Our Story

The Lake Cumberland Amateur Radio Association (LCARA) was organized June 29, 1974, with 29 charter members.  The club’s By-Law’s were accepted by the ARRL  and the ARRL Charter was issued September 28, 1974 with  a 100% ARRL Membership Certificate issued.  It is open to all persons in the area who hold an Amateur Radio Licenses. Tony DePrato, WA4JQS was the first elected president.  

In the early years we held a Ham Fest, Code and Theory Classes, published a News Letter, held Field Day Exercises.  Several of the Charter Members are  Silent Keys, they are greatly missed.

Today at Forty four years we are still going strong with 90 members and our current President is Donald Munsey, AC4DM.  We still hold the same values and principles.  Our goal is to promote Amateur Radio. To work with our local and state agencies to promote better communications and Amateur Radio to all mankind.

We support and maintain a 2 meter repeater on 146.880 with a 77 Hz tone -- club call sign is N4LCA, also provide Echo Link and IRLP.  We hold monthly meetings, host several Nets, repeater workdays, VE testing.  You can find all information concerning dates, time, etc. on our club website at www.lcara.net We have a Fish Fry in August, Christmas dinner in December and every Wednesday we Hams meet at the DQ in Somerset, KY for breakfast.

We have provided communications and participated in several 5K Fun Runs, “Runs/walks” and table top exercise’s in conjunction with the Lake Cumberland District Health Dept.- State wide exercise’s with the Kentucky National Guard - JOTA Scouts events and the 100 Anniversary of Scouting in America -  US Adventure Race Association races  - numerous Mt. Victory bike races.  We have also participated in several Field Day exercise’s, and attended numerous Ham Fest over the years.   We have also held classes at the Lake Cumberland District Health Dept. (LCDHD), Somerset Nursing & Rehab and the Wayne County Hospital for their employee’s interested in Amateur Radio.  We helped set up Amateur Radio Stations at the LCDHD, Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital, Somerset Nursing & Rehab, Wayne County Hospital, and Russell County Hospital.  Lots more information about LCARA can be found on our club web site www.lcara.net we hope you will take a look, it is chocked full of Amateur Radio information.  73’s