PROSPECTIVE MEMBER INFORMATION

I. THE CLUB
II. THE REPEATERS
III. CLUB ACTIVITIES
IV. MEETINGS
V. ORGANIZATION
VI. MEMBERSHIP
VII. CLUB CORRESPONDENCE

I. THE CLUB

LEARA promotes Amateur Radio through education.
It is also operates full-featured repeaters, providing Amateur Radio Public Service in the greater Cleveland area and supporting the use of VHF and UHF.

LEARA has over 250 members. The club publishes a monthly newsletter.

II. THE REPEATERS

LEARA has repeaters (WR8ABC) on 53.23/52.23MHz,146.76/146.16MHz, 146.88/146.28MHz, 224.90/223.30MHz, 444.40/449.40MHz,and on 444.70/449.70MHz (frequency pairs are listed here as output/input). LEARA also has packet radio nodes on 145.01MHz (CLE1), 145.05MHz (CLE5), and 223.7MHz (CLE220), a packet bulletin board on 145.07 and 223.7 (LEARA) and a gateway between 145.07 and 223.7 (NBRYX).

The 2-meter voice repeaters are equipped with AutoDial slots for members only by request. 

The 146.76 repeater and the 53.23, and 444.40 repeaters are all located at the MetroHealth Center (formerly Sunny Acres Hospital) in Highland Hills. The 146.76 repeater has remote receivers in Lakewood, Newbury and Willoughby. These inputs help overcome the effects of local terrain and are linked to the controller via UHF equipment. While the remote inputs require use of 110.9 Hz subaudible tone at all times, the main receiver does not (band conditions permitting). The 146.88, 224.90 and 444.70 repeaters are located at Lakewood Center North on Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio.

Packet nodes are located in Highland Hills and Newbury, Ohio. The 145.01 packet node (alias CLE1) is a high profile station intended to operate primarily in inter­area service. It is co-located with 145.05 (CLE5) and 223.7 (CLE220) nodes interconnected with NET/ROM TNCs in support of statewide packet communications and the National Traffic System. A 145.07 digipeater (NBRY7, Ka­node NBRY) is intended to facilitate packet communications within the local area. It is co-located with a 223.7 MHz digipeater (NBRY2, Ka­node NBRY) and the two are linked by a gateway (NBRYX). The club's packet bulletin board (LEARA) is accessible on either 145.07 or 223.7 MHz.

III. CLUB ACTIVITIES

Along with other Northern Ohio Amateur Radio clubs, LEARA supports the Northern Ohio SKYWARN network. The LEARA 146.76 MHz repeater is used by Cuyahoga County SKYWARN in times of potentially dangerous local weather activity.

Northern Ohio SKYWARN feeds weather observations to NWS from points along Ohio's north coast extending from Toledo to Erie, PA. When weather conditions contain potential threat to life and property the Cuyahoga County Net usually operates on the 146.76 MHz repeater. Unique reset "beeps" ("W" or "S" in CW) and a "net" or "weather alert" announcement in the repeater squelch tail signify that the net is in operation or stand-by. The net is a directed net under control of a net control station (NCS) who will define the specific reports requested.

LEARA also provides health and welfare communications for public service. Events such as various marathons, triathlons and the Heart-A-Thon have benefited from the additional support that an open net communications system can provide.

IV. MEETINGS

LEARA meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month (except December). The normal meeting location (we usually have a few field trips each year) is at Dimitri's Restaurant, 1830 Snow Road (just west of Broadview) in Parma. Members, visitors and guests are invited to gather by 6:30 PM for dinner (reservations required), or at 7:30 PM for the meeting. In fairness to the restaurant, dinner is recommended; but, neither dinner nor reservations are required to attend the meeting. A short business meeting is followed by a program of interest to amateurs. Our November meeting is a purely social event, with the business meeting dropped in favor of entertainment. Spouses and family members are welcome at all meetings. No meeting is held in December. Contact a club member to find out the location of the next meeting.

V. ORGANIZATION

LEARA is incorporated in Ohio as a not-for-profit organization. Club activities are directed by an elected board of trustees who, in turn, elect officers from among themselves. Club elections are held in October of each year.

LEARA is a 501(c)(3) organization eligible to accept charitable donations.  Consult with a tax advisor to determine how such donations may affect your taxes. 

Trustees & Officers for 2008 are:

TRUSTEES/OFFICERS:	(YYYY)=term expiration year		e-mail:
President:	Eric Jessen (2008)	N8AUC
License Trustee:	Eric Jessen (2008)	N8AUC
Vice President:	Jim Ozello (2010)	N8XDO
Vice President:	Mike Cegelski (2008)	K8EHP
Secretary:	Bob Winston (2009)	W2THU
Treasurer:	Dave Foran (2009)	WB8APD
	Ron Jakubowski (2008)	K2RJ
	Alex Manuk (2010)	WD8JMM
	Joe Prokop (2008)	KC8RAN
	Jacob Kinosh (2009)	KC8GHX
	Raye Bayun (2010)	N8NAP
	Jeff Garvas (2010)	N8YNR
	Marv Grossman (2009)	W8AZO
	Gary Zimmet (2010)	WA8TJL
	John Radney (2008)	KC8FOC
	Bryan Torok (2009)	N8OOF

VI. MEMBERSHIP

Membership in LEARA is open to all licensed amateurs. Dues are $25 per year or $2.25/month from time of application until December 31st), with all licensed same-household family members included in the basic membership. To apply, please complete the membership application and either have your license certified by a current member, or attach a copy of your license to the application. Mail the completed application to the address listed on the form along with a check for your dues. You will receive a welcoming letter, a member's card and a form containing autopatch and user function access codes by return mail.

VII. CLUB CORRESPONDENCE
    Address correspondence to:
                                                             LEARA
e-mail,         or        PO Box 22823
                                                             Beachwood OH 44122- 0823

Thank you for your interest in LEARA!

Eric Jessen, N8AUC,  President,