TO CONGRATULATE THE GRAND STRAND AMATEUR RADIO CLUB AND OTHER AMATEUR RADIO CLUBS AND USERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA AS THE MEMBERS CELEBRATE AMATEUR RADIO WEEK DURING JUNE 16 TO 23, 2019.

Whereas, amateur radio has continued to provide a bridge between people, societies, and countries by offering the opportunity to create friendships and to share ideas; and

Whereas, throughout the decades, amateur radio operators have provided countless hours of community service, both for neighbors in emergencies and for other local organizations; and

Whereas, the services of amateur radio operators are provided without any compensation or remuneration; and

Whereas, the State of South Carolina recognizes the services that amateur radio users provide to many emergency response organizations, including the Red Cross and local and government agencies, such as the South Carolina Emergency Management Division; and

Whereas, these same individuals have demonstrated their value in public assistance by providing free radio communications for local parades, bike-a-thons, walk-a-thons, fairs, and other charitable public events; and

Whereas, our State also recognizes and appreciates the diligence of these "hams" who also serve as weather spotters in the Skywarn program of the United States Government Weather Bureau; and

Whereas, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the leading organization for amateur radio in the United States; and

Whereas, the ARRL Amateur Radio Field Day exercise will take place on June 22 and 23, 2019 and is a twenty-four-hour emergency preparedness exercise and demonstration of the skills and readiness that radio amateurs use to provide self-supporting communications requiring no further infrastructure. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, congratulate the Grand Strand Amateur Radio Club and other amateur radio clubs and users in South Carolina as the members celebrate Amateur Radio Week during June 16 to 23, 2019.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Grand Strand Amateur Radio Club.