about us
The Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club (MVARC) is an American Radio Relay League (ARRL) affiliated organization with members from the Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C. metro areas.
MVARC is dedicated to serving the communications needs of our community and to providing members with the opportunity to form and, strengthen friendships with other members and the public while operating in many different environments.
While MVARC is a ham radio club interested in promoting amateur radio, it is also a social organization that promotes helping one another and the community. We welcome both licensed amateur radio operators and community members with an interest in radio.
OUR ACTIVITIES
Business Meetings
MVARC monthly meetings are held the second Thursday of each month (except July and December) at 7:30 p.m.
Meetings are hybrid, both online and in-person. The in-person portion is held at the Mt. Vernon Government Center, at 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria, VA. Online information is available via email.
You don't have to be a member to attend a MVARC meeting. We welcome the public to come visit us.
Weekly Virtual Meetups
MVARC has weekly virtual meetups via Google Meet each Thursday at 7:30 p.m. when there is not a business meeting.
Email social@mvarc.org for information on how to join the virtual meet ups.
weekly nets
MVARC hosts a weekly 2M net each Tuesday at 7 p.m. A Yaesu System Fusion digital net immediately follows.
Our weekly 10M net is each Friday at 7:30 p.m.
28.400 Mhz USBThe Cherry Tree Net is Saturdays & Sundays at 8:30 a.m.
HF band: 80/75m, Frequency: 3920.
FIELD DAY
MVARC participates in the annual ARRL Field Day exercise.
For many clubs like MVARC, Field Day is one of the highlights of their annual calendar. The contest part is simply to contact as many other stations as possible and to learn to operate our radio gear in abnormal situations and less than optimal conditions. We use these same skills when we help with events such as marathons and bike-a-thons; fundraisers such as walk-a-thons; celebrations such as parades; and exhibits at fairs, malls and museums — these are all large, preplanned, non-emergency activities.
But despite the development of very complex, modern communications systems — or maybe because they ARE so complex — ham radio has been called into action again and again to provide communications in crises when it really matters. Amateur Radio people (also called “hams”) are well known for our communications support in real disaster and post-disaster situations.
ARRL Field Day is the single most popular on-the-air event held annually in the U.S. and Canada. On the fourth weekend of June of each year, more than 35,000 radio amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to operate from remote locations.
Field Day is a picnic, a campout, practice for emergencies, an informal contest and, most of all, FUN! It is a time where many aspects of Amateur Radio come together to highlight our many roles. While some will treat it as a contest, other groups use the opportunity to practice their emergency response capabilities. It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate Amateur Radio to the organizations that Amateur Radio might serve in an emergency, as well as the general public.
SPECIAL EVENT STATION
MVARC conducts a Special Event Station in commemoration of George Washington's Birthday each Presidents Day weekend from George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate on the West shore of the Potomac River.
MONTHLY BREAKFAST
MVARC hosts a monthly breakfast social gathering on the fourth Saturday of the month from 8 to 10 AM at the Hybla Valley IHOP (7694 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306)
holiday party
MVARC hosts an annual holiday party and gift exchange each year in December.