At the October 2019 meeting, David Collins, N4WDC, Affiliated Club Coordinator for the Virginia Section of the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) presented Albemarle Amateur Radio Club (AARC) Vice President Bob Pattison (K4DU) with a certificate designating the club as a “Special Service Club.”
ARRL defines a Special Service Club as “A club that exists to go above and beyond for their communities and for Amateur Radio is what defines a Special Service Club (SSC). They are the leaders in their Amateur Radio communities who provide active training classes, publicity programs and actively pursue technical projects and operating activities.” Cited during the presentation were AARC’s efforts in training of new hams, conducting multiple VEC testing sessions, participation in public service and emergency service activities, technical excellence and field day activities.