Events
Update: March 7, 2021:
Since the IBM Company has disbanded the "IBM Club", this leaves the Ham Radio Club in a bit of a quandary. Repeater(s) located at the IBM Almaden Research Center is/are still active, however. Some hams from outside of the IBM Company have become interested in supporting the repeater activities and are in the process of forming a group that is tentatively being called the Almaden Radio Club (ARC). Some of these hams work for IBM, many do not, but are supportive. This club will join the joint IBMARC/SCRVS group to, in effect, create a more active group.
This group will continue to support the Research and other IBM locations with Amateur Radio backup support. Invitations will soon be sent to all existing members to join a groups.io mailing list to keep everyone informed.
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The San Jose IBM Amateur Radio Club is not alone when it comes to reduced participation in club activities by members. The ranks of Amateur Radio Operators are slowly shrinking. In the past, those with a technical bent participated heavily in Ham radio. With the advent of personal computers, the Internet, Cellular (Mobile) telephone systems and the like, many of these folks now find themselves involved in those types of activities rather than Ham radio. As a result, it is becoming more difficult to hold together a large number of Amateur Radio Clubs.
Another such group is the Santa Clara Valley Repeater Society (SCVRS) which operates the WB6OQS repeaters in the South Bay. This group was formed in 1965 and has operated repeaters from the Santa Cruz mountain range since then. Recently, the San Jose IBM Amateur Radio Club and SCVRS held a joint club dinner meeting where discussions were held on holding joint activities between the two groups to foster greater participation and provide wider access to repeater facilities in the South Bay. The idea was warmly received.
The two clubs will retain their individual identities and member lists. This will allow each to provide the unique qualities associated with each group to continue to be provided. However, they will hold common meetings and share access to each others repeater systems. Over time, some of these systems will be linked and/or moved to common facilities to help reduce costs to both groups. We look forward to a great relationship between the groups as we work together.
Jack Friedman (KE6UZN) IBM Amateur Radio Club
Bill Walters (WA2IBM) SCVRS
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