New Fee Proposed by Forest Service
A $1,400 per year new fee is being proposed for each communications site on National Forest land. The VVARA has two repeater sites which will cost the club $2,800 per year if this goes through. That is practically the entire budget for the club.
Comments can be made to the Forest Service before February 22nd to Joey Perry, Program Manager - Communications Uses:
joey.perry@usda.gov
Please send Ms. Perry an email explaining that our amateur radio sites are used by more than hobbyists. They are available 24/7 for emergency communications and used by trained volunteers for several emergency groups including the Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management. The repeaters are also used for communications during public events in the area. The VVARA is a non-profit all volunteer organization and would be paying the same amount as commercial cell sites. Loss of these repeater sites will be devastating to amateur radio and the services we provide.
VVARA Christmas Luncheon December 4, 2021
VVARA Club Meeting November 13, 2021
VVARA Club Meeting October 20, 2021
Special thanks to Dr. Curtis James for his informative talk about "Thunderstorms". The meeting was held at Embry-Riddle Aernautical University (ERAU) in Prescott.
