Page 2 - Dresden Buzz 11-29-24

PAGE 2 | LOCAL NEWS NOVEMBER 29 - DECEMBER 12, 2024
COVER STORY
Dresden Radio Club celebrates completion of

$1,500 grant from the Straker Foundation

by Lynette Dotson

NEXT DEADLINE
December 9 at 5PM

NEXT ISSUE
December 13

DRESDEN: Bonnie Longaberger Senior Center,
Scotties Den, Dari Twist, Circle K, Thirsty Dawg,
The Warehouse Restaurant, Dresden Branch
Library, Creno’s Pizza, Beauty By Design, Dresden
Buzz, Main Street Pizzeria, The Mill, Agin
Hardware, Certified, Subway, Shrivers Pharmacy,
Humble Heart, Smore Baskets
FRAZEYSBURG: New Beginnings Drive Thru,
Dairy Queen, Frazeysburg Village Office,
Subway, Duchess Gas Station, Fallsburg Pizza
NASHPORT: Crenos Pizza

ZANESVILLE: Kroger, The Muskingum County
YMCA, John McIntire Library, Muskingum County
Center for Seniors, Mass Media Comics,
Denny’s Classic Diner, Fieldhouse Family Sports
and Wellness Center, Donald’s Donuts,
The Zanesville-Muskingum County Conference
& Welcome Center, The Elk’s Eye Art Market,
Walgreens (Military Rd.), The Carr Center
SOUTH ZANESVILLE: South Branch Library,
Darrell’s Donuts, Central Pike Coffee Co. The Dresden Elementary Amateur Radio Station Club KD8NOM took to the radios in two groups to demonstrate the skills they have learned and to showcase
the new equipment they are now able to put into use thanks to the generosity of the J.W. & M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation. Lynette Dotson
AVONDALE: Tina’s Diner
WEST PIKE: Litten Home Hardware, The Dresden Elementary Amateur Ra- states are at, where the countries are
West Side Market dio Station (D.E.A.R.S.) recently celebrat- at, “how far did I talk today” where it is
ed the completion of their $1,500 grant on the map, curriculum tie-ins, there are
NEW CONCORD: Scott’s Diner, Wally’s Pizza, from the J.W. & M.H. Straker Charitable math tie-ins,” said club founder and ad-
New Concord Branch Library, Creno’s Pizza, Orme Foundation. Parents, advisors, and a visor Jim Mayercak.
Hardware, Arena Cuts
special guest from the Straker Founda- The club utilizes expensive radio
DUNCAN FALLS: Duncan Falls/Philo Branch tion, Susan Holdren, the President and equipment that up until receiving the
Library Executive Director all watched as the funding from the Straker Foundation
club’s members took to the radios to was difficult to store safely and securely.
ROSEVILLE: Roseville Branch Library communicate with other amateur radio Plus, setting up and tearing down the
operators. equipment took extra time. Additionally,
“It’s just really fun to go out into the there was not an easy way to transport
community and see our dollars at work,” the equipment for off site operating.
said Holdren. “We especially have a soft With the grant money, the club was able
spot for those things that children work to solve all of the challenges pertaining Larry Miskimens works with the students as they
with. to their equipment by purchasing and make contact with other radio amateurs in the
Dresden Elementary is one of the implementing rugged and lightweight country. Lynette Dotson
few in the US that offers a club where cases and some additional accesso-
elementary students can communicate ries that completed each station. Each throughout the community since the or-
with other radio amateurs within the case has everything the students need ganization was founded in 1994.
state and beyond. The club sometimes packed securely and portably. “We try to do as much as we can.
even makes contact with operators from “Some of the accessories we pur- We try to hit all areas of Muskingum
other countries! chased for the cases were speakers County, and as you know Muskingum
“Some of these kids competed in that are mounted inside the case, and County doesn’t have a lot of population
February in a contest against all other a meter so we know how much power but it does have a lot of square miles
schools, elementary, middle school, is going out and that the match is cor- so from Dresden to Roseville to New
high schools, and colleges and we came rect with the antenna, everything is in Concord and so on. So we really try and
out number one in North America as one box along with a power supply and make a concerted effort to hit a lot of
an elementary club and our score was there is a fan to keep everything cool be- areas. Last spring we were very heavy
even better than some middle school fore all of that had to be set up individu- on Dresden, we did a lot of work on the
and even high schools. They are listen- ally and wired individually and it took ballparks, and we have really done tons
ing to what they are doing, and who they so much time, now we just bring in the at the pool. But this is different, those
are talking to. The kids learn where the case, set it there, connect the antenna were all outside things, which of course
and we are on the air,” said Mayercak. we like, but we thought it would be good
“Before when we had a field day which to do an inside thing too that kids can
is an event where we have overnight op- do especially when the weather is not
erations and a trailer, we would have to good, but still, they can be active - not on
take everything in cardboard boxes and their screens, we like that. Things that
set it all up,” explained Mayercak. “This can get kids away from the screens, and
summer we had a field day and every- even though they are individual here
thing was right in the box, so plug in the they are interacting with each other as
cable and off we go.” well,” said Holdren.
“Our heartfelt thanks go to the Strak- To learn more about The Straker Foun-
er Charitable Foundation for making dation please visit strakerfoundation.
this possible for our distinctive group of org. The D.E.A.R.S. can be found on
students,” Mayercak said with apprecia- Facebook at facebook.com/KD8NOM.
Jim Mayercak, the Founder and Advisor of the tion.
D.E.A.R.S. stands next to Susan Holdren, Presi- The Straker Foundation has been
dent and Executive Director of the J.W. & M.H. instrumental in generously providing
Straker Charitable Foundation and watch as a much needed funds to numerous or- HAVE A POSITIVE NEWS TIP?
table of club members go live to speak over the ganizations and educational programs CALL OR TEXT 740-270-2408.
©2018-2024 Dotson Design Studio, LLC airways. Lynette Dotson