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HISTORY OF WHERE AND WHEN THE NAVY CLUB BEGAN 3 MARCH 1979
Back
in 1979 a few Navy Veterans were meeting on the amateur radio bands each
morning on 75 meters, most of them being from Florida...This went on for
a few months...The few seemed to be having fun meeting each
morning...One morning one of these fine hams came into my office, by the
name of Oliver Loventhal W4AHZ...He asked me if I would meet him at his
office the next morning...Lovie, as he was known, was the Civil Defense
Director of Broward County, Florida at the time...He said that another
ham from Ft Myers was going to meet with him and he was going to try to
get a few more from our area to meet with them also...The ham from Ft
Myers was our founder, Irv Reeves WB4BSW...Also attending was George
Graveson K4JI from Plantation...George had something come up that he
couldn’t make it...When we met at Lovies office the next morning, Irv
had already been working on a program to set up the “NAVY AMATEUR RADIO
CLUB”, known today to us members as “NARC”...It looked like things were
going to get started with a little help from a few Navy Veteran
hams...The Club started out on 75 meters...After a short time there were
other Navy men hearing about our venture and Irv started a broader net
on the 40 meter band where we still operate each morning...The
frequencies have changed over the years due to foreign broadcast
stations and QRM...The first Roster, as I remember, was put out by Larry
Pierce W4PGD #005 whom was our long time secretary...There were only 44
members on that roster, which I still have a copy of in my files...Of
these 44 members, there are 36 of them now silent keys...After members
were coming aboard there was a number system started, which we still use
to this date...I have to mention that Irv had a very good friend and
helper that worked with him on the west coast as they both lived in Ft
Myers at the time, and still is net controller on the 3.854 net at 0900
each morning...His name is Al McMullen K4IGI #006...He now resides in
Inverness with his retired navy bride Marilyn...(NOTE: Al went SK on
12/14/2007)...I also must mention that Irv’s son, Al Reeves #561 checks
in with us on the 3.854...So, you can see that in 1979 with a membership
of 44 to where it is today with over 700 member numbers and of that over
200 are active dues paying members...We can thank Irv for starting this
very special time we spend with each other for a few minutes each
morning...29 years of progress and pride...I have not mentioned the fine
reunions and other items I could expound on...Maybe at a later
date...Submitted by Jack WA4ZHX #48...5/15/2008
Eligibility requirements is current or past honorable service in any of
the following. United States or Canadian Navy, Coast Guard, Marine
Corps, or any reserve components of these services. Please provide a
"Copy" of any one of the following documents: Current I.D. Card (Active,
Retired or Reserve), final DD-214, or discharge certificate.
Upon acceptance you will be provided with a new member package, which
includes a copy of the current roster, a membership certificate, a copy
of the club bylaws, and a member I.D. Card. We are looking forward to
hearing from you soon and talking with you on 7.245 MHz NARC Net, 0700
ELT (Eastern Local Time), 7 days a week.
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