Below are the results of our recent Section Manager nomination period for the term beginning January 1, 2026, and declared elected, with no opposition:
New Section Managers:
Michigan – Ralph Katz, AA8RK
Santa Barbara – Keith Elliott, W6KME
Continuing:
Alabama – Dennis Littleton, K4DL
Alaska – David Stevens, KL7EB
Delaware – Steven Keller, KC3DSO
East Bay – Mike Patterson, N6JGA
Kansas – Ron Cowan, KBØDTI
New Mexico – Bill Mader, K8TE
Tennessee – David Thomas, KM4NYI Western Massachusetts – Ray LaJoie, AA1SE
The ARRL Field Organization is the grassroots corps that makes up the 60,000 volunteers among ARRL membership. It is divided into 71 Sections, each of which is led by a volunteer Section Manager who is elected by the members of the Section. Section Managers serve two-year terms.
What a fun time I had at the Windsor Hamfest last week. It was great seeing all the “Seagullers” and other hams around the state, including Mike KC1RCG and Leasa AC1UR Garvin, who drove all the way down from Houlton to attend. We had a good NTS Nets meeting with awesome attendance. The event had great food, fellowship and fun. Thank you to Jose Douglas KB1TCD and crew and the Lincoln County ARC for organizing the hamfest.
Alexander Hamfest!
The last Maine hamfest of the year is the Alexander Hamfest, sponsored by the Saint Croix Valley Amateur Radio Club, and will be Saturday, September 20 from 8am until noon. The hamfest is located at the Alexander Elementary School, 1430 Airline RD (RT-9) in Alexander.Talk-in is on the W1LH Cooper Mountain Repeater 147.330+ pl 118.8.Don’t miss the opportunity to sell, trade, or buy some awesome deals, or win one of the many door prizes.
Pine State ARC 50TH Celebration
Congrats to the Pine State Amateur Radio Club for its upcoming 50th anniversary, for which they are celebrating with a catered banquet on October 11. If you would like to purchase tickets to the banquet, or join the club, contact PSARC President Ed Paradis, wi1z@arrl.net or call 207-702-7733.
EAWA POTA
The Ellsworth Amateur Wireless Association will be conducting a Parks-On-The-Air on Saturday morning, October 11 at the Lamoine State Park. All are welcome.
Radiogram Training
Jim Kutsch, KY2D, will be starting up his excellent radiogram training sessions again on the second Sunday of each month. Starting September 14, at 5:00PM on 3.940 MHz, Jim will start the training from the beginning, and progress each month. If you do not have 75 meters capability, no worries. You can point your browser to the Sebago Lake SDR and customize the settings to listen to 3940. 0 kHz LSB. The web site is sebagolakesdr.us:8901. Works great!
Kudos to Ham Volunteers
Many thanks to all the Maine ham radio operators who volunteer consistently for public service events, relaying radiograms via the National Traffic System, drill and hone skills through their Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), or RACES or other EmComm group, proctor FCC exams as Volunteer Examiners, or mentor/assist other hams, serve as club officers and other leadership positions. Without your efforts, ham radio would be a lot less fun.
Maine Slow Speed Net
If you are new to CW (Morse Code), 0r a bit rusty, consider checking into the Maine Slow Speed Net Monday through Friday at 6:00PM on 3.585 MHz. Net control usually sends around 10 to 13 words per minute, but will gladly slow down to any speed with which you are comfortable. This is a great net to practice your cw!
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ARRL Maine Section
Section Manager: Philip W Duggan, N1EP
n1ep@arrl.org
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On September 6, 2025, the Granite State ARA returned for its second year at the 4H Agricultural Fair in New Boston, New Hampshire, turning the fairgrounds into a quick-learning playground for all ages. They kept things hands-on, friendly, and pretty contagious for anyone curious about radios and community service. [Full story]
Jeremy Taylor, K1JST, writes on the RI ARES news list:
We have been invited to participate along with several other VOADs in the Portsmouth Dam Emergency Damage Assessment Exercise to practice and demonstrate Volunteer Comms capabilities for the RI Local Emergency Management Directors.
