BOLINGBROOK, IL At its recent monthly meeting, the Bolingbrook Amateur Radio Society (BARS) honored two of its members for their outstanding dedication and service to the club during the year 2009. Receiving both the annual Service and Achievement awards was local resident Archie Hawley, N9ZMM, for increasing participation in the clubs weekly on-air nets and initiating a fox hunt event. Jim Amidei, N9ABF, received the clubs annual Ham of the Year award for his excellent work building and maintaining the clubs website.

BARS was formed in 1974 by a small group of local hams and currently has about 35 members drawn from Bolingbrook and surrounding communities. They provide auxiliary communications during disasters, and as trained spotters provide information about severe weather phenomena to the National Weather Service in the event of severe weather.

The Bolingbrook Amateur Radio Society meets on the third Monday of each month at 7:30 PM at Bolingbrooks Fire Station #5 on Rodo Drive. Anyone interested in amateur radio is invited to attend. Information about the club and its activities can be found at www.k9bar.org.