What you get
- Voting rights at club meetings.
- A keycard for 24/7 access to the clubhouse.
- HF radios from Icom, Yaesu and Kenwood, ready to operate.
- Beams, verticals and wire antennas on six towers that will get your signal out.
- VHF/UHF beams for 6 m, 2 m, 220, 70 cm and 23 cm.
- Shared access to the club’s remote stations from home.
- Fellowship and elmering from one of the oldest ARRL Special Service Clubs in the area.
Any ham is welcome as a guest whenever members are present, and guests may operate the equipment. Come visit and see for yourself.
How to join
- Visit. Come to a few Wednesday social nights. Get to know us; let us get to know you. We are looking for members who will be active in ham radio.
- Attend three business meetings within six months. Business meetings are the third Wednesday at 7 PM. Each one counts as a "reading" of your application. If your schedule truly cannot accommodate the business meeting, talk to the president or the membership committee; exceptions have been made for regular Wednesday-night visitors.
- Hand in the application in person. Download and print the membership application (PDF) and give it to Art, WA3BKD, our membership chair, before a business meeting so that meeting counts as your first reading. Mailed applications are not accepted.
- Vote and dues. After the third reading the membership votes. Pay your dues, pick up your keycard, and you are in.
While your application is being read you are welcome at every club event and activity as our guest.
Levels of membership
| Level | Who | Dues |
|---|---|---|
| Full member | Any licensed amateur who completes the three readings. | $75 per year (same rate over 65) |
| Family member | A family member of an active full member. Same three-meeting requirement, same keycard access and voting rights. | $25 per year |
| DX member | Former full members who have moved away from the Pittsburgh region. Full access to the remote stations, the email reflector and a warm welcome on the nets by EchoLink. No keycard. Requires a vote of the membership. | $25 per year |
| Lifetime member | Cannot be bought. Awarded by vote of the membership to members who have given a lifetime of service as officers, chairs and volunteers. | none |
Paying your dues
The membership year runs January 1 to December 31 and dues are due by December 31. There is a grace period until the April business meeting.
Pay online: use the PayPal payment link or scan the code below. Pick your membership type from the drop-down: Full Membership for you alone, Full Membership + Family Member for you and a spouse or child, or DX Membership.
Pay by check: make it out to Steel City ARC and write your call sign on it so the treasurer can credit you (we know each other by call, not by the name on your check). Hand it to the treasurer at a meeting or mail it to 208 McMichael Road, Carnegie, PA 15106.
If your membership lapses
- Not paid by the April business meeting: come to any meeting, fill out a new application, and pay the $50 reinstatement dues. Once the treasurer confirms payment your keycard is reactivated and you are back on the email reflector.
- Lapsed past December 31 of the following year: you start over. Attend a business meeting, submit a new application, and go through the three readings again. You are welcome at social nights and events in the meantime.
Questions
Ask Art WA3BKD, the membership chair, at any meeting, or use the contact page.