We are looking for volunteers to participate as assigned during the Field Exercise, to provide communications during Dam Emergency Damage Assessments.
We are also looking for volunteers for a strike force to establish a remote internet link for personnel in Exeter to observe the event in real-time.
ARES will discuss our participation at a meeting on September 17th via Zoom.
Exercise Timeline
(Exact dates TDB, but likely September 21 – 26 for remote play, Saturday September 27th for Filed Exercise)
Week before STARTEX – Teams may test equipment & Familiarize themselves with the Area at locations. Tue – Wed 2000 – Request for Resources Drill for Comms and UAS teams/operators. Sat – 0800 STARTEX – Report to Volunteer Reception Center/Staging Area. 0900 – Deploy to assignment & perform safety brief, systems checks & updated safety brief. 1015 – Commence Damage Assessments, Info. Flo & Mgmt. 1140 – Arrive back at VRC/Staging Area and check in. 1150 – Commence Hot Wash. 1200 FINEX
The Port City ARC based in Greenland, NH, which sponsors the NH QSO Party has updated the rules of the NH QP to include a mobile and portable category. It was created to promote both multiple county operation as well as leverage the POTA operator and its community, to all participate in this fun, 22 hour long event the weekend of September 20-21. Additionally, the non-NH operator multiplier credit has been changed – now you can work all ten (10) counties on all 5 bands for a maximum total of 50. This will promote a wider frequency range interest and add to the challenge.
The Port City Amateur Radio Club plans to deploy several two-person teams around the state in an effort to activate as many of the 10 counties as possible, utilizing the club’s new “Radio in a Box” setup (3 total) that has an FTDX-10, power supply and tuner. These systems proved successful during the ARRL 2025 Field Day and was the result of a club project.
The Consortium is planning to start its program Monday, September 8. As it has been, the meeting will be held in the Manville Sportsmen’s Club, 250 High St, Manville, RI. Doors should be open at about 5:30 and the program starts at 7:00.
Jim K1GND shall present an interesting program and as always, we shall enjoy one another’s company.
Ed Ridolfi, K1RID, writes on the Port City ARC mailing list:
All are invited to join or listen in on the York County (ME) QRS Net tonite (Thursday) at 7 PM on 7.118. This is a slow speed, beginner-focused practice net.
Check in at any speed or experience level and copy the weekly message – 1st at around 15 WPM and then again at about 8 WPM.
Hope to see you on the air!
York County QRS Net (YCQRS)
When: Thursdays, 7:00 PM local
Where: ~7.118 MHz (± QRM)
Pace: ~5–10 WPM to start; up to ~18-20 WPM welcome
Comfort level: Beginner and 1st time cw ops are welcomed. Check in or just listen in. If listening, please email me any sig reports
SCRIPT to follow along:
V V V THE YORK COUNTY QRS NET STARTS AT 1900 ET V V V
V V V NET CONTROL IS K1RID ES ALL WELCOME TO CHECK IN V V V
CQ CQ CQ DE K1RID FER YCQRS NET =
NET IS OPEN TO ALL FER MORSE CODE PRACTICE =
PSE CHECK IN WID CALL SIGN ES NAME ONLY =
CHECK INS NW PSE FER YCQRS NET DE K1RID K
STATION CALLS: KC1CMF GIANNI K
NET CONTROL REPLIES: R R KC1CMF UR RST 599 NXT STATION PSE
THIS CONTINUES UNTIL ALL CHECK INS ARE ACKNOWLEDGED. THEN I WILL CALL EACH STATION IN ORDER FOR ANY COMMENTS OR SIMPLE GOODBYE LIKE: TNX 73 DE KC1CMF K
Next I will send: THIS WEEKS PRACTICE MSG FOLLOWS = <>
To close the net I will send:
GN ALL ES TNX QNI BST 73 DE KITTERY ES K1RID QRT SK dit dit
CONTENTS
– Public Service and Youth Radio Activities for YOU!
