Local hams mark key date in radio

On April 18, World Amateur Radio Day will be observed by amateurs (ham operators) internationally and their associations such as the ARRL, American Radio Relay League.

The ARRL and other associations are part of the IARU, International Amateur Radio Union, which was formed in Paris on April 18, 1925.

Morgan City and St. Mary Parish are represented by the Bayouland Emergency Amateur Radio Service, BEARS, which was organized in 1994 and is observing 29 years of service to St. Mary Parish.  The club is always on standby to help with emergency communication during not only hurricanes but other emergencies that involve lack of communication. 

On another note, the club is very active in promoting not only the parish but local organizations during events they are staging.

The first event this year will be a special event station on the banks of the Teche in Franklin for the Black Bear Festival and will be Saturday, May 6, and also highlight Franklin’s Main Street Main to Main.  Due to the COVID shutdown, this will be the first Bear Festival in three years, and everyone is excited to be able to set up this station. BEARS says the special event station is popular with hams throughout the United States who look forward to making a radio contact and hearing about the festival, Franklin and Bayou Teche. .The ham radio station will be set up on the bayou side and is open to all visitors who would like to hear some of the contacts and conversations with hams from many different states.

Anyone interested in becoming a ham operator is especially welcome to come visit.