HAM-CON and VT QSO Party Coming Up!![]()
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This is from Mitch W1SJ about some Amateur Radio events happening soon that you might want to participate in.![]()
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" HAM-CON, the ARRL Vermont State Convention will be Saturday, February 28 at the Hampton Inn Colchester, conveniently located at I-89, Exit 16. HAM-CON is unique as it is the only hybrid convention. If you are unable to travel, you can join the forums and demonstrations on-line from the comfort of home.![]()
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We have another great show planned. Elecraft co-owner Wayne Burdick N6KR will do a presentation on the various Elecraft radios you might consider. The World Radio Team Championship (WRTC) will be held in England this July and chairman Mark M0DXR will be available to tell us about it. We’ll have forums on POTA activations, operating the ham satellites and operating on the long wave bands. Demonstrations will include AREDN, DMR and our HF station W1V. Add to this the flea market, ham exams, game shows, door prizes and hundreds of hams and you have a great time in the making. If you buy your tickets now, it is only $8. Not sure you will be going? Buy your ticket anyway. If you cannot attend in person, watch the event on-line either during or after the event. And if you have to travel a ways, we have a special rate of $99 at the Hampton Inn. Come up and spend a fun weekend. But do this now as the hotel deal expires February 1.![]()
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HAM-CON Web: www.ham-con.org/![]()
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HAM-CON Tix: www.ham-con.org/hamconpay.html![]()
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Another great event we have going on is the Vermont QSO Party. And for this year, we will activate W1AW/1 during the week before and right after the QSO Party. There is nothing as much fun as working a lot of people on the radio. If you are interested in being a W1AW/1 operator, contact me right away.![]()
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VT QSO Party: www.ranv.org/vtqso.html![]()
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If you are in the Burlington area, consider joining us at the Winter Breakfast at JPs, 39 River Road, Essex Junction, January 31, at 9AM. We’ll be doing the two things hams are world famous for: eating and talking!![]()
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I send out this type of message to Vermont hams 3 times a year leading up to HAM-CON and Field Day. Please let me know if your address is wrong, you are no longer in Vermont, you are no longer a ham (boo, hiss!) or you are monitoring an email for someone who has passed and I’ll update the mailing list.![]()
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Please tell everyone you know about HAM-CON – even non-hams! Talk it up! Create excitement! Form car pools. Over the years, I have had the most fun traveling to shows with a bunch of hams in the car!![]()
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Ham radio gets its strength through our activity. Don’t just sit home and talk about the good old days. Get out to these events and have fun! Hope to see you!![]()
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73, Mitch "![]()
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73 de STARC
www.ranv.org
In local time, this corresponds to a start time of 7:00 PM EST FRIDAY night February 6th and an end time of 7PM SUNDAY night February 8th.
QST QST QST - ARRL Member Bulletin for January 21, 2026![]()
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This is a QST from the ARRL:![]()
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" ARRL Board Commits Federal Advocacy Funding; Creates New DXCC Single-Band Honor Roll; Elects Officers![]()
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The ARRL Board of Directors met in Windsor, Connecticut, for its Annual Meeting, January 16 - 17, 2026. ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, presided over the meeting.![]()
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President Roderick welcomed new Division Vice Directors including Carol Milazzo, KP4MD – Pacific; Marty Newingham, AG3I – Atlantic; Mel Parkes, NM7P – Rocky Mountain, and John Kitchens, NS6X – Southwestern.![]()
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Prior to the Board meeting, Board committees met on January 15, resulting in the following actions highlighted below:![]()
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Programs & Services Committee. Among the Committee’s deliberations was a decision to move forward with a new single-band DXCC (DX Century Club) Honor Roll Award for qualifying operators.![]()
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Administration & Finance Committee. The Committee discussed and approved the 2026 plan, later approved unanimously by the Board, amending it to include additional funding for advocacy efforts in Washington, DC. These efforts include continuing work to advance the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act (bills H.R.1094 and S.459) through committee and toward final passage.![]()
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Emergency Communications and Field Services Committee![]()
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Approved removing the annual limit on the number of ARRL-sanctioned hamfests a group may sponsor. The change allows, for instance, radio clubs to seek sanctioning for recurring events such as monthly swapfests or tailgates.![]()
