Dues for 2021 need to be paid by January 31 2021. If you’ve already paid your dues, THANKS! You can now pay your dues electronically by going to HamClubOnline.com and entering the CARC section.  Among the options is the capability to extend your membership.  You can then use PayPal to send in your renewal.  If you have a question or issue, send an email to officers@w4cq.org and we’ll help you out.

If for some reason you prefer not to pay online, please fill out the printable application for membership and send it in right away to get your membership status up to date.

Dues are only $30 per year for an individual, or $35 for an entire family!

Remember, YOU are an integral part of the club and your dues permit us to finance our activities. We have several recurring bills (website, liability insurance, phone, etc.) that are paid for entirely by the club dues. Don’t keep putting it off!

If you decide to renew or apply by mail, send your dues to Ed Prentice K4EGP, PO Box 78194, Charlotte, NC 28271-7027. Do not mail anything to 501 Archdale Dr., The Salvation Army HQ! Send it to Ed!

We have a Laurel VE Test Session scheduled for 10:00am Saturday 9 January 2021. It will be held at the Bethel VFD Station 3, 3330 Doctor Nichols Rd, York, SC 29745. There will be a $0.00 charge exam fee, no charge. IT’S FREE!

Masks are required for everyone. You must already have your FRN (see below), and a copy of the Laurel Form 605. If you’re upgrading, also bring a copy of your current license., to go with the Test Packet.

You must RSVP with Jeff, KA4WYC at KA4WYC@gmail.com to request a seat for the Test Session. We will limit the Test Session to 10 people total.

So, if you or someone you know is looking for a test session, you’ll need this information:

Location: Bethel VFD Station 3, 3330 Doctor Nichols Rd, York, SC 29745

Bring the following with you:

• A copy, to leave, of your FCC license and/or any CSCE‘s, if you are upgrading.  Your CSCE is only needed if you somehow passed elements out of order and don’t have a license yet (for example, you passed Element 3 or 4, and never passed Element 2).
• Your FRN (FCC Registration Number). If you are not licensed, you can go to WWW.FCC.ORG to request one prior to the test session.
• The form Laurel Form 605. If you don’t have one, we’ll have copies there, or you can download it here and print it out beforehand. It’s always best to have it filled out in black ink beforehand.
• A government-issued Photo ID, like your State driver’s license.
• A MASK! You won’t be admitted without a MASK.
• FINALLY IT’S NO CHARGE!  IT’S FREE!

If you have any questions, please let me know, by calling my cellphone at 704-577-3619. Stay safe! 73, Jeff KA4WYC

If you have not signed into HamClubOnline to look at the Charlotte Amateur Radio Club (CARC) there, I urge you to do so.

Your Club Officers have been looking for a tool that would allow them to more easily handle rosters, attendance, new members, and renewals.

Club members have been looking for a way to update their skills, capabilities, and certain roster data themselves.

We were all looking for a means of paying Club dues electronically, securely, and easily via PayPal.  How do we track those updates?

We’ve found it in HamClubOnline!

You can get to W4CQ’s area on the site by going here.

You’ll have to get on the site by using your callsign.  If you’ve never been on HamClubOnline, go to the site.  You’ll see a prompt for your callsign and password.

Enter your callsign and click on the “Forgot Password” link.  If you already have an account, you’ll be prompted for a callsign or email address.  A temporary password may be emailed to you, or you may be prompted for your FRN and an email address.

After you sign-on, you can select CARC and go to the W4CQ area.  You’ll be able to view your roster data, renew your membership, view the roster (members can opt out of being visible on the roster), view your attendance (although we have not entered old attendance data), and more.

It’s important to note that HamClubOnline does not replace the Club website at w4cq.org.  It is simply another tool, just like this website, Facebook, and groups.io.

If you have any questions, contact the Club officers.  We’ll try to answer all questions!

Our Club treasurer for the last five years, Joe Ducar, KJ4QFV, has decided to resign his office for personal reasons, effective immediately.

The Club thanks Joe for his years of service as Treasurer.

in accordance with the Club bylaws, a special election was held on June 19, 2020 via a Zoom meeting to elect a treasurer to fill in for the rest of the year.

Ed Prentice, K4EGP, was elected to fill the remainder of Joe’s term. Thanks, Ed!