Radio Club marks Grand Coulee's first pour
Published 8:00 am Friday, December 20, 2013
Dear Editor,
The Okanogan Amateur Radio Club recognizes First Concrete Pouring at Grand Coulee Dam
Dec. 6th, 1935 was the first “ceremonious pour” of concrete at Grand Coulee Dam. It was the first of a total of 12 million yards, which is enough to pour a sidewalk around the world at the equator twice!
The Okanogan County Amateur Radio Club W7ORC sponsored a “Special Event” celebrating the anniversary of the event, where the Club members used their home radio stations, commonly referred to as “HAM SHACKS” starting at 4 p.m. starting Dec 6th and ending at 4 p.m. Sunday Dec. 8.
During most of the contacts the club would give some facts about the dam and answer questions they may have had about the dam. There were quite a few that did not realize the Grand Coulee Dam was larger than Hoover Dam, some folks did not have any idea where it was and quite a few had been to the dam or had relatives that worked on the dam. And some who had been there raved about how it should be one of the Wonders of the World that everyone should go see. Every Club operator had tales to tell about some of the questions and comments they heard throughout the event.
Each contact was directed to the Clubs web sitewww.w7orc.com and was asked to send their contact information and the Club would send a beautiful e-certificate to them.
They used HF ssb and digital PSK31 modes
After it was over the operators made contact with about 1,300 amateurs around the world, including 6 Continents, 15 Countries, all 50 States and 468 counties in the USA, sharing information about the largest concrete structure in the USA.
For more information on Amateur (HAM) Radio visit the clubs web site www.w7orc.com for the meeting schedules and testing dates to get your Amateur radio license.
Information about Amateur Radio is also available at the ARRL web site http://www.arrl.org/ The National Association for Amateur Radio
73 (meaning “Best regards” in Amateur Radio talk)
Mike Mauk W7MCM – President
Okanogan County Amateur Radio Club
About Gary DeVon
Gary DeVon is the managing editor of the Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune and celebrated his 25th year at the newspaper in August 2012. He graduated from Gonzaga University with a degree in Communications - Print Journalism, with an emphasis in photojournalism. He is a proud alumnus of Oroville High School. His family first settled in Okanogan County in the late 1800s. His parents are Judy DeVon and the late Larry DeVon and he has two younger brothers - Dante and Michael. Many family members still call Oroville home. He has a grown daughter, Segornae Douglas and a young granddaughter, Erin.
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