Have you always wanted to be a ham radio operator?
If so, now is your chance!

Why— The Mountain Emergency Radio Network (MERN) needs ham radio operators in Gold Hill! MERN was started right after the Four Mile Fire to meet this basic need. Most of the other
mountain towns have a bunch of operators by now. We need to catch up! MERN is a part of BCARES, the Boulder County Amateur Radio Emergency Services, which works with the Sheriff’s Office.

What–Your Job as Radio Operator: communicate with other mountain radio operators in other parts of our mountain area and with emergency radio operators on the plains. Interface with emergency personnel. Relay vital information to the community and emergency responders. There is nothing more important in a mountain emergency than communications and it’s always the weakest link. When phone and internet go down, radio is all we have. Communications save lives! It was hugely important during the Flood in heavily hit areas.

How–You are invited to attend the two-part basic training (four hours each) and take the exam for the basic license right at the end of the training. No charge. MERN holds ongoing trainings here in the mountains for its licensed operators. We are looking into getting radios to loan to all our operators.

Get involved–Email Pam to put your name on the list:
pamsher123@nullmsn.com with MERN Training in the subject line.

Once we have enough people, a MERN/BCARES instructor will hold a training class after the holidays. (They hold regular trainings in Boulder, so you can train there, too).

Thank you for considering being a vital part of Gold Hill and Mountain Emergency Radio Services!