– Hurricanes
– ARES – When All Else Fails
– Section Manager Cabinet Openings.
– New England Division “Ham of The Year”
October
10/18/25 – Scouting’s worldwide Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) (A full Saturday Event) Working on confirming sites at: Ashford, New Hartford, Goshen, Redding, Greenwich (Need “Teams of 6” at each confirmed site)
Hurricanes
Connecticut’s Hurricane Season 2025 is HERE! ARE YOU PREPARED? JOIN CT ARES www.ctares.org
ARES® – When All Else Fails®
Amateur radio operators use their ARES® training, skills, and equipment to provide communications during emergencies When All Else Fails®.
• Hams serve our communities when storms or other disasters damage critical communication infrastructure, including cell towers, and wired and wireless networks.
• Amateur radio can function completely independently of the internet and phone systems.
• An amateur radio station can be set up almost anywhere in minutes. Hams can quickly raise a wire antenna in a tree or on a mast, connect it to a radio and power source, and communicate effectively with others.
CT ARES needs YOU!
The ARES organization has 4 types of Emergency Coordinators (EC):
– the local EC for a town/municipality/group of towns
– the local Assistant EC
– the District Emergency Coordinator (DEC), one for each of 5 Regions
– the Assistant DEC, one or more for each of 5 DECs
Building CT ARES
I am pleased to announce that we have FOUR new ARES Emergency Coordinators (ECs) in CT ARES. Please congratulate and support these fine people.
REGION 1
Jeff Bustraan – KC1RQH: EC – Bridgeport
Conrad Trautmann – N2YCH: EC – Trumbull
Adam Hosa – N1AH: EC – Stratford
RE GION 5
John Ahle – W1JMA: EC – Ridgefield
More Positions to Fill
We have 169 towns/municipalities in CT which are divided into 5 REGIONS.
Not every one of them has an EC. Additionally, we are currently short two District Emergency Coordinators (DEC): Region 2 & Region 4.
For more information about CT ARES, go to: www.ctares.org\
CT Section Manager Cabinet Openings
I still have need of 2 people to complete my CT Section Cabinet Roster.
The work is simple, and the pay is “unbelievable” (LOL!) Contact, your friendly CT Section Manger: WA1SFH@arrl.org
– Section Youth Coordinator (SYC)
Promoting Amateur Radio activities to YOUTH, and next steps.
– Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC) – Pending
Keeping in touch with Affiliated Clubs, and encouraging other Clubs to become ARRL Affiliated Clubs
New England Division’s “Ham of the Year – 2025″
At this year’s North East HamXposition, the NE Division “Ham of the Year” Award was presented to: Dave “Tess” Tessatore, K1DT
Each of the NE Sections had their own runners up: Congratulations to David Tipping – NZ1J receiving the CT Section award.
Ham Radio is FUN!
SEE YOU ON THE AIR !
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ARRL Connecticut Section
Section Manager: Douglas E Sharafanowich, WA1SFH wa1sfh@arrl.org
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The Northeast HamXposition (“HamX”) and ARRL New England Division Convention on August 21-24, 2025, was a resounding success. The weather for the Marlborough, Massachusetts, event was picture-perfect, the flea markets were buzzing with sales, and major equipment manufacturers Elecraft and Flex were back to exhibit their wares along with other vendors inside the bustling exhibition area.
According to HamX Program Chair Skip Youngberg, K1NKR,“This year’s four-day program featured 72 presenters who gave 82 talks and four workshops spanning over 101 hours.” It’s believed that this programming surpasses that of any amateur radio convention in the world in terms of quantity — or quality.
Topics included everything from antennas, outdoor EmComm vans and trailers on display, along with on-air activities such as POTA, contesting, and DX. There was even a special technical talk entitled “Demystifying Quantum Computing: Application of RF Control System.”
(L-R:) HamX Keynote speaker Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL; Boston ARC members and POTA enthusiasts Brendan Baldonado, NW1S; Tom Ulrich, KC1OCY; and Brendan’s “harmonic,” Seamus
Special interest forums and “meet and greets” included YL, QCWA, New England QRP, MARS, ARRL sections, along with a well-attended youth forum.
