Mike and Key
Mike and Key
CLUB PURPOSE
The Mike and Key Amateur Radio Club is a Seattle, Washington
(USA) area organization devoted to all aspects of Amateur Radio
Operation. The club focus is helping the community through
training our members and practicing our skills through Public
Service.
Activity in the Club is as varied as the hobby of Amateur Radio itself.
Within the Club there are groups that engage in Public Service,
Contesting, DX, VHF/UHF, SSB, CW, Construction/Experimentation,
Packet, and Traffic Handling. While the Club cannot be everything
to everybody, it does provide a base of support for most radio
interests. Members are encouraged to be "active" in the Hobby, the
Club, and the Community.
HISTORY
Late in the year of 1960, November is believed to be the month, a few good men, (15 to be exact),
all "Hams", were assembled by a dedicated leader in the field of Amateur Radio. The guiding force
and leader of this endeavor was William T. "Pop" Brown, K7LED.
In order to establish a Club, acting officers were elected to the necessary positions. The elected
officers held these positions until April 1961, at which time new officers were elected for a one year
period. The original Club was formed and incorporation papers filed in April 1961.
The club consisted of fifteen charter members and duly adopted the name of "Mike and Key Radio
club". From the fifteen charter members the Club grew steadily to over 50 members, most of whom
were under 21 years of age. The Club conducted code and theory classes at the Brisco Boys
Memorial School in Kent for 3 school years. In addition, classes were held at the Club meetings.
Equipment was purchased and a Club station was established with the call letters of K7SHY.
The Club remained active with varying numbers of members until the latter part of 1966, at which
time, due to lack of interest by the membership, the Club, then consisting of only three members,
dissolved. "Pop" Brown - K7LED, M.S. Sullivan - W7EOP and Ken Jackson - K7PZX, were the
remaining active members. When "Pop" Brown passed on to a "Silent Key", Ken Jackson obtained
the Club incorporation papers and other allied documents in the hopes of reactivating the Club at a
later date.
HISTORY
Amateur Radio activity increased and thru radio contact K7PZX was able to promote enough interest
to reactivate the Club in October of 1970. The Club was reorganized and again 15 "Hams" attended
the first meeting. The membership grew rapidly during the next few months.
In 1971 the call letters of K7LED were requested and received as a Club Call in memory of "Pop"
Brown. Ken Jackson, K7PZX and Pete Policani, K7PP, established a 6 meter repeater using the
K7LED call. The Club call has been used by individual Club members throughout the years, and used
exclusively on each band during Field Day. Two Club-owned repeaters are Page 5 identified by the
Club call. For many years a member owned repeater used the club call. Sometime in the 1970's,
"Amateur" was added to the Club name so as to be the "MIKE and KEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB".
The new Club held their meetings in the Civil Defense Headquarters on the East Hill in Kent until
membership outgrew the capacity of the facility. The Club meetings then moved to the United Good
Neighbor Center in Renton. The membership has varied over the years and in 1987/88, with
renewed interest in Ham Radio, the membership in 1989 rose to over 165 members.
Due to this increase in membership the Club meetings were moved from the UGN Center to a new
meeting place at the Tukwila Community center. In 1993 a further increase in membership required
a larger facility. Meetings are now held in the Salvation Army Headquarters in Renton. Membership
now stands at about 216 (as of June 2011).
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
The Mike & Key is open to all persons interested in Amateur
Radio, whether licensed or not. The Club currently consists
of approximately 216 members.
Membership applications may be obtained from the VicePresident at the General Membership meeting or on line.
Applications are submitted to the Board for review and, upon
approval, presented to the general membership for final
election.
Dues are $12 yearly. Family Memberships are available for
multi- member households.
REPEATERS
The Club operates two FM repeaters under the call K7LED.
These are located at:
146.82/146.22 MHz. - the two meter band
EVENTS
Flea Market March
Awards Banquet - April
Field Day 4th full weekend in June
Public Service Events - all year
Picnic - September
Salvation Army Bell Ringing - December
Christmas Party December
FLEA MARKET
In 1982 the Club sponsored "Auction" was discontinued and a "Flea Market" was
organized.
The Mike & Key Electronics Show & Fleamarket is one of the largest annual Amateur
Radio events in the Pacific Northwest.
It is held on the Western Washington Fairgrounds during the first part of March
Up to 3,000 Hams and non-Hams alike are drawn to a modern 40,000 square foot
facility located on two floors of the Exhibition Hall with room for over 300 tables selling
radios, computers, and general electronics equipment.
Lots of radio and computer related items are available for sale and/or trade.
There is an on-site snack bar and a consignment area.
License examinations are also given on-site.
To successfully conduct this event each year requires the participation of the entire
Club membership.
FIELD DAY
A contest but not a just a contest -- an emergency simulation; a public
information event; an educational opportunity; a picnic; a campout; an
antenna laboratory; a social event that the whole family can participate in.
Held in the last full weekend of June at the Fort Flagler State Park
Our first Field Day was on Cougar Mountain in 1974
In 1975 we changed location to Marrowstone Island at Fort Flagler
near Port Townsend and have returned every year since
The Mike and Key ARC scored 1st in the United States in our category
in 1999
Scored 2nd in our category in 2002
2010: 1st in WWA, 1st in WA, 1st in PNW, 3rd in Class (6A); 56th overall
nation-wide
CURRENT OFFICERS
Chairman of the Board: Tim Kane - K7ANE
President: Ivy Nelson-Groves - WA7IVY
Vice President: Steve Cook - KD7IQL
Secretary: Robert Grinnell - KD7WNV
Treasurer: Dave Smith - KB7PSN
Activities Manager: Kathy Martin - KB7QMO
Radio Officer: Hal Goodell - N7NW
STANDING COMMITTEES
Flea Market Chairs: Mike Dinkelman N7WA & Hal Goodell N7NW
Field Day Chairs: Ivy Nelson-Groves WA7IVY & Richard Pasquier N7MER
Badges/Logo: Dan Humphrey N7QHC & Dawn Humphrey KC7YYB
CLUB ELMERS
Area
Elmer Coordinator
Also
Contesting
Contest operations
CW
Digital Modes
D-STAR
D-Star
Emergency Comm
HF Operation
New Members
QRP
VHF/UHF Operation
PUBLICATIONS
"K7LED Relay" - Published monthly in the week
prior to the general membership meeting.
Editor: Gary Bryan KG7KU
Website: www.MikeandKey.org
Webmaster: Jim Etzwiler KD7BAT
The club is now in the process of creating an
digital archive of documents and photos/videos
throughout the clubs history.
CLUB AWARDS
Jo Hallstrom (KB7UFM) Friendship Award
Ken Jackson (K7PZX) Award
"Pop" Brown (K7LED) Award
Presidents Award
Alligator Award
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2010
1971
1972-73
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984-85
1986
1987-88
1989
1990-91
1992-93
1994
1995-96
1997-98
1999-00
2001-02
2003
2004
2005-06
2007
2008-09
2010-11
Alligator Award
This rotating award is given out at the monthly meeting by the past recipient to
the new recipient. It is awarded to the club member caught by the current
holder of the award to have timed out the K7LED repeater. The idea behind the
award is that alligators have big mouths and little ears.
QUESTIONS?