ORCA member interests are varied and include emergency communications (ARES/RACES - see additional information below), contesting, Field Day, weather, packet radio and others. ORCA meetings are held in person on the first Saturday of each month from 9 am to 11 am at Oakland Fire Station 1, and over the airwaves every Thursday at 7:30 pm on 146.88 MHz offset PL 77.
ORCA members are often also members of the local chapter of ARES or RACES.
- Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) is a nationwide organizational structure of the Amateur Radio Relay League (AARL) dedicated to emergency service. ARES members can help in widespread disasters and can operate before and after government-declared emergency times. Weather watching and search and rescue are examples of ARES activities. Visit ARES online to learn more.
- Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a public service provided by a reserve (volunteer) communications group within government agencies in times of extraordinary need. During periods of RACES activation, certified unpaid personnel are called upon to perform many tasks for the government agencies they serve. Although the exact nature of each activation will be different, the common thread is communications. To learn more about RACES, please visit their website.