Agreed to evaluate a standardized reporting form to streamline the Section Traffic Manager’s monthly reporting process.![]()
Reviewed the monthly reporting process for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®), including interest in advancing broader adoption of the new Form 4 and its impact on the accuracy of reported volunteer hours.![]()
Unanimously approved setting a minimum eligible age of 21 for the position of ARRL Section Manager.![]()
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Here are highlights of some of the actions taken at the Board meeting:![]()
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Board members discussed the final report from the Election Review Committee that was formed at the Board’s Second Meeting in July 2022.![]()
ARRL Foundation. The Board heard a report from ARRL Foundation President David Norris, K5UZ. The Foundation provides philanthropic support for amateur radio by way of the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program, Division Convention Grant Program, and through other grants and funds. In 2025, the Foundation awarded 171 scholarships totaling approximately $800,000 through the generosity of ARDC – Amateur Radio Digital Communications, individuals, and clubs. Norris also reported that the Foundation awarded 35 grants valued at $60,580, and two Division Convention Grants totaling $13,264. The Foundation will hold its annual meeting on January 29, 2026.![]()
The Board approved several ARRL awards as recommended by the Programs and Services Committee, including the 2025 Doug DeMaw Technical Excellence Award, the 2025 George Hart Distinguished Service Award, and the 2025 ARRL International Humanitarian Award. In addition, the Board recognized several ARRL Affiliated Clubs in honor of their long-standing anniversary milestones.![]()
Elections.![]()
ARRL Officers. The Board re-elected ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR; First Vice President Kristen McIntyre, K6WX, and International Affairs Vice President Rod Stafford, W6ROD. ARRL Foundation Treasurer Rick Niswander, K7GM, was elected as Second Vice President, succeeding Mike Ritz, W7VO, who held the position since 2024 and resigned on December 31, 2025. The Board also re-elected David Minster, NA2AA, as Chief Executive Officer and Secretary, and Diane Middleton, W2DLM, as Chief Financial Officer.![]()
Executive Committee (EC). Directors re-elected to the EC include Bill Lippert, AC0W (Dakota); Art Zygielbaum, K0AIZ (Midwest); Jim Boehner, N2ZZ (Roanoke), and Scott Yonally, N8SY (Great Lakes). Newly elected to the EC is Ed Wilson, N2XDD (Hudson Division).![]()
ARRL Foundation Board: ARRL Director Bill Lippert, AC0W (Dakota), was re-elected, and Foundation Board Directors Craig Thompson, K9CT, and Dr. Ed Snyder, W1YSM, were re-elected for 3-year terms.![]()
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The complete minutes of the 2026 Annual Meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors will be available soon on the ARRL website.![]()
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The next meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors is scheduled for July 17 - 18, 2026. "![]()
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73 de STARC
The ARRL January VHF Contest is this weekend.![]()
www.arrl.org/january-vhf![]()
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73 de STARC
www.arrl.org
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.
VT Medical Reserve Corps 2026 Healthcare Facility radio communication drills schedule![]()
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This is from Peter N1KJ about the upcoming 2026 Healthcare![]()
Facility radio communication drills that the VT Medical Reserve Corps are planning in case you would like to participate.![]()
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" Proposed schedule for 2026 Healthcare Facility drills![]()
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Members of the Saint Albans Amateur Radio Club who are interested in participating in the Vermont-wide amateur radio hospital drills at Northwestern Medical Center, please contact Peter Lawson (N1KJ) at n1kj@arrl.net for further details. The schedule for the 2026 drills is as follows:![]()
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Thursday, 5 February 2026, 2-4pm![]()
Saturday, 4 April 2026, 9-11am![]()
Thursday, 4 June 2026, 2-4pm![]()
Thursday, 20 August 2026, 2-4pm![]()
Saturday, 3 October 2026, 9-11am![]()
Thursday, 10 December 2026, 2-4pm![]()
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Please contact Peter N1KJ if you would like to/can participate.![]()
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73 de STARC
QST QST QST - POTA Event at Kill Kare State Park, in St. Albans, VT, Saturday, January 17, 2026![]()
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This is a QST.![]()
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This is from Pete N1KJ about this POTA event.![]()
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" POTA Winter Saturday at Kill Kare State Park![]()
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In celebration of Parks on the Air (POTA) winter weekend, you are invited to join Peter N1KJ and Matthias AC1RI at Kill Kare State Park on Saturday, 17 January 2026, starting about 12:00 noon. They will be setting up on the veranda of Rocky Point House or downhill towards the lake at the Pavilion. Peter will be operating CW with his QRP Mountain Topper. Matthias will be operating FT8 with his ICOM 705 and iPad. Feel free to bring your own rig, or come along just to keep them company. Further details available by email to n1kj@arrl.net.![]()
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73 de STARC