Massanutten Amateur Radio Association, Inc., is a Virginia Corporation devoted to the advancement of the amateur radio art. The club's normal meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at Wood Grill Buffet Harrisonburg, Virginia. Most members arrive around 6:30 pm to enjoy a buffet meal together in the private meeting room. The business meeting starts around 7:30 pm, and is usually followed by an interesting program covering some aspect of radio communication.
The club does not presently maintain its own repeaters or its own station. Some individual members, however, do maintain open repeaters for the benefit of the local amateur radio community.
Members of MARA generally come from Rockingham, Page, Shenandoah, and Augusta counties, but membership is open to anyone interested in ham radio, regardless of residence. You do not have to hold an FCC license to join the club.
Club dues are $12.00 per calendar year. This amount has not changed in almost 25 years. No discounts are given for members joining late in the year. The dues go mainly to support the printing and distribution of the monthly newsletter, the MARA/VARA Monitor, as well as the club's annual Field Day, held jointly with the Valley Amateur Radio Association (VARA), which meets in Staunton (20 miles to the south of Harrisonburg) on the first Tuesday of each month.
MARA is an incorporated, not-for-profit organization under the Internal Revenue Service rules. The club occasionally sponsors educational classes for persons interested in sitting for the FCC amateur radio examinations. The club also sponsors many public-service activities to support other non-profit and charitable organizations in the Valley. The club is affiliated with the American Radio Relay League.
Monthly meetings are open to everyone, and visitors are especially welcome.
For more information, contact one of the 2007 club officers.
The club can also be reached at: MARA, P.O. Box 1882, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
