Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great holiday season. As we head into 2026, I am excited to announce some new leaders of our events and members of our board of directors.

Starting with the board, we have a new Vice President Alwin Bruner W9APB and Treasurer James Janiak NE9JJ. Also joining the board for 2026 will be Matt Hayes KB9ME as net director and John Cankar W9JM as public service director. I would be amiss if I did not take this time to thank the departing 2025 board members Vice President Elliot Goldman K9EHG, Net Director Marty Boroff WD9GYM, Treasure Richard Friedman W9RCF, and Skywarn Liaison Todd Marshall KD9NBB for their service to our club.

Without a doubt our largest club event is Field Day. After several years as directors of Field Day, Don Whiteman KK9H and Marty Boroff WD9GYM have handed the reins to a new team. Thank you, Don and Marty, for making our club’s Field Day a success over the years. I am pleased to announce that Udo Koch, Alwin Brunner, Jay Williams W8JAY, and Brian Nolan KD9RFW will be leading us this year. Please give them your support by volunteering with our Field Day June 27 and 28.

It is December already!  Where has 2025 gone?  Let’s give special thanks and a call out to all of our amazing volunteers who helped planning and executing plans to make these events great.  We couldn’t have done it without you. 

Let’s review all of our activities in the past year. 

North Shore Radio Club members participate in many public service activities. Some are well known such as the Trek 100 and Chicago Marathon. Sometimes, we also do for our fellow hams. Yesterday, I participated along with Greg W9GAK, Rob K9RST, Mark WA9IVH, in a sad volunteer activity: the removal of the late Hap KC9RP Holly’s tower and antenna in order for his widow Stephanie to sell their home. This was quite a challenge as the tower and antenna were nearly as tall and wide as the back yard. There was no driveway access to the back yard, and there was no alley behind the house. Just to make things even more interesting, the Commonwealth Edison power line ran at an angle across the back yard from one corner of the house to the opposite corner of the utility pole at the back of the yard. Making things even more “challenging” the tower itself had enough wobble and sway to make climbing unsafe. In addition Hap had solar panels installed on the roof!

Last month I started out saying the weather was turning cooler.  As I sit at my desk it is still in near 80 degrees!

Our September meeting was QRP Night at Emily Oakes Nature Center in Skokie.   We had about 20 members and a few visitors who found us on the Internet.  A great time was had by all making contacts with low power, eating snacks, and fighting mosquitos.  Thank You to Howard, N9RUI for organizing it as he has done for many years!

As the weather turns cooler it means it’s time for QRP Night.  The September club meeting (9/9/2025) will be held at Emily Oakes Nature Center in Skokie.  Bring your low power radio, string up an antenna, and make contacts while eating S’mores cooked around a bonfire.    Complete details are on the club website.  https://ns9rc.org/qrp-night   I hope to see all of you there! 

The North Shore Radio Club’s Annual Auction will take place at our October meeting (10/14/2025) at the Heller Nature Center, 2821 Ridge Road in Highland Park. This is our ONLY fundraising event. Proceeds help to organize and pay for all the things your club is doing for you including operating our repeaters, meeting location rents, Field Day food and equipment etc.   Complete Information: https://ns9rc.org/nsrc-auction

When people think of Amateur Radio the picture is usually of someone sitting alone in front of a radio or two.   However, that isn’t the whole picture.  Our club has many annual outdoor events where we can show off our radio skills to the public and socialize.

In June we got together at Field Day to show off our skills of stringing antennas, setting up stations and contacting other Hams.   We had a great visible location along Willow Road and the signage placed brought many visitors to whom we were able to explain about hams’ alternative form of communications. Many were unaware that during disasters that take down land lines and cell phone towers, hams could provide essential public safety communications.  I believe we have at least three new members who joined our club after visiting our Field Day event.