Help Wanted:  Volunteer with RATS

We are looking for additional Net Controls to help with the weekly RATS net, Wednesday nights at 8 PM on the 146.88 repeater.  If you're able to serve once or twice a month, or if you'd just like to try it out once and see how it goes, send a note to Robert Czyzewski KB2OYI via board@rats.net.  We'll provide a script.

The club's annual election cycle kicked off at the March membership meeting with the selection of the Nominating Committee.  Jim Rubin W4PKR has volunteered as Chairman, along with Bill Catogni N4WLC and Nathaniel Wooley W1OLE.

The Nominating Committee is seeking candidates to run for the five positions up for election.  This year, the offices of President (Jeff Walton KN4SYE) and Vice President (Judi LeHuquet N4JDI) are up for grabs, along with three Director positions (Dan Bryant N4DOB, Rob Czyzewski KB2OYI, and Rob Marshall KI4MCW).  There are no term limits at RATS, so all of the existing Board members may run again if desired.

Qualified individuals with the time, energy, and desire to keep making RATS a better club are encouraged to make contact with the Nominating Committee.  They can be reached by email at election@rats.net.  All active Full members in good standing (Individual, Family, or Life) are eligible to run for office.

Ballots will be distributed in July with votes due by the start of the August 16 membership meeting.  These positions will serve a two-year term from October 2, 2024 to October 7, 2026.

What we need:  Nominations for each of the five Board positions up for vote in 2024.

How you can help:  If you know someone who would be a good candidate, confirm that they would be willing to run for office and send your nomination to the Nominating Committee via email, election@rats.net.  You may also nominate yourself.

RATS will be participating in ARRL's Summer Field Day June 22 and 23 at Laurel Park in Henrico County.  We need help transporting equipment from our storage unit near Chesterfield Town Center to Laurel Park, hanging antennas, and setting up radios Saturday morning.  If you are available and willing to help, get more information and sign up to volunteer here.

We will also need help taking down the antennas, packing up the radios, cleaning up the Field Day shelter, and returning equipment to the storage unit mid-day Sunday.  You can sign up to volunteer for tear-down here.

You do not need to be a RATS member to volunteer!

First proposed by Steve Crow KG4PEQ in July 2023, the club's Field Day Committee would take on the planning and execution of the two annual Field Day events (summer and winter).  Traditionally the Board has been responsible for Field Day.  This new committee would have full responsibility for planning, setup, execution, tear-down, and after-event activities like log compilation and submission, operating within a budget established by the Board of Directors.  There are two main objectives:  relieve the Board of this responsibility so they can focus on other club needs, and take the RATS Field Day to the "next level" with better promotional efforts, more activities to draw visitors, and enhanced offerings for new and unlicensed operators.

What we need:  Chairperson, up to four additional members.  Any RATS member in good standing qualifies (Individual, Family, Life, or Associate).

How you can help:  Contact the Board of Directors via email if you are interested in kick-starting this program.

Additional information:  See this presentation for more details.

RATS is always looking for presenters who can speak on nearly anything that's even tangentially related to ham radio.  We love hearing from subject matter experts, but some of our best presentations have come from ordinary club members talking about the stuff that interests them.  We realize that presentations can be a little more challenging in the era of Zoom meetings, and our Program Committee has people who can help.  If there's a topic you're passionate about, we'd like to hear about it.

What we need:  Presentations (15-45 minutes of content) for monthly RATS Membership meetings.  Presenters do not need to be RATS members.  Guests welcome.

How you can help:  Contact our Program Committee to get on the calendar or for assistance building your club presentation.

Currently the club's Secretary does the job of disseminating club news to members via the web site and email distribution lists.  While the club does have a presence on Facebook, Twitter/X, and the RVAHams Slack service, publication of club news through these channels is spotty since nobody "owns" that responsibility.  The club's Social Media Manager would become responsible for sharing club news (primarily supplied by the Secretary) and interacting with visitors on the club's social media channels.  Secondarily, the Social Media Manager would monitor the social media platforms for news and information that may be of interest to the membership, and then pass that information to the Secretary for distribution via the newsletter, web site, and other conventional means.

What we need:  One to two people who enjoy hanging out on social media.  Any RATS member in good standing qualifies (Individual, Family, Life, or Associate).

How you can help:  Contact the RATS Secretary if you are interested in volunteeing.