With an eye on the future of San Francisco Radio Club, I am excited to congratulate Nick Powell NF1P on becoming President for 2018. I know that he and the newly elected Board will continue to safeguard the history and traditions of our esteemed organization while we continue to grow into the 21st century.
I am looking back at the ten years that I have had the honor of serving as your President. My first year (1984) was certainly a learning experience, considering that I was only licensed in 1981. I took a long hiatus from radio (1990-2008). I am not sure why, but, I came back to my senses in 2008, returning to the club and helping out as Secretary. At the time it seemed to me that participation was at a low and when given the nod to, once again, serve as President I made it my goal to restore involvement. My vision for the SFRC included expanding our presence in the community, forming an education base and empowering our members to truly feel that this is their club. It has been and always will be an organization driven by your combined effort and ideas.
I am looking back at the ten years that I have had the honor of serving as your President. My first year (1984) was certainly a learning experience, considering that I was only licensed in 1981. I took a long hiatus from radio (1990-2008). I am not sure why, but, I came back to my senses in 2008, returning to the club and helping out as Secretary. At the time it seemed to me that participation was at a low and when given the nod to, once again, serve as President I made it my goal to restore involvement. My vision for the SFRC included expanding our presence in the community, forming an education base and empowering our members to truly feel that this is their club. It has been and always will be an organization driven by your combined effort and ideas.
Over these years I have been blessed with some gifted and inspired members of our Board of Directors. Additionally, having a few of them repeat as Directors and Officers has helped establish a consistent formula that successfully maintains the programs and services we offer and allow for continued growth.
In the 1990s our club lost the original name due to a clerical error and, for a time, was called San Francisco Amateur Radio Club. One of my first goals was to restore our original name and logo before celebrating our centennial. Mission accomplished. Early on it was clear that our repeater system W6PW/R had major problems on Twin Peaks. Through patience and perseverance we overcame the trouble, but, ultimately improved our system by upgrading to state-of-the art Yaesu Fusion equipment and moving to Sutro Tower where everyone can hear us! Our other technical advances include installation of a 440MHz repeater at the V.A. right next to the
D-Star system that we installed in 2010. By the way, under the initial agreement a partial D-Star set-up was loaned to SFRC providing the system be completed at club expense. I was happy to have negotiated with Ham Radio Outlet and have D-Star donated to the club and it is now our property.
Some other goals included increasing presence within the community and recognition nationally. Primarily we want to hone our operating skills while having some fun and serving others. How better to do that than some special event operations? SFRC hosted events for the 20th Anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake, the 75th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge, America’s Cup Races in San Francisco and our own Centennial. How better to practice for emergency communications, help people recognize our organization and have a little fun, right? And, let’s not forget all of the great Field Days: Robb Hill, Treasure Island and Miley West. On a national level I was honored to represent San Francisco Radio Club at the ARRL Centennial Convention in Hartford, Connecticut where I had the opportunity of sharing our club’s rich history and current programs with so many HAMs from around the U.S. and abroad.
Yet another important focus was the education and licensing of new Amateur Radio operators. Together with the Board we were able to, first, establish a VE Testing program that has become very popular. Soon after we proudly offered a Techician License Class at the V.A. facility. Beyond that we branched out and offered these classes at other locations, such as AMGEN in South San Francisco.
As for my future, I will continue to stay busy in Amateur Radio. I will keep my QTH ready for potential disaster conditions while enjoying my DXing. Some of you may already know that I have accepted am currently serving as President of the Northern California DX Club. It is my hope that both organizations will continue to maintain a close partnership. I will also remain as head of the S.F. V.A. Amateur Radio Club and Trustee of W6VSF working together with SFRC to reestablish and maintain the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications capabilities at the SFVAMC.
Over the years the San Francisco Radio Club has grown so much, done so much, and made a difference in the community. More members are active and involved. Certified V.A. volunteers have increased and we’ve all enjoyed some really great presentations at our meetings. We’ve enjoyed so many good times and learned so much. The single thing that will stand out for me, however, is the tremendous outpour of support from everyone when I had my accident in December 2014. Instrumental in my recovery were the cards, emails, phone calls and visits from many of you.
You are my comrades, fellow members and most importantly, you are my friends! Thank you San Francisco Radio Club, for 10 memorable years!
73 de,
Tony Dowler K6BV
In the 1990s our club lost the original name due to a clerical error and, for a time, was called San Francisco Amateur Radio Club. One of my first goals was to restore our original name and logo before celebrating our centennial. Mission accomplished. Early on it was clear that our repeater system W6PW/R had major problems on Twin Peaks. Through patience and perseverance we overcame the trouble, but, ultimately improved our system by upgrading to state-of-the art Yaesu Fusion equipment and moving to Sutro Tower where everyone can hear us! Our other technical advances include installation of a 440MHz repeater at the V.A. right next to the
D-Star system that we installed in 2010. By the way, under the initial agreement a partial D-Star set-up was loaned to SFRC providing the system be completed at club expense. I was happy to have negotiated with Ham Radio Outlet and have D-Star donated to the club and it is now our property.
Some other goals included increasing presence within the community and recognition nationally. Primarily we want to hone our operating skills while having some fun and serving others. How better to do that than some special event operations? SFRC hosted events for the 20th Anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake, the 75th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge, America’s Cup Races in San Francisco and our own Centennial. How better to practice for emergency communications, help people recognize our organization and have a little fun, right? And, let’s not forget all of the great Field Days: Robb Hill, Treasure Island and Miley West. On a national level I was honored to represent San Francisco Radio Club at the ARRL Centennial Convention in Hartford, Connecticut where I had the opportunity of sharing our club’s rich history and current programs with so many HAMs from around the U.S. and abroad.
Yet another important focus was the education and licensing of new Amateur Radio operators. Together with the Board we were able to, first, establish a VE Testing program that has become very popular. Soon after we proudly offered a Techician License Class at the V.A. facility. Beyond that we branched out and offered these classes at other locations, such as AMGEN in South San Francisco.
As for my future, I will continue to stay busy in Amateur Radio. I will keep my QTH ready for potential disaster conditions while enjoying my DXing. Some of you may already know that I have accepted am currently serving as President of the Northern California DX Club. It is my hope that both organizations will continue to maintain a close partnership. I will also remain as head of the S.F. V.A. Amateur Radio Club and Trustee of W6VSF working together with SFRC to reestablish and maintain the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications capabilities at the SFVAMC.
Over the years the San Francisco Radio Club has grown so much, done so much, and made a difference in the community. More members are active and involved. Certified V.A. volunteers have increased and we’ve all enjoyed some really great presentations at our meetings. We’ve enjoyed so many good times and learned so much. The single thing that will stand out for me, however, is the tremendous outpour of support from everyone when I had my accident in December 2014. Instrumental in my recovery were the cards, emails, phone calls and visits from many of you.
You are my comrades, fellow members and most importantly, you are my friends! Thank you San Francisco Radio Club, for 10 memorable years!
73 de,
Tony Dowler K6BV