one can’t make it there are others who can step in take over. Our Amateur Radio Emergency Service Coordinator for Tulsa County, Paul WB5ANX has a lot on his plate and he has two backup Assistant Coordinators with Bart N5TWB and myself WA5MA.
There are a few positions that currently do not have backups and that’s what I would like to remedy. Our Secretary, Andrew W5AWS is our historian and he records the minutes at the monthly club meetings. He is also the club’s Parliamentarian during the fall when it’s time to start taking nominations for club officers. Our logger for the weekly TARC Net is David K5TZS. He’s been doing the logging as far back as when we were using NetLogger and now Ham.Live. Fortunately, he’s been willing and able to do logging every week but there is no one to back him up. Another one is our Net Control Operator who has Net Control duties when we’re having our 3rd Tuesday club meeting. Dirk W4IPD lives in the Oklahoma City area but has agreed to take over Net Control duties while we have our club meeting here in Tulsa. Is there someone out there to back him up so that he can get a break? It’s only once a month, there’s a net script, I email any announcements to him for the net and you don’t have to be in the Tulsa area. We need a back up NCO!
Here are those club positions again…and a few others!
Tuesday net logger.
Tuesday Net Control Operator (during the regular Tuesday club meeting nights).
Club Secretary or Historian.
A backup person or persons to help Jack with Field Day planning.
We have a Route 66 on the Air Coordinator with Daryl N5NYT (Thanks Daryl!).
In addition to that we’re also looking for Event Coordinators to help with other events
such as Winter Field Day, the club Christmas Party, MakerFair, Green Country
Hamfest, etc.
As of now, Jack W5JHC is the only one that can livestream and record the Tech
Nights and club meetings. Do you know audio and video? Jack could use a backup.
We’d love to have a Training/Mentor Coordinator.
We’re also open to any other position that you can think of that you’d like to help with.
Thanks in advance for your support. Give it a try and if you don’t like it, try something else. Just jump in and support your club!
We have a Special Event coming up…
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On June 20th is a new event for TARC and that’s the Sooner Sprint. Our own club member Mike KI5EGH has been working on this one for several months. Here’s what it’s all about from Mike…
The Sooner Sprint is a friendly, low-pressure amateur radio contest designed to welcome both new and experienced operators into a fast, enjoyable operating format. The rules are intentionally lightweight: simple exchanges, relaxed CW speeds, and clear, easy-to-submit log structure. Operators across Oklahoma and beyond work stations on all HF bands (except WARC bands) using CW, SSB or digital modes – although FT4 and FT8 are excluded. Weekly one-hour CW sprints on Thursday evenings help operators sharpen their skills and contribute to quarterly rankings, while the main annual event on June 20th, 2026 runs a full 12 hours and encourages broad participation from individuals and clubs alike.
Scoring emphasizes accessibility and operator choice. Every QSO counts for one point, with multipliers based on power level and mode – QRP and CW operators earn the highest bonuses. Oklahoma stations provide their county, while non-Oklahoma stations send their state, province, or DX entity, making county-hunting a fun part of the event. Logs are submitted in ADIF format within 15 days, and participants can earn digital certificates like the ones below and bragging rights in categories such as most Oklahoma contacts or most counties worked.
QSL cards will be issued as well.
The Sooner Sprint blends structure with flexibility, creating a contest atmosphere that’s competitive enough to be exciting but welcoming enough for anyone to jump in and enjoy.
Why not give it a try.
Got more questions? Contact Mike KI5EGH at ki5egh@yahoo.com.
Field Day…
This is another premier event for the Tulsa Amateur Radio Club at Haikey Creek Park. Our 1st Vice President Jack W5JHC is doing the planning and the June 16th club meeting is the last chance to hear your ideas and suggestions. Come on out and bring your suggestions and ideas for us to try. You can also come out to the park whether you’re a club member or not! Everyone is invited and there’s going to be lots of things to do and see including several demonstrations and chances to get on the air. Come check it out!