HamXposition kicked off on Thursday night, featuring nationally known comedian Juston McKinney. On Friday, twenty convention-goers went on a bus tour of W1AW and ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, while full length educational seminars were held, including the ever-popular mini-Contest University hosted by K1EP and K1G. The Friday evening DX/Contest Banquet talk was presented by well-known multi-multi station owner Tim Duffy, K3LR, CEO of DX Engineering, a major sponsor of the convention.
On Saturday morning, popular QRP YouTube podcaster and influencer Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL, gave an inspirational convention keynote address to a standing-room-only crowd.
The Saturday Grand Banquet featured Dr. Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, from the University of Scranton. Nathaniel is founder of Science Citizen Investigation (“Ham-SCI”). He enthralled the audience with descriptions of cutting-edge experiments conducted by ordinary radio amateurs who are helping to advance the knowledge of propagation and the Earth’s ionosphere.
Dozens of youth members of New England Sci-Tech, a nearby STEM/makerspace, attended throughout the weekend and at the two evening banquets. “Having young hams in the middle of the action in the [hotel] Atrium and running a number of presentations demonstrated the spirit of the future leaders in our hobby,” said Volunteer Chair Barbara Irby, KC1KGS.
YOUTH FORUM 2025 — Group Photo at this year’s HamX. Twenty eight students got to talk with Dr. Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, an Associate Professor of Physics and Engineering at The University of Scranton (center of photo), who was the guest speaker for the Saturday evening Grand Banquet. His talk was about the study space weather and its impacts on the ionosphere and radio propagation. [photo courtesy Sci-Tech ARS]
HamX featured kit-building sessions led by Bob Phinney, K5TEC, and other volunteers. Under supervision, beginners were invited to build easy kits for a nominal cost in under an hour, ranging from Morse code oscillators, “blinky” name badges and night lights. All tools were provided. The kits were invented by students from New England Sci-Tech.
Members of the Providence (R.I.) Radio Association staffed the convention’s GOTA station, W1XPO. Under the guidance of experienced operators, newer hams made their first HF contacts.
Over $15,000 in prizes were awarded to convention attendees.
Elecraft vendor booth
The flea market was the scene of many transactions, beginning early Friday morning and lasting until Sunday afternoon. “I want to give particular praise for the flea market, which had more vendors with better selections than in past years,” commented HamX attendee Chuck Chandler, WS1L.
HamX also featured programs on the lighter side, like the Board Games and Social Hour facilitated by Seth Kendall, KC1PZY. Additionally, late-night Open Mic Story Telling, led by Phil Temples, K9HI, allowed attendees to share their ham-radio-related “tall tales” to an attentive audience.
Diane Ortiz, K2DO, Vice President of YLRL, had high praise for the Northeast HamXposition. “I hadn’t been to this event in over 15 years and was amazed . . . It was truly a mini Dayton Hamvention!”
During the two weeks, club members will take turns activating the call sign and we are offering a special certificate with the following endorsements for contacts:
Certificates will be available to anyone who works our station, in three achievement levels:
• GOLD – For anyone who contacts W1V on 10 or more different bands / modes
• SILVER – For anyone who contacts W1V on 5 to 9 different bands / modes
• BRONZE – For anyone who contacts W1V on 1 to 4 different bands / modes
We will also be offering certificates for operators, in the same levels. For example, if you activate 10 or more different band slots, you are eligible for a Gold level certificate.
From ARRL News, 09/12/2025: 
On September 6, 2025, the Granite State ARA returned for its second year at the 4H Agricultural Fair in New Boston, New Hampshire, turning the fairgrounds into a quick-learning playground for all ages. They kept things hands-on, friendly, and pretty contagious for anyone curious about radios and community service. [
Jeremy Taylor, K1JST, writes on the RI ARES news list:
Bob Beaudet, W1YRC, writes:
ARRL Section Manager, Connecticut
