The Bay-Lakes Council Amateur Radio Club (ARC) is a group of Amateur Radio Operators dedicated to advancing the hobby of amateur radio to Scouts and Scouters throughout Bay-Lakes Council. We represent Bay-Lakes council with the World Jamboree on the Air organizer and implement JOTA activities in support of the worldwide event. 

At it's core, the mission of the Bay-Lakes Council Amateur Radio Club (ARC) is to license, and get on the air, as many Scouts and Scouters as possible. As a means to that aim, we are frequently engaged in the following initiatives:

• Jamboree on the Air (JOTA)

  • • We will coordinate JOTA activities with local Amateur Radio Clubs throughout Bay-Lakes territory in every District..

    • We will train, equip, and enable amateur radio teams to set up and conduct JOTA operations in Bay-Lakes Districts without an active Club to assist.

    • We will work towards gaining approval to coordinate and host an annual JOTA Camporee the 3rd weekend in October.

• Scout Camps on the Air (SCOTA)

  • • The Bay-Lakes Council ARC will file as a Trustee with the FCC to be assigned a -BSA suffix amateur radio call sign.

    • The ARC will coordinate with Committee and Council fundraising designees to obtain monies necessary to equip a fully functional VHF/UHF/HF “Ham Shack” in the following Bay Lakes properties: Bear Paw Scout Camp, Gardner Dam Adventure Base, Camp Hiawatha, Camp Rokilio. (listed in priority order)

    • The ARC will coordinate with Camp Rangers and dedicated/skilled volunteers to maintain equipment and radio room without additional burdens on Camp Ranger and other paid staff.

• FCC Licensing

  • • We will actively recruit existing FCC licensed adult volunteers to obtain their Volunteer Examiner credentials through the ARRL.

    • The ARC will schedule regular ‘Ham Cram & Exam’ sessions to teach, train, and license registered BSA Scouts and Scouters.

    • The ARC and Bay-Lakes Radio Scouting Committee will draft and distribute literature to explain the benefits of an FCC Amateur Radio License, and steps towards licensure to be given to each recipient of the Radio Merit Badge.

    • The ARC will present newly licensed Scouts and Scouters with their BSA Amateur Radio Operator rating strip at a Court of Honor, Roundtable, or other suitable assembly.

• Unit Programming

  • • The ARC will provide educational and volunteer resources Units can request to assist with rank advancement, NOVA activities, and various merit badges.

    • The ARC will assist all Bay Lakes Scouting units with strengthening their programming and camping experiences with radio-related activities including, but not limited to: Amateur radio Direction Finding (Fox Hunts), APRS balloon tracking, International Space Station contacts, electronics/antenna construction, and monitor severe weather patterns while camping using NOAA/NWR frequencies.

• Continuing Education and Training

  • • The ARC will schedule and coordinate a monthly Scout Net on the WECOMM repeater network and Echolink. This will be open to licensed Scouts and Scouters.

    • The ARC will promote the training and activities required for Scouts and Scouters to receive the Morse Code Interpreter Strip, and for Scouters to earn the ARRL Service To Scouting Award with BSA Community Organization Knot.

• Public Engagement & Scout Recruitment

  • • The ARC and Bay-Lakes Radio Scouting Committee will identify and coordinate volunteer and service opportunities for properly licensed Scouts and adult leaders to assist and represent Scouting in uniform. These might include but are not limited to radio communication during Marathon races, ARES exercises, SKYWARN activations, and FEMA and Red Cross public events.

    • The ARC will coordinate with local Amateur Radio Clubs to facilitate “CQ Santa” events for Cub Scout Packs, elementary schools, and other youth groups to talk to the “North Pole” during the month of December.

    • The ARC will promote Bay-Lakes Council at local Hamfests throughout Council territory.

Our Leadership Team

The Bay-Lakes Council Amateur Radio Club operates under the auspices of the Bay-Lakes Council Radio Scouting Subcommittee and the Bay-Lakes Council Board of Directors. 

Past Club Officers

2024 Officers (Founding Officers)

Shawn Niemann W9SLN, President

Mike Moegenburg KE9AGO, Vice-President

Kevin Stanelle KB9SNE, Secretary

Bob McDowell KD9HZB, Treasurer