The Amateur Radio Club of the Wally Byam Caravan Club International is the sponsoring organization of the “International RV Service Net System.”
The Amateur Radio Club was formed in 1963 by Earl Johnston W0ICV, as the “Airstream Net”. At that time its membership consisted of hams who owned Airstream travel trailers and were members of the trailer club which was formed by and named after Wally Byam, the originator of the Airstream travel trailer. The club has in recent years reorganized and expanded its operations in order to serve all amateurs interested in Recreational Vehicles and in travel.
The Amateur Radio Club of the WBCCI is chartered under the Wally Byam Caravan Club International, Inc., as an “intra club”. The parent organization exercises no control over our operations as a radio club except during periods in which we provide our services at their official functions. The ARC has been approved by the IRS as a non-profit organization.
The purposes of the club are: (1) service to the public, (2) furtherance of public welfare by relaying messages via ham radio in time of need and emergency, (3) promotion of education and interest in the sciences of amateur radio, and (4) promotion of fellowship and goodwill among all radio amateurs and the public.
Desiring to include any hams who are interested in travel and camping and in providing much needed emergency public services in amateur radio fields, our Constitution and By-laws provide for inclusion of non-WBCCI member hams as Net Members in the radio club membership.
It is not necessary to own an Airstream or any other type of RV to enjoy the benefits of being a Net Member or to join the ARC. However, those who are members of the WBCCI are classified as Members.
Because of the sponsoring organization’s (Airstream Club/WBCCI) affiliation, we are limited in our Constitution to Members in the selection of club officers. Otherwise, all Members and Net Members share equally in meetings, Ham-A-Rallys, Nets, and in the control and operation of these activities.
The club’s 63rd and current president is Priscilla Harrell, K3FFF..
The club’s past presidents are:
- Term 62 – 2024-2025 Stan Patterson, KK4PF
- Term 61 – 2023-2024 Robert Bolling, KW4DT
- Term 60 – 2022-2023 Roger Peeples, KD6FBF
- Term 59 – 2021-2022 Jim Johnson, WW7N
- Term 58 – 2020-2021 Bob Caldwell, VA6RV
- Term 57 – 2019-2020 Don Williams, KD6UVT
- Term 56 – 2018-2019 Jeff Dalrymple, N5YEI
- Term 55 – 2017-2018 Steve Padgett, K4NM
- Term 54 – 2016-2017 Bruce Fried, K5YXN
- Term 53 – 2015-2016 Joel Ware, KD7QKK
- Term 52 – 2014-2015 John Green, W9CJX
- Term 51 – 2013-2014 Bob Simms, W7IRY
- Term 50 – 2012-2013 Bob Simms, W7IRY
- Term 49 – 2011-2012 Vaughn Peak, N7ODT (Silent Key)
- Term 48 – 2010-2011 Jim Cocke, N5RTG
- Term 47 – 2009-2010 Jim Zigrosser, N2MJC
- Term 46 – 2008-2009 Elliott Steimle, WK3G (Silent Key)
- Term 45 – 2007-2008 Warren Weinstock, KF6QGF
- Term 44 – 2006-2007 Colin Campbell, W1CAC (Silent Key)
- Term 43 – 2005-2006 Russell Thackery, W9RUS
- Term 42 – 2004-2005 Joe Kolb, W4VL (Silent Key)
- Term 41 – 2003-2004 Elliott Steimle, WK3G (Silent Key)
- Term 40 – 2002-2003 Jack Mitchell, AA8Q
- Term 39 – 2001-2002 “Woody” Wood, W1VYI (Silent Key)
- Term 38 – 2000-2001 Fred Steurer, K0QMR
- Term 37 – 1999-2000 Doug Showker, KC4JKQ (Silent Key)
- Term 36 – 1998-1999 Everett Harrington, W1VMH (Silent Key)
- Term 35 – 1997-1998 Wendell Sisk, N0JIB (Silent Key)
- Term 34 – 1996-1997 Bill Specha, KC4PWR (Silent Key)
- Term 33 – 1995-1996 Maurice Piroumian, WA6OPB (Silent Key)
- Term 32 – 1994-1995 Bill Gosnell, W8HJH (Silent Key)
- Term 31 – 1993-1994 Howard Anderson, K5TY (Silent Key)
- Term 30 – 1992-1993 Dick Evans, K0DOJ (Silent Key)
- Term 29 – 1991-1992 Earl Snyder, WA8AIU (Silent Key)
- Term 28 – 1990-1991 Bert Hays, W0AZA (Silent Key)
- Term 27 – 1989-1990 Warren Butler, AB4NO (Silent Key)
- Term 26 – 1988-1989 Don Avery, K8OTN (Silent Key)
- Term 25 – 1987-1988 Don Benham, KE4AG (Silent Key)
- Term 24 – 1986-1987 Ken Eckley, KB6TL (Silent Key)
- Term 23 – 1985-1986 Floyd Wray, WB4HMT (Silent Key)
- Term 22 – 1984-1985 Marvin Dice, K9UBM (Silent Key)
- Term 21 – 1983-1984 Berry Young, KC4WY (Silent Key)
- Term 20 – 1982-1983 Marion Snyder, WB8MSE (Silent Key)
- Term 19 – 1981-1982 R. F. Nelson, KB6PG (Silent Key)
- Term 18 – 1980-1981 Elmer Sanders, W5HKJ (Silent Key)
- Term 17 – 1979-1980 Taylor Shreve, W0CXW (Silent Key)
- Term 16 – 1978-1979 Walt Grande, WB9OAA (Silent Key)
- Term 15 – 1977-1978 Micholas “Rudy” Rudsil, W5VEH (Silent Key)
- Term 14 – 1976-1977 Vern Madsen, WB8ISC (Silent Key)
- Term 13 – 1975-1976 Hal Martin, W0EXN (Silent Key)
- Term 12 – 1974-1975 Brodie Gilles, VE3JA (Silent Key)
- Term 11 – 1973-1974 Walt Godwin, K4OZ (Silent Key)
- Term 10 – 1972-1973 Ken Simpson, W8EK
- Term 09 – 1971-1972 Dave Carpenter, W0DVZ (Silent Key)
- Term 08 – 1970-1971 John Harlan, W6OST (Silent Key)
- Term 07 – 1969-1970 Bob Thurman, W7HLD (Silent Key)
- Term 06 – 1968-1969 Phil Rand, W1DBM (Silent Key)
- Term 05 – 1966-1967 Warren Andrews, W3AM (Silent Key)
- Term 04 – 1965-1966 Frank Taylor, W8AW (Silent Key)
- Term 03 – 1964-1965 Frank Taylor, W8AW (Silent Key)
- Term 02 – 1963-1964 Frank Taylor, W8AW (Silent Key)
- Term 01 – 1962-1963 Earl N. Johnson, W0ICV (Silent Key)