Summer is coming up fast!

That means: Antenna work!  Hamvention!  Field Day!  TREK 100 Charity Bike Race!  Fox Hunt!  And shortly after that QRP Nite and moving indoors for the club's only fund raiser the Auction!

 With the nice weather it's time to work on your antennas.  However, be mindful of your safety.  Use personal protection equipment when climbing towers and follow the three points of contact rules when on ladders.  Above all watch out for overhead power lines.

 Does a road trip sound good to you?  Do you want to see what 20,000 hams in one place looks like?  Then Hamvention is tailor made for you.  You have the opportunity to meet with all the equipment manufacturers and retailers in the fairground buildings. There is also a great assortment of ham radio "treasures" offered at amazing prices in the usually muddy swamp known as the flea market.

On April 18 in 1925 the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) was formed in Paris.  We have had 100 years of the IARU championing our hobby and defending our spectrum. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has recognized the IARU as representing interests of approximately three million radio amateurs worldwide.  You may want to quote that number to the next person who asks “do people still engage in amateur radio?”

The President’s Desk

Amateur Radio has an “image” of some folks hiding behind their microphones never seeing anyone in person.  Well, YOUR club goes a long way to dispute that image! 

On Tuesday, February 25 we held our annual club dinner at Portillo’s in Deerfield.   At last count we had 42 attendees!  It was great to see every one and we all had a lot of loud fun.  

And, on Saturday mornings at our ongoing breakfast at Max’s Deli s in Highland Park we set a record last week with 25 of us enjoying in-person conversations.  Join us at 8 am.  Max’s Location:   Crossroads Shopping Center 191 Skokie Valley Rd, Highland Park, IL 60035. 

The President’s Desk

For the past 2 ½ years, I have been volunteering to work with a teacher at Central School for the afterschool activity of Ham Radio for the 5-8th graders.  It’s been a great experience working with the kids who are so bright and catch on to everything we do so quickly.  Several students have obtained their HAM licenses (two Extra Class!) along with some of their family members. 

I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you Holiday Cheer and Happy New Year!

As your new president I am honored to be in this position and work with our new board of directors as we move into 2025.

In the past I served as VP and as an at large board member. I have seen what an amazing and worthwhile club this is and I will need your help to take it to the next level.