Heartland Hams

About the Heartland Hams Amateur Radio Club

Heartland Hams is an organization made up of federally licensed amateur radio operators who live in the heartland of America. Heartland Hams, Incorporated was formed in 1995 as a non- profit organization. The group is made up primarily of amateurs who live in Southwest Iowa and Eastern Nebraska, but the by-laws make membership open to any amateur who has an interest in being a member. Currently there are approximately forty members. We meet on the third Wednesday of each month with adjustments made for holidays or special events.

Our primary activities include Community Service, Emergency Communications, and Amateur Radio Education. We provide communication services for events like the Glenwood Iowa Homecoming Parade, High School band contests and track events and bike rides in the Southwestern Iowa region. Heartland Hams sponsors the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) organizations in four counties in Southwest Iowa. Our educational efforts include classes for those individuals who want to obtain an amateur radio license.

2012 Annual Elections

Heartland Hams held their annual elections Wed night, Jan 18th, and have a new Board of Directors and officers for 2012 as follows: John Titsworth President, Dale Sargent Vice President, Don Brown Secretary, Sharon Sullivan Treasurer, Jack Edmonds and Chris Skinner Board Members at Large.

Heartland Hams are looking forward to another year of growth and are starting out welcoming two new members as of this meeting namely Scott Dunblazier and Gene Thrasher.

Mills Co EMA Director and Ham Larry Hurst gave us a refresher on the status of Emergency Communications relative to the structure of Mills County Emergency Plans. He pointed out the importance of the amateur radio activities associated with emergency service such as Storm Spotting, preparations and planning for helping to restore communications during disasters and emergencies in the area as well as volunteers to assist with various EMA emergency functions in the county.

Our ARRL (Amateur Radio Relay League) Mills County Emergency Coordinator Bill Pugsley, who leads our ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) Group providing this interface with Mills County EMA, reported on the status of plans for developing and funding an emergency repeater system to add to the capability of this group to help out with the above emergencies.

We are looking forward to planning another year of additional activities including Amateur Radio Field Days, assisting community events with communications such as High School track meet and Band field events, helping with the Glenwood Home Coming Parade, various bike ride events, and fund raising at the field kitchen during Keg Creek Days and at our annual Hamfest gathering.

Our meeting had members present from as far as Weeping Water, Bellevue, and Omaha NE, as well as Valisca and Shenandoah. We are always looking for new members and anyone interested can contact our Secretary, Don Brown.