History of the Amador County Amateur Radio Club

An Excerpt from the Twenty-Five Year Club History

The ham radio operators in the Amador County area gradually found each other on the air. They then began to meet at Dave’s Mexican Restaurant in Pine Grove around the time of 1979 or 1980. In the spring of 1982 they organized the group with a Constitution and By Laws and called themselves the Amador County Radio Club. Ron Brown WA6WIY was the first president. The meetings were held on the first Thursday of the month at 7:30 PM. Summer meetings were first held at the outdoor facilities of Faith Lutheran Church on Hwy 88 near Red Corral, CA. During the school sessions, the meetings were moved to the Pioneer School.

In 1982 the club had 12 members. Several years later the roster was pushing up to 100 hams in an age range of 12 to “75 or 80.” Club members represent various occupations such as carpenters, sheet metal workers, engineers, lawyers, lumber company workers, etc.

No one really knew how many amateur operators were in the community until they started the club. Several of the charter members were already members of the Sacramento Club. However, the Amador organization became popular as it grew larger and because it staged programs that attracted the hams from Sacramento and nearby counties.

In subsequent years, the club met regularly in the Amador County Senior Center. This location served the club for many years, and was central to the membership.