Hamfesters Radio Club
History
Summary - Detailed history on following page
Please contact Jim, KB9CYL, if you have any club artifacts, paperwork, or other momentos to donate or "offload" on him!
HAMFESTERS RADIO CLUB - W9AA
PO Box 102 Bedford Park, IL 60499-0102
Our club was formed by 10 amateur radio operators in 1933. To give you an idea of who we are I will quote from our club constitution. "The club is a nonprofit organization, incorporated in the State of Illinois, of persons interested in Amateur Radio, who desire to promote a greater knowledge of Amateur Radio and electronics, to cooperate in civic activities needing communications, and to take a general interest in all matters concerning Amateur Radio." In 1934 Hamfesters operated a demonstration station at the Century of Progress here in Chicago.
Since that time the club has put on many radio demonstrations at civic events, Shopping Malls etc. and once a year at one of our meetings we have an "Open House" to show visitors the many facets of Amateur Radio. Our Emergency trailer goes to many events to show what a typical Ham operation is like. We also participate in a nation wide emergency event called Field Day and operate using only some sort of emergency power.
Once a year Hamfesters holds classes to help people obtain an Amateur Radio License and once a Month some of our members hold license testing sessions in cooperation with the FCC, At the present time Hamfesters has 225 members of all ages, occupations and interests. Our meetings are held at the Crestwood Civic Center at Crestwood IL and all visitors are welcome. One of the meeting highlights years ago was a talk by Dr. Lee Deforest who was the developer of the vacuum tube.
The first week in August the club puts on a "Hamfest" at the Will County Fair Grounds in Peotone, IL. A Hamfest is our version of a Flea Market and features much Radio and Computer equipment.
For further information you can contact our national Amateur Radio Organization (ARRL), 225 Main Street, Newington CT 06111 or at www.arrl.org
Info via Historian: Wanda, W9CT
Contact the club Historian, Jim,
KB9CYL for more information.
April 16, 2007