HAM’S LIFE

This post applies only to ham clubs in the United States of America.  I like to keep my posts with international interest as much as possible but every so often I need to post something that of US interest only.  If you have something that you feel needs to be said that is of interest to your corner of the world please email me with that information so I can check it out and if I believe it warrants posting I will post it.  Email me at wa6ohp@yahoo.com and put the words ham’s life in the subject line to protect it from the spam monster.

The “Cheat on your taxes and don’t be a fool…” philosophy stated in a nineteen sixties song creates headaches for people who want to do right.  Charitable organizations have the right to claim a tax-exempt status under federal law.  Income tax payers can deduct donations made to these organizations, if the right form is used.  

Thieves, that is the proper term for people who cheat on their taxes, force the IRS to tighten the reins on legitimate organizations to help weed out the illegitimate organizations.  The tax-exempt laws applies to all nonprofit organizations thus ham radio clubs that claim a nonprofit status must comply with a federal tax law passed three years ago.

Tax-exempt clubs, according to Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, must file a form 990 with the IRS prior to the fifteenth day of May each year. 

If you belong to a tax-exempt club and the members of that club wish for it to remain in that statue then compliance with the IRS will be necessary.  For more information see http://www.irs.gov/charities/index.html?navmenu=menu1 .

No! NASA is not looking for hams willing to operate from the planet Mars.  The MARS referred here is the Military Auxiliary Radio System formally known as the Military Affiliate Radio System. 

The program behind MARS started back in November 1925 under the leadership of Captain Thomas C. Rives of the United States Army Signal Corps.  Captain Rives organized a group of amateur radio operators with the intent of utilizing their talents to train soldiers how to use the new technology of radio communications.  He would also use the organization, which was then called Auxiliary Amateur Radio System (AARS), to assist in research and development of radio equipment to be used by the US Army.  AARS members could also provide an instant pool of already trained radio operators for military operations if needed.

That pool of ready trained operators proved very useful when the United States of America was suddenly thrust into war on December 7, 1941.  Many of its members of AARS became military radio operators.  AARS operations along with all amateur radio operations were suspended during the war.  In 1946 AARS was reactivated.

November 1948 AARS changed its name to Military Amateur Radio System (MARS) and was split into two separate groups, the Army MARS, and the newly formed United States Air Force MARS.  (The USAF became a separate branch of the US military on September 18, 1947.  Formally it was known as the Army Air Corp.)

MARS kept its acronym but changed its name to Military Affiliate Radio System on September 2, 1952. The Navy-Marine Corps MARS program was established on August 17, 1962.

The MARS program became well known for its handling of messages and phone patches for military personnel serving overseas.  Modern email and cell phones has almost eliminated the need for MARS to handle personal messages for those serving in the military. 

December 23, 2009 MARS again changed its name while keeping it well known acronym.  The new name for MARS is the Military Auxiliary Radio System.  The Department of Defense give the following definition of a military auxiliary: “an organized body of volunteers prepared to supplement the uniformed services or any designated civilian authorities by provision of specialized autonomous services when called upon or when situations warrant.”  The Civil Air Patrol and the Coast Guard Auxiliary are two examples of Military Auxiliaries. 

With the name change came a modification of its primary mission.  MARS now will provide auxiliary emergency communications for US Military and other federal agencies such as FEMA and Homeland Security.  MARS may now assist state, local, and select private and public agencies with emergency communications. The new focus of the MARS’ mission is homeland security. 

West Tennessee Amateur Radio Society (WTARS) steps forward to promote amateur radio and is to be commended for humanitarian efforts.

It all started when Bob Alper, W6KT, went to visit his friend and fellow ham Gary King, W4WKZ, in November 2008.  It was then that Bob discovered Gary’s 60 foot tower and antenna array had been damaged.  Gary is legally blind so he was not able to make repairs to his tower and antenna system himself. 

Along with his other amateur related activities, before his antennas were damaged, Gary daily reported weather conditions in Medon, TN, Gary’s home town, to the National Weather Service in Memphis, TN but after his antenna system was damaged he was unable to operate his station and thus not able to send in his daily weather report. 

Bob related Gary’s plight to other members of WTARS and the club was able to purchase a new tower and antenna system for Gary.  In the summer’s heat of July 2009 a group of WTARS members gathered at Gary’s home and poured 880pounds of concrete, which they mixed in five gallon buckets, to form a base for the new tower.  It took four more months to obtain the rest of the parts needed to complete the tower and antennas and install them. 

Finally after over a year of silence W4WKZ was back on the air on December fifth of 2009. 

WTARS is not unlike other clubs.  It does not have a large pot of money waiting to be used for such projects but it does have member who are willing to give of their time and personal finances to help a fellow ham in need. 

Thank you WTARS members for being an excellent example to us all.