Robeson County Amateur Radio Society (RCARS)
Time: 6:30 PM
Robeson County EOC
8th and Elm St
Lumberton NC 28358

View Larger Map

Those who did not complete training deadline should continue the courses and send copies to the EC in your County just as soon as you have completed all four on-line courses.  Until you do, you will not be able to work in the EOC or with any served agency.  Please continue to take and complete these classes.  They are IMPORTANT!!!

ALL RADIO AMATEURS OPERATING UNDER ARES/RACES IN THE NC SECTION ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE IS 100, IS 200 AND IS 700.  THOSE AMATEUR OPERATORS THAT MAY BE DEPLOYED TO EOC’s, COMMAND POSTS, OR OTHER POINTS WHERE INTERFACE WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AT ANY LEVEL IS EXPECTED, ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO COMPLETE IS IS-800.B NRF. NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A SUBJECT FOR NEGOTIATION, CONSIDERATION, OR COMMENTARY.  THIS TRAINING IS MANDATORY FOR ALL ARES VOLUNTEERS. 

Use this link to see courses available click here: FEMA INDEPENDENT STUDY (IS) ON-LINE COURSES

To register for courses: CLICK HERE

When need arises, these systems are put at the disposal of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), which in turn operates in conjunction with the county Office of Emergency Management, the American Red Cross, Southeastern Regional Medical Center, as well as the various fire and police services of the county. ARES has no financial structure and owns no radio equipment. It is the role of RCARS to provide financial and material backing for ARES, so that when disaster strikes, the county’s emergency communications can still get through.

Amateur radio operators are disallowed by federal law from receiving payment of any kind for their services. What these men and women do to get messages through in the aftermath of a disaster is done freely out of a desire to serve. These operators are the means of communications of last resort. If all else fails, the amateur radio operator gets the job done, but since they cannot receive pay for their services, RCARS steps in as an enabler. However, RCARS cannot work to keep the communications open without your help.

In addition to being vulnerable to destructive hurricanes, Robeson County has had more tornadoes than any other county in the state. We must have the very best emergency communication systems we can devise.

We cannot prevent disasters from overloading or destroying our usual means of communication. We cannot stop the weather or toxic spills or airplane crashes.

The Robeson County Amateur Radio Society, Inc. is already making plans for even more communication capability:

• A wide range radio repeater capable of covering several counties and linking with other states. What a blessing this would have been during the 1984 tornado!
• Station equipment, so that Robeson County can call on outside assistance and information through a state-wide network during times of large scale crises.
• The installation of antennas at all primary designated shelters in the county. Four are already in place, but we still need more to enable communication with emergency services.

Your Contribution Can Make It Happen!

Contributions should be made payable to:

Robeson County Amateur Radio Society, Inc.
% Bill Chism, Treasurer
1021 Riverside Blvd.
Lumberton, NC 28358

For your records, our Internal Revenue Service Employer Identification Number (EIN) is: 56-1836151

RCARS membership is drawn exclusively from the active membership of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and consists of well trained operators, many of whom have already proven their ability in the face of emergencies and disasters. These men and women are constantly improving their knowledge and abilities through training exercises and simulated emergency tests.

        The Robeson County Amateur Radio Society, Inc. is a non-profit organization incorporated under the laws of the State of North Carolina.  It is the purpose of this corporation, as a charitable corporation, to develop, implement, and maintain communication systems and equipment to be used by amateur radio operators during times of emergency or disaster in such a manner a would best contribute to public safety and service of the community; and, to contribute to the safety and welfare of the public during times of communication overload or breakdown by enabling the governmental and public services agencies of Robeson County, North Carolina, to avail themselves of the benefit of these systems of communication as implemented by amateur radio operators licensed by the Federal Communication Commission and trained in emergency operations.

ARTICLE II: OFFICERS

    1.  The officers of this corporation shall be as follows:  President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and such other officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time elect.  Any two or more offices may be held by the same person, but no officer may act in more than one capacity where action of two or more officers is required.

    2.  Each officer shall be elected by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, and each officer shall hold office for two years unless the death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification of said officer shall require his successor to be elected and qualified.

    3.  Any officer so elected by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment the best interest of the corporation will be served thereby.

