The West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Group (WPBARG) and the Fair Lawn (NJ) Amateur Radio Club (FLARC) have agreed to a unique partnership in sharing ideas, activities, and best practices to better encourage the growth and development of each other’s amateur radio club. “This relationship, while informal, has the potential to address a number of issues and ideas that we as a club could not do alone” noted Nomar Vizcarrondo NP4H, FLARC Club President. “There are local issues that we face that are no different than all amateur radio clubs – promoting amateur radio in our communities, finding, and retaining new members while keeping them engaged. We hope that this experiment will enable us to learn from each and help to address these issues so that we can both benefit as a result. WPBARG also operates from a location (a science center) that brings exposure to amateur radio that we can learn more about” Vizcarrondo added. Michael Mathias K1WX, speaking on behalf of the WPBARG Board of Directors, said “As amateur radio operators, each of us has a responsibility to the hobby and our community, and to be good ambassadors of both. We see this venture as a wonderful way to leverage that and to grow this unique fellowship of amateur radio. As this is uncharted territory for our organization, we welcome input on how better to reach these goals. Whatever fruit this may or may not bear, we are grateful for the opportunity.” WPBARG (www.wpbarg.com) currently has approximately eighty members and meets regularly at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach. FLARC (www.fairlawnarc.org) has approximately 175 members and has a clubhouse as part its association with the Borough of Fair Lawn. Both clubs are visible within their communities, and each brings its own set of diverse assets to the experiment. WPBARG recently shared a program on radio balloons built by local students with the assistance of WPBARG club members with FLARC. The first planned steps are to increase overall contact with each other on a regular basis via meetings, exchanges of communications and the development of a potential joint program or project. The informal agreement will last for one year. Local clubs, of course, do get together on projects, but this is believed to be the first planned experiment in mutual development between clubs separated geographically, by size and by club culture.
Greetings! And thanks for everyone’s comments. Interestingly, 43 Percent of Florida residents are from other states, including Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, and of course New York and New Jersey. 21 percent of Florida’s population is from other countries, which, also interestingly, is less than both New York and New Jersey. WPBARG and FLARC joining together was by happenstance. A prominent member of FLARC attended one of our meetings as a guest, and the rest was, as they say, history. We are all excited about this venture. FLARC is very engaged in POTA, and we will be looking to leverage that here in Florida. As far as politics, agreed. Personal agendas, cliques, gossip and the like, are cancers to any organization, and it is incumbent upon the leadership to build and maintain a culture that is not fertile to these. Our meetings are open, and we welcome all guests and visitors. If you’re in the area, feel free to attend one of our meetings, whether you are licenced or not!
Great news! Hope this venture gives birth to similar project's not only in Fl/NJ clubs but around the nation. Thank Nomar!! 73, Joe K4JGA
