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What BARS is all about...






BARS About Us
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The Bolingbrook Amateur Radio Society (BARS) was established in 1971.  We have a strong membership base plus a year-round calendar of events and activities.  BARS specializes in SKYWARN, Emergency Communications, Field Day, as well as local Bolingbrook Community Event Communications.    We invite you to browse our website to see who we are and what we do for our members, our community, and the Amateur Radio Hobby in general. We hope you will like what we have to offer, come visit our meetings and become a Member of our organization.





BARS Involvement in Bolingbrook 

BARS Involvement in Bolingbrook 

The Bolingbrook Amateur Radio Society (BARS) has provided service to the Village of Bolingbrook by way of auxiliary communications at village community events such as the Amita Health's St. Paddy's Day Half Marathon, The Pathways Parade, and the Heart Haven Hustle now the Cheesy Pretzel 5K Run and 1 mile walk.   

BARS members have volunteered to be trained as SKYWARN severe weather spotters, deployed into the field during weather events and run/participate in on-air networks to collect and pass along directly to the National Weather Service of Chicago Forecast Office their ground-truth reports of weather events—helping to keep the Village of Bolingbrook safe and provide early warning of severe weather.

BARS members provide service and support to Boy Scouts of America and the Rainbow Council's Radio Scouting Committee during Jamboree on the Air.   This is the largest Scouting event worldwide, open to all Scouts including:  Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Ventures, Explorers, and Sea Scouts.  BARS members work to assist scouts in earning their Radio Communications and/or CW (Morse Code) merit badges.

BARS holds their monthly General Meeting and Radio Presentations along with a monthly Amateur Radio Volunteer Exam Testing sessions at the Bolingbrook Fire Station # 5. 

BARS has a strong and growing membership base of over 130 Amateur Radio operators, men and women of all ages, from Bolingbrook and surrounding communities, including:  Naperville, Plainfield, Joliet, New Lennox, Westmont, Woodridge, Saint Charles, Batavia, Sugar Grove, Oswego, and Yorkville.  

BARS members conduct 4 different types of on-air Network communications every week. Including an Information and Traffic Net, where Bolingbrook and BARS Activities and Events are announced.  As well as a SKYWARN Training Net, used to review and hone severe weather net communication skills.   

BARS also holds community outreach and education programs such as Amateur Radio License preparation Training Courses for all 3 (Technician Class, General Class, and Amateur Extra Class) levels of FCC license, as well as frequent Volunteer Exam license testing.  BARS also holds frequent outreach and communication field operation events such as the Libraries On The Air (LOTA) at the Fountaindale Public Library in Bolingbrook, and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Annual Field Day event for emergency operations readiness at Meyer Park in Bolingbrook.  As well as Radio In The Park (RITP) or Parks On The Air (POTA) in surrounding communities such as Austin Park in Montgomery, IL.  The Winter Field Day Event, and Illinois QSO Party.     

The Bolingbrook Amateur Radio Society and BARS Membership is committed now and through the years to the service of the Village of Bolingbrook and the surrounding communities.  The BARS membership actively promotes, supports and is thankful for the Village of Bolingbrook and their community support and generosity to the BARS organization, as well as the support of the various BARS activities on- and off-air which has been provided over the years. 

BARS Involvement in Bolingbrook 

The Bolingbrook Amateur Radio Society (BARS) has provided service to the Village of Bolingbrook by way of auxiliary communications at village community events such as the Amita Health's St. Paddy's Day Half Marathon, The Pathways Parade, and the Heart Haven Hustle now the Cheesy Pretzel 5K Run and 1 mile walk.   

BARS members have volunteered to be trained as SKYWARN severe weather spotters, deployed into the field during weather events and run/participate in on-air networks to collect and pass along directly to the National Weather Service of Chicago Forecast Office their ground-truth reports of weather events—helping to keep the Village of Bolingbrook safe and provide early warning of severe weather.

BARS members provide service and support to Boy Scouts of America and the Rainbow Council's Radio Scouting Committee during Jamboree on the Air.   This is the largest Scouting event worldwide, open to all Scouts including:  Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Ventures, Explorers, and Sea Scouts.  BARS members work to assist scouts in earning their Radio Communications and/or CW (Morse Code) merit badges.

BARS holds their monthly General Meeting and Radio Presentations along with a monthly Amateur Radio Volunteer Exam Testing sessions at the Bolingbrook Fire Station # 5. 

BARS has a strong and growing membership base of over 130 Amateur Radio operators, men and women of all ages, from Bolingbrook and surrounding communities, including:  Naperville, Plainfield, Joliet, New Lennox, Westmont, Woodridge, Saint Charles, Batavia, Sugar Grove, Oswego, and Yorkville.  

BARS members conduct 4 different types of on-air Network communications every week. Including an Information and Traffic Net, where Bolingbrook and BARS Activities and Events are announced.  As well as a SKYWARN Training Net, used to review and hone severe weather net communication skills.   

BARS also holds community outreach and education programs such as Amateur Radio License preparation Training Courses for all 3 (Technician Class, General Class, and Amateur Extra Class) levels of FCC license, as well as frequent Volunteer Exam license testing.  BARS also holds frequent outreach and communication field operation events such as the Libraries On The Air (LOTA) at the Fountaindale Public Library in Bolingbrook, and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Annual Field Day event for emergency operations readiness at Meyer Park in Bolingbrook.  As well as Radio In The Park (RITP) or Parks On The Air (POTA) in surrounding communities such as Austin Park in Montgomery, IL.  The Winter Field Day Event, and Illinois QSO Party.     

The Bolingbrook Amateur Radio Society and BARS Membership is committed now and through the years to the service of the Village of Bolingbrook and the surrounding communities.  The BARS membership actively promotes, supports and is thankful for the Village of Bolingbrook and their community support and generosity to the BARS organization, as well as the support of the various BARS activities on- and off-air which has been provided over the years.