    4.  Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors, or to the President of Secretary of the corporation.  Any such resignation shall take effect upon its acceptance by the Board of Directors or by the President of Secretary of the corporation.

    5.  A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal or disqualification, or any other cause, shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the manner prescribed by these By-laws for regular appointments or elections to such offices.

ARTICLE III:  DUTIES OF OFFICERS

    1.  The President shall preside at all meetings of the general membership of the corporation.  He is charged with the responsibility of conducting the meetings in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws.  He is to decide questions of order and polity in the meetings.  He is to require due observance of the Articles of Incorporation and the By-Laws of this organization.  He is to perform all the duties that normally pertain to this office in conformity with the Articles of Incorporation and the By-Laws.  He shall give a report at the annual general meeting.

    2.  The Vice-President shall assume all the duties of the President when the President is absent or unable to act.  He shall take the chair when requested to do so by the President.

    3.  The Secretary shall keep accurate records of all meetings and actions of the general membership and of the Board of Directors in a book dedicated to that purpose.  He shall present the minutes of each previous meeting to the respective body for its approval, and these minutes shall then be signed and attested by him.  He shall be responsible for all correspondence of the corporation and keep a proper file thereof, bringing pertinent correspondence to the attention of the Board of Directors at each meeting.  He shall maintain the corporate seal.  He shall generally perform all the duties that regularly derive from this office.  He shall report at the annual general meeting.

    4.  The Treasurer shall maintain the financial records of the corporation in a neat and proper fashion, and these records shall be open to inspection by any member of the corporation at any reasonable time.  The monies of the corporation shall be kept by him in a local bank of good and sound reputation.  The Treasurer shall pay all just and legal debts owed by the corporation as he is directed by the Board of Directors and collect all debts owed to the corporation.  He shall retain and file all cancelled checks, statements and receipts.  The Treasurer shall give a financial report to the Board of Directors at the beginning of each quarter of the year; and after his books have been delivered to the Board of Directors for a thorough audit he shall render a full financial statement to the general membership at each annual meeting.  The Treasurer shall be responsible for answering any and all inquiries from Federal or State taxing authorities.

ARTICLE IV:  DIRECTORS

    1.  The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by its Board of Directors.

    2.  The number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be no more than seven.  The number of directors may be changed by an amendment to these By-Laws, but the number of directors on the Board should never be fewer than five.  [See amendment dated 2-20-97at the end of this document.]  The Charter Directors will serve a term of five years, after which time a system of staggered terms will be put into place.  Each director may be reelected at the end of his term.  Each director must be a resident of Robeson County.

    3.  Except as provide in number 5 of this Article IV, the directors shall be elected by the general membership at the annual meeting.  Those persons who receive the highest number of votes shall be deemed to have been elected.

    4.  Any director may be removed at any time with or without cause by a vote of the majority of the members entitled to vote at an election of the directors.  If any directors are so removed, new directors may be elected at the same meeting.

    5.  Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled by an affirmative vote of the majority of the remaining directors even though less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director.  A director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his predecessor in office.  Any directorship to be filled by reason of any increase in the authorized number of directors shall be filled only by an election at an annual meeting or a special meeting of members called for that purpose.

    6.  The chairman of the Board of Directors, and other Board officers, shall be elected by the directors from their number at any meeting of the Board.  The chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and perform such other duties as may be directed by the Board.

    7.  An annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held at least one week prior to the annual general meeting each year at a time and place to be determined by the Board of Directors.

    8.  If a special meeting of the Board of Directors is needed, the Chairman may call it on his own initiative.  If requested by two or more directors to call a meeting, the Chairman shall proceed immediately to do so in accordance with the terms of Article IV, 9 below.

    9.  Regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without prior notice.  The person or persons calling a special meeting of the Board of Directors shall, at least one week before the meeting, give notice thereof by any usual means of communication.  Such notice need not specify the purpose for which the meeting is called.

    10.  Any director may waive notice of any meetings as may be allowed by law.  The attendance by the director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting unless prohibited by law.

    11.  Four of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors.  [Amended 2-20-97]

    12.  Except as otherwise provided in these By-Laws, the act of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.  Action taken by the majority of the directors without a meeting is nevertheless board action if written consent to the action in question is signed by all the directors and filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the board, whether done before or after the action is taken.  Vote by written proxy given into the hands of the secretary before the meeting is allowed.  At any meeting the Board may also vote to meet again on its own adjournment.

