NEW 5/18/2008
CLUB PICNIC/PEEL-N-STICK 5/17
 (A Great Success)

The Picnic/Peel-n-stick was a great success.  We applied approximately 40,000 labels to 40,000 brochures in record time.  So in a few weeks, you should be receiving your 2008 Shelby Hamfest Brochure.  We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the fine folks who came out to help us with this endeavor.  We had folks from WCARS (Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society), GCARS (Gaston County Amateur Radio Society) and Cleveland-Rutherford Kidney Association, one of our charities even supplied us with a few helping hands.  Many thanks to all the club members, their family members and these other fine folks who helped us with the peeling and sticking.  Good Food, Good Fellowship, Good Friends and Great Fun was had by all!  See you in August at the Park in Dallas! To see a larger photo click on the picture.

All pictures on this website are copyright of Susan Melvin and SARC, any use without permission is prohibited.

From the Hamfest Chairman - 4/22/2008

Hamfest Committee meeting will be on Monday, April 28, 2008.  More details will be available after this meeting.

The new Hamfest location was voted on Friday night in order to be able to sell tickets at the Morganton Hamfest on Saturday.  Although our Hamfest Committee is pleased and excited about the move to Gaston County, this move was unexpected and came about practically “overnight”. 

Our committee is working with the Park, the Director of Tourism, the town of Dallas, and the membership of the SARC to get everything coordinated.  There are many things to consider and options to explore before we make final decisions on anything.  In order to provide the quality of Hamfest that folks expect from the SARC, we need TIME to make plans before we start trying to answer your questions.   We are still trying to determine exactly what space and facilities are available and how to make the best use of them.  Prices have not been determined for any spaces or facilities.

One thing that we DO know now is that sales of flea market spaces will begin on Sunday, August 24 (a week later than “normal”). 

Letters will be sent to both the Inside and Outside dealers as soon as the information is available.  Several have asked about camping, and again, we have no answers at this time.  We are “working on it” is about the only answer we have for ANY questions right now.  Please be patient with us, and know that we are not avoiding your questions or trying to keep you in the dark.  After 30 years of “experience” in the same place, it is a daunting task to “start from scratch”!

Information will be posted on this website as soon as it becomes available.  Please continue to check the website for updates.  As soon as details are available, they will be posted.  Not all details will be finalized at once, so it will be a continuous updating process.  We appreciate your patience as we "rush" to get the information that you will need. 

The new location is about halfway between Shelby and Charlotte and the closest motels will probably have a Gastonia address.

Please do not contact Gaston County Park to get information about the Hamfest.  They will refer you to this website for Hamfest information.

The Hamfest is still on Labor Day Weekend as always!  We'll see you at the Park!

PRESS RELEASE:  4/20/2008

SHELBY HAMFEST MOVING

The Shelby Amateur Radio Club will hold their 52^nd Annual Shelby Hamfest at Dallas Park in Dallas, NC. The Hamfest was first held at Shelby City Park and began as a one-day event attended by less than 100 people.  The Hamfest eventually outgrew the City Park and moved to Brackett’s Cedar Park in Casar, NC.  In 1979, we outgrew Brackett’s and moved to the Fairgrounds.  We have grown from less than 100 in attendance to 8000 to 12000 over the Labor Day weekend.

The Shelby Hamfest has the distinction of being called “The Granddaddy of Them All” due to being one of the oldest and largest in the United States.  According to amateur radio operators who have attended the Shelby Hamfest since it’s beginning, one of the major reasons for its growth and continued success has been the small town friendly feeling that visitors enjoy.

This year we have been forced to find a new location for our Hamfest.  We want the citizens of Cleveland County to know that we are still going to be there for them during any emergency.  An example of our willingness to help was demonstrated as recently as April 19, 2008. The Cleveland County ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) / SKYWARN  group which is sponsored by the Shelby Amateur Radio Club, was notified by Emergency Management of Cleveland County that a tornado had touched down near Fallston.  The ARES group immediately activated a net and manned their emergency radios ready to assist and spring into action if needed.

The Hamfest is our only support for keeping our emergency equipment up to date and operational.  Since we can’t say no to our 10,000 friends who love to attend our Hamfest, we will be moving our Hamfest to Gaston County. Our move is necessary to be able to continue our ability to “donate” to local charities and to keep up our equipment for service to Cleveland County. We hope to enjoy a long and pleasant relationship with the Gaston County Department of Tourism who has been very gracious to us and our decision to continue our Hamfest over Labor Day weekend.

We, The Shelby Amateur Radio Club, would like to apologize to the many businesses of Cleveland County who will be the real LOSERS in this move. They had no voice in our fight to keep the Hamfest in Cleveland County so we would like to take this opportunity to thank them for 51 great years of their hospitality.

Robby Hamrick, WA4RH
Hamfest Chairman

Click here for a link to a 4/20/2008 Article
containing SARC and ARES Response during Storms <Shelby Star>
Click here for a link to a 4/20/2008 Article <Gaston Gazette>
Click here for a link to a 4/20/2008 Article <Shelby Star>
QRZ Forum

Next Fox Hunt to be held in May in Gaston County and hosted by the Gaston County Amateur Radio Society.  Location of breakfast to be announced at a later date.

February is a busy month for SARC Members - Download the February Calendar of Events  - Click Here

Feb 2, 2008 Fox Hunt Photo

Next Fox Hunt hosted by Gaston County Amateur Radio Society - Meet at the Village Restaurant in McAdenville at 8am on March 1, 2008 - Fox Hunt will begin at 10 am and will be hidden somewhere in Gaston County.