Hurst Amateur Radio Club

Hurst Amateur Radio Club

Organization Overview

The Hurst Amateur Radio Club (HARC), call sign W5HRC, is a community-based amateur radio organization serving Hurst and the Northeast Tarrant County area since 1966. Chartered with just sixteen members, the club has operated continuously for nearly six decades and today serves as a center for education, public service, emergency preparedness, and technical advancement in amateur radio. The organization is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and maintains an active partnership with the City of Hurst and Tarrant County emergency management programs. 

Mission

The mission of the Hurst Amateur Radio Club is to promote community volunteerism through civic engagement and emergency communications by advancing the art, science, and public service capabilities of amateur radio. The club seeks to:

• Promote the proper use of amateur radio. 
• Educate radio operators and the public in communications technology. 
• Support disaster and emergency communications preparedness. 
• Encourage lifelong learning, technical experimentation, and public service. 
• Foster interest in science, technology, engineering, and communications among people of all ages.

Community Impact

HARC members are active volunteers who contribute thousands of hours of service through emergency preparedness, public safety support, weather monitoring, and community communications activities. Club members:

• Serve as trained weather spotters supporting the National Weather Service SKYWARN program. 
• Partner with the City of Hurst through the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and Civilian Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs. 
• Assist local emergency management agencies during severe weather events and disasters. 
• Support public-service and community events requiring reliable communications. 
• Provide communications resources that remain operational when cellular and internet systems are unavailable.

Emergency Communications

One of HARC's most significant public benefits is its emergency communications capability. Through its alliance with the City of Hurst Emergency Management Department, trained volunteer operators provide resilient communications support during emergencies and severe weather events. Members participate in FEMA- and FCC-recognized RACES programs and receive training in emergency operations, incident management, and disaster communications. 

The club maintains multiple communications resources, including multi-mode HF, 3 repeaters spanning VHF,UHF and DMR, digital communications networks, and organized weekly training nets that ensure volunteers remain proficient and ready to respond when needed. 

Education and Workforce Development

Education is a core component of HARC's nonprofit mission. The club provides:

• Amateur radio licensing classes. 
• Volunteer Examiner (VE) testing sessions. 
• Technical workshops and hands-on construction projects. 
• Mentoring programs for newly licensed operators. 
• Presentations on electronics, antennas, digital communications, and emergency preparedness. 

By teaching radio theory, electronics, networking, and emergency communications, HARC helps develop practical STEM skills that benefit students, hobbyists, and community volunteers alike. 

Membership and Volunteer Engagement

The club welcomes individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels. Members include engineers, educators, first responders, veterans, students, technology professionals, and community volunteers who share an interest in communications and public service. Regular meetings, technical programs, weekly radio nets, and special projects provide opportunities for education, fellowship, and community engagement. 

Organizational Strengths

• Continuous service since 1966. 
• IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 
• Long-standing partnership with the City of Hurst Emergency Management program. 
• Long-standing partnership with the Tarrant County Emergency Management program. 
• Active emergency communications and severe-weather support capability. 
• FCC-licensed repeater infrastructure serving the region. 
• Educational programs, licensing assistance, and mentoring for new operators. 
• Strong culture of volunteerism and community service.

Vision

The Hurst Amateur Radio Club strives to be the premier volunteer communications organization in Northeast Tarrant County by developing skilled operators, supporting public safety agencies, expanding STEM education opportunities, and ensuring reliable emergency communications capabilities for the communities it serves.