    13.  The Board of Directors shall be charged with the responsibility of appointing and overseeing the individual trustees of the various repeaters owned or controlled by the corporation, but all in conformity with an agreement executed between Danny Hampton and James B. MacLeod.

ARTICLE V:  MEMBERSHIP

    1.  Inasmuch as the corporation must rely on technically trained personnel to function, particularly in situations requiring emergency communications, those in the general community who are eligible to be members in the corporation are those licensed amateur radio operators who are members in good standing of the Robeson County Amateur Radio Emergency Service which is a public service arm of the American Radio Relay League, and members in good standing of ARRL.  ARRL dues will be paid through RCARS.

    2.  The annual fee for membership is twenty dollars due on the date of the annual meeting of members in January of each year.  Those joining anytime from January to June will pay the entire twenty dollars; those joining anytime from July to December will pay ten dollars.  Failure to pay dues on time means immediate loss of membership unless prior arrangements are made.  A family membership for people living in the same household will be thirty-five dollars a year.  Both ARRL and RCARS dues will be due at the same time.

    3.  The annual meeting of the membership shall be held in the month of January of each year primarily for the purpose of electing directors of the corporation and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.  The day fixed for the annual meeting of the membership shall be determined by the Board.

    4.  Meetings of the general membership of the corporation shall be monthly unless the Board deems it necessary to change them.  They will be held at a time and place to be set by the Board of Directors, such time and place to be in conformity with the wishes of the majority of the membership.

    5.  The membership of the corporation may be called to meet on other occasions by the Chairman of the Board.  Written notice sent by the secretary five days prior to the meeting is required for any such meetings.  Only those matters stated in such a call for this meeting can be considered.

    6.  Whenever requested by one-fourth of the membership or by ten members, whichever number is smaller, the President shall call a meeting of the membership not less than five days and not more than ten days after such request has been made and after notice has been sent to all the members of the corporation.

    7.  One-fourth of the membership of the corporation or ten members, whichever number is smaller, shall constitute a quorum for the general membership to convene a meeting at which business may be transacted in the name of the corporation.  A simple majority is required for action to be taken on behalf of the corporation by the membership in a duly constituted meeting.  At any meeting the general membership may also vote to meet again on its own adjournment.

    8.  Inasmuch as the purpose of the Robeson County Amateur Radio Society, Inc.  is to be a publicly supported, non-profit organization, the general membership will pledge to support by word and deed the solicitation of funds and goods as is necessary for the support of its activities as delineated in the purpose stated at the beginning of this document.  Such support will be agreed to by the payment of annual dues.

ARTICLE VI:  AMMENDMENTS   

    These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the general membership at any regular or called meeting as long as the purpose is stated in the notice duly given for the meeting, all in conformity with the general provisions for law regarding the amendment to the By-Laws for non-profit corporations.

AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS OF

ROBESON COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY, INC. 

Amendment 1.  Article IV.2.  The phrase “but the number of directors on the Board should never be fewer than five…” is deleted so that the article shall read as follows:

 ”The number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be no more than seven.  The number of directors may be changed by an amendment to these By-Laws.  The Charter Directors will serve a term of five years, after which time a system of staggered terms will be put into place.  Each director may be reelected at the end of his term.  Each director must be a resident of Robeson County.

Amendment 2.  Article IV.11.  The phrase “Four of…” is changed to “A simple majority of…” so that the article reads as follows:

“A simple majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors.”

Passed 2-20-97

1.  GENERAL INFORMATION

    (1)  The repeater is to be operated in the two meter amateur radio band on a frequency determined and set by the coordinator of the Southeastern Repeater Association (SERA), in compliance with all  law and the rules and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission.

    (2)  The repeater is to be located and housed on the site of Channel 31 PBS television transmitter facility located in northern Robeson County, North Carolina.

    (3)  The repeater will be operated in such a proper manner as to cause no inconvenience to the function of Channel 31 television transmitting equipment.

