What a fantastic weekend for the Amateur Radio community in the Volunteer State! Our Director and Deputy Director made the trip to Greenbrier yesterday for the inaugural Middle Tennessee Ham Co-operative Picnic, and the excitement is still buzzing!
This wasn't just another club gathering; it was a shining example of what happens when the Amateur Radio community drops the barriers and works together.
"This multiple club event showed just what can happen when clubs drop the barriers and work together, sharing resources and collaborating for the better interest of the hobby," said Riley Amoriello, state Director of the Tennessee Amateur Radio Association (TARA).
🌟 Collaboration in Action
The success of this one-day event was spearheaded by Jonathan Massaro, President of the Sumner County Amateur Radio Association (SCARA). It created a welcoming space for club members, Amateurs, and community members from all over the area to learn, meet, and eat, truly enjoying the camaraderie that is the heart of ham radio.
The day was packed with high-value, hands-on learning! Attendees enjoyed informative sessions, including:
A Satellite Operation with a demonstration by Tony Swindel, President of the Nashville Amateur Radio Club.
ARES Information session on Digital Data, as well as a fun and challenging Go-Box Challenge!
For a first-year event, the turnout was excellent, and the planning was clearly top-notch. As Deputy Director Crowden noted, "With it only being the first year, there was a pretty good turnout, the location and logistics were well thought out."
🚨 SCARA's Standout Emergency Trailer
One of the most impressive highlights of the day was the emergency communications trailer demo put on by the Sumner County Amateur Radio Association. Tony gave us a wonderful tour, detailing all the trailer's capabilities and features. What makes this trailer truly remarkable is that all its components were paid for and built by the club's members or by the club itself!
This trailer is a testament to dedication and community focus. Unlike many emergency communications assets in the state, which are often owned and restricted to county use, this one is owned and operated by SCARA. This means it has the potential to serve the wider Amateur community and various agencies, wherever it is needed.
🙏 A Heartfelt Thank You to SCARA
We are incredibly proud to call the Sumner County Amateur Radio Association an affiliated club. Their efforts extend far beyond their own members.
"They promote more than just their club and do everything with the greater community of Amateurs in mind, not just their club," said Director Amoriello.
This event is precisely what the Tennessee Amateur Radio Association is all about: being good stewards and promoting the betterment of the hobby right here in the Volunteer State. We can't wait to attend next year and watch this event grow into a regional and even statewide phenomenon!
