From the Desk of AB9ZI - May 2026 Message
How do YOU answer the question what is amateur radio? When friends ask me about amateur radio, I’m frequently at a loss as how to explain my hobby. Is it about public service, electronics, emergency communication, speaking with folks far away, or something else? That very question is the topic of this week’s email newsletter “On All Bands” published by DX Engineering. It has some great insight into explaining our hobby. Here is the link:
https://www.onallbands.com/youth-insights-tips-on-explaining-amateur-radio-to-your-non-ham-friends/
Oh and in case you were wondering, this week’s “On All Bands” newsletter was written by a member of YACHT, Young Amateurs Communications Ham Team. The bio of the author is very comforting to those of us concerned about the future of our hobby.
Hamvention is coming soon!
36,814 of us attended Hamvention last year. This is THE place to see up close and personal all those radios and accessories you’ve ogled in the ham radio magazines and a chance to meet with just about every vendor you can name.
As part of Hamvention our club has been a gathering spot in the Flea Market for many years.
This year we need someone to transport and set up our pop up tent, table, and chairs. For doing this you will receive not one but TWO tickets to Hamvention and best of all, be able to park your car right next to our spot. No school bus ride from the high school or parking blocks away at Hamvention!
Hamvention is Friday May 15 through Sunday May 17. A fun part of the experience is our annual “caravan of cars” organized this year by Robert Landgren KC9USC. Robert plans to mirror the trip as Don Whiteman has done over the years.
Please contact Robert by email, RobertHLandgren@kc9usc.com, by phone 312-699-9900, or by posting a message to him on our groups.io main message page to be included in the caravan.
But wait—there’s more!
Five weeks after Hamvention is our club’s biggest event: Field Day, Friday June 26 through Sunday June 28. As a club we always “score” well in this “not a contest” event. Seriously we will be operating CW, SSB and GOTA (get on the air) stations from 1pm on Saturday through 1pm on Sunday. Set up of the radios and antennas begins on Friday afternoon and like raising a child, it takes a village. Please contact any of our Field Day leaders and offer to assist with set up, tear down, and operating the radios.
Our leaders this year are: Alwin Brunner - W9APB, Udo Koch - N0LSR, Jay Williams - W8JAY, and Brian Nolan - KD9RFW. Their contact info is on our club website. (fieldday@ns9rc.org )
Of note is a new Food Chairman, Brian Nolan KD9RFW, who promises gourmet dining from world famous local establishments! (Portillo’s, Lou Malnati’s and Dunkin)
As always up to date club information is available 24/7 on the club website https://ns9rc.org/
73, Brian Dubin AB9ZI, President