Electronic and Wireless Communications Clubs
In 2004, Dennis Caney, WD8BPT, a local electrician and amateur radio operator, wanted to get his grandchildren interested in Amateur Radio. Being a creative and out-of-the-box thinker, Dennis decided to start an Amateur Radio Club at Central Middle School. The club was a great success over the years with many students earning their Amateur Radio Licenses, and many more were introduced into the magical world of electronics and amateur radio. Even the faculty sponsor, Jennifer Lenon, earned her license, call sign KD8BUM. Many MARC members have donated their time and talents to the club over the years.
In anticipation of the closure of Central Middle School at the end of the 2012–13 school year, the club was moved to the high school level to engage the more advanced students in STEM activities, with the intention of moving back into the middle schools once the high school program was established.
Dennis Caney and Dennis Klipa, N8ERF, approached Janet Greif, MHS principal, with a proposal which was readily accepted by her along with the Midland Public Schools administration. Since the proposal did not include funding support from Midland Public Schools, the proposal was to open the club to all high school students in Midland County. The cost in terms of both equipment and volunteer hours would be prohibitive to implement in multiple schools and it would be a shame to limit participation by area students outside of Midland High.
The team developed a plan and engaged a campaign to raise the necessary funds and implemented the club in the fall of 2013, with Andrew Fawcett, KD8ULJ, the physics teacher, as the faculty sponsor. Originally, the club was called the Midland High School Amateur Radio Club (MHS ARC), but after a few years it changed to the Electronics and Wireless Communications Club (E&WCC) or Electronics Club, for short, a more attractive name to the students. All of the club’s funding and all of the training for the club activities have been provided through the Midland Amateur Radio Club.
In the fall of 2015 the Northeast Middle School E&WCC was formed, with Bernadette Woods as the faculty sponsor, and Carman Kessler as a second faculty sponsor. Bernadette retired at the end of the school year and Carman has been the faculty sponsor since. The club has been wildly successful with about 32 students on average. The volunteer team was unprepared for the first meeting of the first year when 62 students showed up. Fortunately, the number dropped down to a more manageable number in the low 40s—but what a great year! A bonus outcome is that a number of former Northeast club members later became high school club members.
In the fall of 2018, the Jefferson E&WCC began, with Christine Brillhart as the faculty advisor. Her approach was to start small due to her other commitments, so it started with four students. In 2019 it increased to seven students.
The clubs continue to run great and the cooperation with the MPS staff and faculty has been awesome. Of course, this could not have happened without its generous donors and volunteer advisors.