Previous Website Benicia Amateur Radio Club (BARC)
In the Beginning...
The Benicia Amateur Radio Club (BARC) was formed in 1979.
It’s first (unofficial) meeting was on the sidewalk of 120 Carlisle Way.
Dick Gaul, amateur radio station K2GMY, had obtained the names, call signs and addresses of all nine licensed amateur radio operators (hams) living in Benicia at that time for the purpose pf stating a radio club here.
He had contacted several when a Benicia police car stopped while Dick was working in his front yard, and the policeman asked if he was a ham. The policeman was Mach Myovich, K6KAP.
Thus the first official meeting!
The next day Dick was talking to a Benicia Cable TV Technician, Tom Schurkamp, WD6BBI, who had stopped to work on a cable box on the sidewalk. He too was on the list of Benicia hams. Over the next few weeks there were several more unofficial sidewalk meetings here.
The first official meeting occurred in the kitchen of Meg Kelsey, KA6JLC and Bill Kelsey at 12 Alto Loma; where Dick, Meg and Bill: and Betsey Haley, A6BPR scribbled out a few objectives of the club and scheduled the next meeting in the kitchen of Betsey and Ray Hayley, KA6DJO at 940 West K Street. There the Constitution, the By-laws, and the goals of the club were established.
Specifically, the club was formed to help the city, county and state authorities to relay messages in times of emergency.
On March 7, 1979, the first open meeting was conducted at the Youth Activity Center at 150 East K Street. It was announced to the public that all were welcome to attend. Eleven citizens became members that night; eight licensed radio amateurs, including Mike Kelsey, KA6BER; John Rich, KA6DJN; and Paul Coonradt, WB6DHH; one interested adult; and two Mary Farmer Elementary School student, Brian Gaul and Steven Gaul.
The member approved the organizational structure of the club, and the first slate of officers was elected. Later in the evening, they practiced telegraph key exercises for the benefit of those members who were not yet hams.
Soon thereafter, the club actively participated in simulated emergency training exercises to gain readiness in the event that they might be called upon to assist.
In 1980 they held their first mid-summer two-day round-the-clock training, antenna creation exercise out in a natural setting where they had to improvise power generation, antenna erection, and whatever else was necessary to communicate in a hostile environment. They have been doing this annually since then.
In 1981 they started donating complete sets of technical books published by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) to the Benicia Public Library and Benicia High School.
In 1982 they started training classes for anyone that expressed interest in becoming an amateur radio operator. These classes included radio theory and Morse code proficiency. These classes continue to be scheduled periodically even now.
Additionally, they volunteered their services to the city every year during the Torchlight Parades, Historical Runs, Christmas Parades, Blessings of the Fleet, and Peddlers’ Fairs.
Radio Stations were set up many times in public areas, including the Clock Tower, the Benicia State Recreation Area, The Benicia Middle School, and the State Capitol Building, so that Benicia’s citizens could learn about this valuable resource; and they could actually talk on the radio to hams around the world.
In 1983, Dave Autry, KJ7OQ established contact with a station OUT OF THIS WORLD, when he demonstrated the club’s ability to talk to a ham on the Space Shuttle, astronaut Dr. Owen Garriott, W5LFL!
The club participated in various joint exercises with the American Red Cross, Solano County Sheriff’s Office, and Travis Air Force Base to test readiness in the event of floods, large scale disasters, and aircraft mishaps.
Ross Sagun, AD6OE received a letter of appreciation from the Department of Defense for the club’s continued side-by-side celebration of Armed Forces Day with our U.S. Forces at Skaggs Island in operating their high-powered military radio equipment and sending messages to our troops around the world.
In 1984, club members Mike Kelsey, KA6BER; Richard Chan, WB6ABE; Jim Clarke, KB6SHT, and Dave, KJ7OQ were finalizing plans for the first Emergency Operations Center (EOC) amateur radio station. It was to be set up in the basement of the Gymnasium next to the police station.
On January 12, 1985 club members met to schedule a simulated emergency test. But one week later, on January 19, 1985 the club was called upon by the Benicia Police Department to augment their communications and traffic control efforts when a fatal molten-sulfur truck accident on the Benicia Bridge crippled Bay Area traffic at rush-hour and the rest of the night.
At the wreckage were Art Carpenter, KA6HZX; and Jack Cooper, KG6LV. Others serving that night were sue Cooper, N6LEU; Meg, KA6JLC; Dick, K2GMY; Betsey, KA6BPR; and Tom Carrillo, WB6UUQ. Dave, KJ7OQ was the Radio Emergency Coordinator. The club was recognized for their efforts by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
In September, 1985 the club was involved in the Mexico City Earthquake; and in February, 1986 with the Solano County floods.
On April 4, 1987, the EOC Radio in gymnasium opened after the considerable efforts of all the members.
After several years, the EOC radio room was moved to the building on the other side of City Hall, next to the U.S, Post Office. It remained in operation there for years until the members moved it to its third and current location.
When the new fire house was being planned, the merits and contributions of the Benicia Amateur Radio Club had been demonstrated over and over. The radio room, power and cable runs, antennas, and equipment were integrated into the final fire house configuration.
These individuals have expanded their volunteer efforts into greater involvement with police,
fire, and Benicia Emergency Response Team (BERT) activities at the city, county, state, and national levels.