Fellow Cruiserheads,
This year at the annual member BBQ, the club voted to focus this year's annual donation to support Montana HAM radio repeater organizations. Whether you use the repeaters frequently or rely on them as a source of emergency communication, the presence of this radio infrastructure is one of the components that makes wheeling in Montana fun, and safe.
The Gallatin Ham Radio Club, which shares some members with 406Cruisers, functions as the areas foremost group of HAM radio enthusiasts. The Eaglehead Repeater Association (ERA) and Montana Repeater Link Assocation (MRLA) are the two groups who maintain not only Bozeman area repeaters, but repeaters that are linked across Montana, and link Montana to other states. Often, volunteer members of the GHRC are the same that volunteer for positions with ERA and MRLA, and are the same volunteers who are out using their personal rigs and equipment servicing the radio repeater sites. Kudos to those folks!
Recent news from the Forest Service implies existing repeater sites that are located on National Forest lands may be subject to additional fees in order to keep the repeater site at those locations. Politics aside, the ERA is possibly looking at operating costs that are beyond their current shoe-string operating budget. And this is just one of the many challenges of operating remote radio tower sites in Montana.
This year, our portion of member dues being donated to ERA/MRLA is $103.60. I encourage you to include them in your annual giving if you are able to do so. And also encourage you to donate your time and funds to other non-profit service organizations in your community.
Be well and Cruise on,
Your Club Treasurer
To donate to Eaglehead Repeater Association:
ERA link to donate
For maps and radio info of the HAM radio repeater sites maintained by ERA/MRLA:
Link to Repeater sites
This year at the annual member BBQ, the club voted to focus this year's annual donation to support Montana HAM radio repeater organizations. Whether you use the repeaters frequently or rely on them as a source of emergency communication, the presence of this radio infrastructure is one of the components that makes wheeling in Montana fun, and safe.
The Gallatin Ham Radio Club, which shares some members with 406Cruisers, functions as the areas foremost group of HAM radio enthusiasts. The Eaglehead Repeater Association (ERA) and Montana Repeater Link Assocation (MRLA) are the two groups who maintain not only Bozeman area repeaters, but repeaters that are linked across Montana, and link Montana to other states. Often, volunteer members of the GHRC are the same that volunteer for positions with ERA and MRLA, and are the same volunteers who are out using their personal rigs and equipment servicing the radio repeater sites. Kudos to those folks!
Recent news from the Forest Service implies existing repeater sites that are located on National Forest lands may be subject to additional fees in order to keep the repeater site at those locations. Politics aside, the ERA is possibly looking at operating costs that are beyond their current shoe-string operating budget. And this is just one of the many challenges of operating remote radio tower sites in Montana.
This year, our portion of member dues being donated to ERA/MRLA is $103.60. I encourage you to include them in your annual giving if you are able to do so. And also encourage you to donate your time and funds to other non-profit service organizations in your community.
Be well and Cruise on,
Your Club Treasurer
To donate to Eaglehead Repeater Association:
ERA link to donate
For maps and radio info of the HAM radio repeater sites maintained by ERA/MRLA:
Link to Repeater sites