Do you have a vehicle that can tow a trailer…
We are still looking for those club members that can tow the Comm 1 trailer from its new storage location near 101st and Riverside Drive to wherever it needs to be for an event. Having the trailer in its’ new location and completing some of the current projects means the trailer is available on very short notice if needed and it’ll make operating inside the trailer more efficient and a more pleasurable experience. Can you tow the trailer??? Let us know and we’ll put you to work! Thanks!
Can’t make the monthly meetings?…
We’re Zoom streaming and also recording video of the monthly meetings and posting them on the Tulsa Amateur Radio Club Youtube channel for those unable to attend in person. If you’re interested in learning more please contact Jack W5JHC for info. Thanks Jack!
We’re trying to make DMR great again!!!
There is a new DMR hangout talkgroup and it’s called Local 2. It includes the Keetonville, Tulsa Central, Leonard and Mounds DMR repeaters so if you’re in any of those areas you should be able to do DMR. Give it a try…ya’ know the Repeater Challenge works just as well on DMR as it does on any other repeater.
We’re also looking at starting a DMR hangout (not a net) where it’s all things DMR. Keep your ears open for that in the not too distant future.
Looking to give back to the community?
Looking to have some fun playing radio and hanging out with other hams while serving your community? You found the right place!
2026 is the Year of Readiness…
and if you are willing to spend some time completing a self-paced training course and getting an Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps (OKMRC) badge that gives you access to the places where amateur radio operators can help with communications during emergencies, you can join the other ARES Volunteers in Tulsa County. OKMRC badges are FEMA-approved and therefore involve a background check. ARES involves volunteer training, ARES nets, hospital nets, and Simulated Emergency Tests, but operating practice comes in the form of bike rides, Field Days and other events that you can participate in anytime.
Contact Paul WB5ANX at paulhteel@gmail.com, Bart N5TWB at bjpick@cox.net or Mark WA5MA at wa5ma.mark@gmail.com if you’d like to learn more or sign up to be an ARES Volunteer!
If you’re already an ARES Volunteer…
YOU should be checking in to the ARES Net every Thursday at 8:00 PM on the designated repeater. We’re doing some cool things on the net and you need to be a part of it for training purposes, working equipment verification and learning communications protocols and procedures. Keep an eye out for upcoming comms checks by e mail, text and over the air.
We’re starting a new program for the registered ARES Volunteers. It’s the ARES Active/Inactive program.
An ARES Volunteer is considered active if they have;
- Checked in to at least one or more Tulsa County ARES nets
per month and,
- Attended at least one training event per calendar quarter
(when scheduled) and,
- Attended one exercise or deployment per calendar quarter
(when scheduled).
If there are not any approved training sessions, exercises, or deployments in a calendar quarter that will not count against your status.
What if you’re on the Inactive list??? It means that you’re on the secondary resource list because you don’t have the training that those on the Active list have and it could also result in your being removed from the ARES volunteer database. We really do want everyone on the Active list!
The Tulsa County ARES Net uses the following frequencies:
Weeks 1 – 3 on 145.170 (PL 88.5)
Weeks 4 – 5 on the Superlink Repeater System 443.850 (PL88.5) in Tulsa.
Check the W5IAS.com website on the Repeaters dropdown for system frequencies.
Here are the upcoming TARC activities…
- Tech Night – 1st Tuesday of each month 7:00 PM at TU.
- Monthly meeting – 3rd Tuesday of each month 7:00 PM at TU.
- Weekly TARC Net on the Superlink System, Tuesdays at 8 PM
- CW Net, Mondays and Thursdays at 7:00 PM on 7.037 +/- QRM
We also have Member Spotlight…
We’re all proud of our stations, whether VHF/UHF or HF, we all like talking about our home or portable stations. Want to show and tell your station or your love for a particular part of ham radio? Contact Ky KY5VAR and let him know. He’ll get you scheduled. He’s also starting a “show me your shack” presentation, so take some pictures and show us your ham shack!!!
Every month is a contest month…
Go to ARRL.com, click Contest Calendar, scroll to Contest Corral, click on the month you want to check. Try POTA or SOTA! Call CQ! Go to a local park, grab one of the club go boxes, throw up a wire and get on the air!
Prepare now! The weather will soon be good enough to get outside!
Be safe, Be a good friend, Get on the air!
Mark WA5MA
President – Tulsa Amateur Radio Club