Great information comes from being involved with fellow hams through the local amateur radio clubs.
I enjoy being apart of the Solivita Radio Club in the Solivita Retirement Community in Poinciana, FL that my mother-in-law lives. I’m an associate member as I don’t live in the community but have easy access. I’ve enjoyed taking part in the club fox hunts, field days and regular monthly meetings on the last Thursday of the month.
Prior to moving into our new home, I was within range to join the regular daily nets on the N4SRC repeater. I still try to make the nets now but need to work on getting a better signal to it being further away from it. I used to be able to hit it with a 8-10W HT, but now I have struggled with my FTM-400XDR in my vehicle parked in my drive-way.
I am also an active member with the Orlando Amateur Radio Club that meets on the first Wednesday of the month up at the Beardall Senior Center in Orlando, FL. I volunteered with OARC for Orlando HamCation in 2023 while attending for my first time. In 2024 I stepped up and joined the HamCation committee as an Assistant Security Chairman.
Along with the local clubs, I am also a member of the ARRL. Both SRC and OARC are ARRL Affliated clubs. I’ve enjoyed taking part in Winter Field Day and Summer Field Day working with SRC.
I also use the Logbook of the World to log my HF contacts. I have also been participating in the VOTA event going on this year.
