The Canton Amateur Radio Club was founded on Wednesday, January 29, 1941. Our founding officers included President Paul Hughes (W8UIL), Vice-President Mr. Babe Hunker (W8RQK), and Dr. Don Volzer (W8SQW) served as Secretery-Treasurer. Dues collected at the first meeting totaled $1.45.

63 years later, the club now has a total of 110 paying members and a monthly club attendance of 25+ members. We meet on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 7:30pm at the Stark County Sheriff's Office, Lower Level, at 4500 Atlantic Blvd. (US Route 62). Check-ins begin at 7:00pm on the W8AL repeater (146.79-). Click here to get directions. Each meeting is followed by a technical program and refreshments. All (yes, even those without a license) are welcome. Come see what Amateur Radio is all about!

We are an Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) Special Service Club, dedicated to promoting Amateur (Ham) Radio and to provide emergency radio communications for our surrounding communities.

We provide mentoring (pairing up new hams with experienced "Elmers") for new licencees. Every new ham should find his or her "Elmer" -- experience should be shared.

The CARC is active in contesting. Every June, the club holds Field Day, an contest where Amateur Radio Clubs from all over the United States and Canada set up portable stations, using only emergency power, and make as many contacts as possible in 24 hours. In 2003 and 2004, The Canton Amateur Radio Club finished 1st in the Great Lakes Division 2A. We were 18th overall in Division 2A in 2003 and 23rd in 2004. We had 71 people participate in Field Day in 2003 and 69 in 2004.

We publish The Feedline, a bi-monthly newsletter edited by Dale Lamm, NX8J.

We provide VEC Examinations along with the Massillon Amateur Radio Club to local citizens who wish to receive their first Amateur Radio License or local Amateurs who wish to upgrade their licenses.

We provide Technician, General and Amateur Extra License Classes for entry-level, intermediate, and advanced Amateur Radio licenses. These classes are provided free-of-charge (except for the costs to cover the class books).

We provide and maintain a 2 Meter Repeater for the local Amateur Radio community.

We provide or assist in communications for the following:

• Both the Pro Football Hall of Fame Community and Grand Parades
• A W8AL Special Events Station which has made hundreds of contacts with Amateurs throughout the world during Hall of Fame week. The club issues certificates to all stations it contacts during the festivities. Don Perry (WQ8J) has handled the responsibilities of this event for the past 10 years.
• Mock Disaster Drills
• Skywarn communications
• Communications for real disasters such as the Power Outage of 2003 and the Flood of 2003.

If you are interested in seeing first-hand what The Canton Amateur Radio Club is all about, please contact us or come to a club meeting.