WEST CHESTER TWP. — Trustees are poised to enter into an agreement with the West Chester Amateur Radio Association to install an amateur radio station at the proposed Voice of America museum.

        The association, formed in 2000 with the call sign WC8VOA, has more than 30 members ranging in age from 10 to 84.

        It aims to provide township communication during emergencies and help raise money to restore the VOA building into a museum, Warren Reihs, an association member, told trustees at Tuesday's township meeting.

        The measure will be voted on at the next meeting, at 7 p.m. April 23.

        “In the West Chester area alone, there are more than 160 amateur radio operators. And that could make a tremendous boon to our organization if we could just get out and get the word to these people,” Mr. Reihs told trustees.

        At no cost to the township, the group plans to restore one transmitter and the control console at the Voice of America building. The members also will dismantle and remove the remaining two transmitters. The radio station will be in the same area as the restored transmitterand console.

        “It is an ideal spot for radio operation,” Mr. Reihs said. “We operated temporarily there earlier this year in a contest and made contact with 130 different countries.”

        A veterans group recently announced it would lead fund-raising efforts because of the historic importance of the VOA Bethany Relay Station on Tylersville Road. The radio association also has pledged to help raise money for the museum.

        “Having a radio station continuing to operate out of Voice of America preserves the tradition. It's as though the heart of VOA is still beating,” Trustee Catherine Stoker said.

        “It is wonderful so many people are stepping forward to help VOA. Just in the last few weeks, we have received about $2,000 in donations — and we're not even actively campaigning yet.”

        The VOA station began relaying transmission of news and entertainment around the world in 1944 and waged war on Nazi Germany's radio propaganda. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it closed in 1994.

        West Chester owns the VOA building and grounds.

        To help, send letters of support to Trustee Catherine Stoker: 6979 Hidden Ridge Drive, West Chester, OH 45069.
       

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