Date: May 2022
Amount: $23,516

The mission of the Eau Claire Amateur Radio Club (ECARC) is to connect, promote, and educate amateur radio to all, and to provide public service to our community. The goals of ECARC are also closely aligned with the Eau Claire County ARES/RACES.

With these grant funds, the ECARC will purchase new radios for the county emergency operations center, replace an HF antenna at one of the sites, and equip a small trailer with portable communications equipment for emergencies, training, and to promote and educate small groups.

Update

With grant support, the Eau Claire Amateur Radio Club (ECARC) expanded emergency communication capabilities across Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. Upgrades included new antennas at two sites, radio equipment for the County EOC, and a VHF WinLink gateway. A zero-cost lease with Eau Claire County Emergency Management allowed installation of repeater antennas on the Sheriff’s Tower, enabling county-wide coverage. The club also purchased a second Yaesu DR2X repeater and tested legacy equipment.

ECARC members supported community events, ran regular training and Skywarn nets, and took part in emergency exercises. They promoted amateur radio at local meetings and trained with FEMA and Wisconsin Emergency Management. Youth outreach included a Scouts on the Air event. The team also improved the County’s Mobile Command Post, making it available for ARES/RACES and club use.

As a result of the grant, county officials became much more aware of how amateur radio and ARES/RACES benefits the community.

For more information on ECARC, go to http://www.ecarc.org.