MDARC

MDARC and ARRL Member Sean Donelan, KM6NGN, of Concord, California, is the winner of the 2020 Congressional App Challenge (CAC) for California's 11th District, according to an announcement from US Representative Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11). Donelan, a 9th grader at Northgate High School, designed and created NetHam: The Public Service Event Coordinator's Third Hand. "My app is a radio that partially automates the more arduous and monotonous tasks of being the main operator of an ...amateur radio voice net. These tasks include automated sign-in of operators, easy tracking of participants without lengthy radio conversations, and an operator attention-keeper/attention-caller," Donelan told ARRL. "The point of these features is to allow a radio net control station to focus on the more important task of relaying pertinent information around a radio network, rather than focusing on constantly reciting and editing operator and event participant rosters." Congratulations, Sean!

Woo-hoo! Brian and Patricia Yee donated a 1985 AM General Hummer to Cars2ndChance.com. Brian is a member of MDARC. Santa came early to MDARC.org and the Rotary this year. #Cars2ndChance #RotaryClub #DonateYourCarsForCharity Helping raise money for MDARC’s budget in 2021. Donate a vehicle , running or not before the end of the year to receive a 2020 tax benefit. Thank you, Brian and Patricia! We very much appreciate the contribution.

Registration is open for the following courses & classes: * Technician License Course Each Tuesday, Jan. 12 - Mar. 2, 2021 (8 sessions) All 2021 Technician license classes will be held via Zoom.... * General Class License Course Each Tuesday evening, Apr. 13 - Jun. 8, 2021 (9 Sessions) All General license class sessions will be held via Zoom. * Extra Class License Course Each Tuesday, Aug. 3 - Oct. 5, 2021 (10 sessions) Register now; the Extra license class is almost full! All Extra license class sessions will be held via Zoom. The complete 2021 license schedule can be found at: http://www.mdarc.org/activities/education/Classes When replying to emails, always include/add your call sign if you have one, OR your initials in the SUBJECT line of the email. We send multiple emails with the same subject and your call sign or initials will make your response unique. Please set you filter to allow [email protected] If you have a question that is NOT about signing up for the license classes, please refer to www.MDARC.org or send an email to [email protected]

The pandemic has changed MDARC’s finances because Pacificon was cancelled. In case you or a friend have an extra vehicle and are considering donating it before the end of the 2020 tax year, MDARC is a vehicle donation partner with the Rotary Club Cars2ndChance.org car program. Donated vehicles, running or not, are handled two ways: Sold either at a worldwide auction with 1.6 million bidders or sold on a lot in Concord by Rotary, usually for more money than at the auction. The... condition of the vehicle and $$ to repair determine which way the vehicle will be sold. We get calls asking if we will take a vehicle without a battery because we took the battery out three years ago because dad shouldn’t drive anymore. Yes we will take it. Donors will receive a 1098(c) tax deduction form after the sale of the donated vehicle. Currently if it sells for under $500 the tax benefit is $500. Vehicles that sell for over $500, the tax benefit is the actual sale price. No telling if the tax benefit will change in 2021, so please consult your tax professional for up-to-date information on tax benefits. MDARC and Rotary charities split the proceeds 50/50. So far the Rotary Food Bank vehicle program in 2020 has generated $50,000 to the Contra Costa/Solano Food Bank on the way to $100,000 and another $70,000 split with our other charity partners. Please contact Rich, K6REL, at [email protected] for more information or to donate a vehicle to benefit MDARC. Thank you!

The 2021 MDARC Education and training classes are now online - http://www.mdarc.org/activities/education/Classes Tell your friends so they can get a license or upgrade. Register for the Following Courses & Classes... All License Class Sessions to be Held via Zoom Technician License Course Each Tuesday, Jan. 12 - Mar. 2, 2021 (8 sessions) Technician Class License Testing General Class License Course Each Tuesday evening, Apr. 13 - Jun. 8, 2021 (9 Sessions) General Class License Testing Auxiliary Amateur Radio Class Tuesday, Jul. 20, 2021 (1 Session) Topic: Emergency Communications Free! All are Welcome. Auxiliary Amateur Radio Class Tuesday, Jul. 27, 2021 (1 Session) Topic: Emergency Communications Free! All are Welcome Extra Class License Course-2021 Each Tuesday, Aug. 3 - Oct. 5, 2021 (10 sessions) Extra Class License Testing Auxiliary Amateur Radio Class Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021 (1 Session) Topic TBD Free! All are Welcome. Auxiliary Amateur Radio Class Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021 (1 Session) Topic TBD Free! All are Welcome. If you have a question that is NOT about signing up for the classes please refer to www.MDARC.org or email MDARC's PIO: [email protected]

The General license Zoom class starts in less than a week! Registration Available Now! MDARC.org will be holding a 9 week course where you can learn everything you need to upgrade from your Technician license to 2nd level General license.... The General is now a ZOOM Class starting Tuesday August 4th, 2020. Classes are from 7:00-9:00 p.m. except for the first class which starts at 6:30 p.m. CHECK IN for classes begins up to 30 minutes before class starts. Complete class calendar and registration link: http://www.mdarc.org/activities/education/Classes Once registered we will send class material and the weekly zoom link. The auto response at [email protected] will answer more class questions. Be sure to tell your friends they do NOT need to learn Morse code! The fee for each License Class level is $10 paid online at the time of online registration. If you have a question that is NOT about signing up for the classes please refer to www.MDARC.org or email MDARC at [email protected] .