2.  PURPOSES FOR ESTABLISHING THE REPEATER.

    (1)  The primary purpose for the building and erection of this repeater is to afford additional means of communication which are to be placed at the disposal of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, (ARES) in the event of emergency or disaster 

    (2)  Further implementation of such public service is to be realized by having this repeater function as a fully participating member of the Piedmont-Coastal Repeater Network (PCRN).  As a member of the Piedmont-Coastal Repeater Network this repeater will operate within the guidelines established by that organization.

    (3)  The repeater will be used for the purpose of training amateur radio operators in emergency operation by the use of drills and tests.

    (4)  Although of lesser importance than public service, the repeater will also be used for the general enjoyment of amateur radio operation.

3.  OWNERSHIP OF EQUIPMENT

    (1)  It is understood by both Danny Hampton and James B. MacLeod that property and equipment contributed by either one for the establishment of this repeater remains the property of that person, or the property of the organization which he represents holding title to that equipment.

    (2) Neither the ownership nor control of the repeater, either in its entirely or its several parts, may be transferred by any means whatsoever to any third party without the approval of both Danny Hampton and James B. MacLeod so long as this agreement is in effect.

    (3)  The trustee of the repeater, responsible to the Federal Communications Commission for its legal operation, shall be a licensed amateur radio operator agreed upon by both Danny Hampton and James B. MacLeod.

    (4)  Control operators of the repeater shall be appointed by the trustee of the repeater and will serve as control operators until removed from such duty by the trustee or by the agreement of both Danny Hampton and James B. MacLeod.

4.  IN THE EVENT OF DEATH.

    (1)  In the event of the death of either of the parties to this agreement the person designated by will or other proper instrument of the deceased shall take his place, and in all particulars conform to this agreement.

5.  DISSOLUTION OF THE AGREEMENT.

    (1)  This agreement can be declared dissolved by either party following notice being given thereof one week in advance.  The period of advance notice can be waived on the agreement of both parties.

    (2)  Following the dissolution of this agreement the various pieces of equipment and materials used to establish this repeater shall return to the original owners in compliance with 3.(2) above.

6.  VALIDATION OF THE AGREEMENT

In all of these events, amateur radio operators have been called on to supply primary or backup communications for the various emergency services of the county when regular means were disrupted or over-taxed.

There is no reason to believe we will escape more situations in the future. The only time one can plan for disaster is before it strikes.

The Robeson County Amateur Radio Society, Inc. (RCARS) is making plans to be sure the people of this county will have the best chance possible for emergency communication when all other means have been wiped out or are overloaded.

ARES has a Memoranda of Understanding with:

• The American Red Cross
• Salvation Army
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• The National Communications System
• The Associated Public Safety Officers, Inc.

ARES is looking forward to moving its communications room to the new Robeson County Emergency Operations Center in cooperation with the Robeson County Emergency Management.

For additional information on Robeson County ARES, please contact:

Corby Ivey
Robeson County ARES Emergency Coordinator
2103 McMillan Ave
Lumberton, NC 28358-0000
k4cti@aol.com

The W4LBT (club call) repeater on 147.045 MHz, is owned and operated jointly by the Robeson County Amateur Radio Society and the Piedmont Coastal Repeater Network .  It is provided for your enjoyment and emergency purposes.  Both ARES and SKYWARN nets, and the Southeastern North Carolina Traffic Net utilize this repeater.  Please help support this vital repeater in Southeastern North Carolina.

Our repeater W4LBT is at 147.045 MHz (+) no tone, on the UNC-TV 31 Tower just north of Lumberton, NC. The tower is 1000 feet with the repeater antenna located at 835 feet!! The new equipment went online May 7, 1997. It is linkable with The Piedmont-Coastal Repeater Network (PCRN) for members of the group who have the prerequisite codes.   If you are not a member of PCRN we urge you to join today!

Steve Koone, KA4YMY donated the Kantronics KPC3+ TNC.  The TNC has all the latest APRS operating firmware installed.

The 144.390 W4LBT-9 RCARS new APRS digipeater was placed in operation on Saturday November 17, 2007 at around 3 PM.  This digipeater will cover a large area that has been void for a year or so and we’re sure those who operate APRS will be please to see it up and running.

This digipeater is a real workhorse for APRS and packet in Southeastern North Carolina.  Located on the Channel 62 tower in Lumber Bridge NC.  View Map

Danny Hampton
K4ITL
PCRN