AUGUST 2 2026 NC SECTION NEWSLETTER

Summer weather is active up here at 3850 feet above sea level.  Some days are clear and hot, some days are cloudy and some come with drizzle or mist.  The drought map that comes out each Thursday shows that northeast North Carolina has gotten rain but the rest of the state is in varying drought conditions (Info can be found at https://www.ncdrought.org/ 

The second ARRL Board Meeting of the year was held in Windsor CT July 17, 18.  Minutes will be released to the public in a week or two.  When the minutes are released, they will be found at https://www.arrl.org/board-meetings

The PASS THE BILL campaign continues.  ARRL asks members to participate in the campaign to convince their members of Congress to support the bills that would override antenna restrictions that are contained in deeds and subdivision regulations that prohibit or severely limit the ability of amateur operators to install and use antennas.  ARRL points out that amateur antennas and equipment have served communities when cell systems and other communication systems have been degraded during hurricanes, tornadoes and other disasters caused by severe weather.  Information on how to participate in getting the bill passed can be found at ……..

ARRL points out that visitors use the information posted at arrl.org helps them find where local clubs meet and identifies club officers. During a Section Manager meeting two weeks ago, Josh Johnston, ARRL Emergency Communications and Field Services Director requested that Section Managers urge local clubs to update the information about their clubs which is posted on the ARRL webpage.  Instructions on how to update your club information can be found at……….

 As part of the Year of the Club campaign, W1AW/4 will be on the air at the Shelby Hamfest.  Stop by and take advantage of the opportunity to operate with the ARRL call.  The Shelby Hamfest will be held September 4-5 at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Shelby NC.

Field Day, 2026 was a success according to participants across North Carolina.  Four NC ARRL personnel visited 24 Field Day sites and traveled 1385 miles.  ARRL covers Field Day travel expenses from the Section Budget which is determined by the number of ARRL members and the size of the Section.  Thanks go out to Max (K4BMN), Dave (K4KDP) and Dan (N1ND) for helping me make visits at many of the Field Day locations.  Next year, we will focus on getting to the FD sites that have not recently been visited.

ARRL Total                                                                   126,463

ROANOKE DIVISION 10,776

NORTH CAROLINA SECTION 3,865

SOUTH CAROLINA SECTION 1,879

VIRGINIA SECTION 4,247

WEST VIRGINIA SECTION 787

·       Waynesville Hamfest report for July 25.  It is always a treat to get to Waynesville and participate in the Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society’s annual hamfest held at the Smoky Mountain Event Center.  The crowds were friendly and the food was good.  There were bargains and true finds of older equipment that went home with new owners.  If you have never been to the WSCARS hamfest, put it on your calendar and check it out.  You will likely want to come back again.

·       Upcoming Hamfests

o   Cape Fear (Fayetteville), August 8, Cumberland County Shrine Club    

o   Shelby, September 4&5, Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Shelby

o   JARSFEST, November 7, located at THE FARM ON 95.

At 1 pm, following the WSCARS hamfest on July 25, approximately 30 persons gathered at the Haywood Community College for a Western Branch ARES/Auxcomm meeting.  Scott Sutton (N4LNC) Western Branch ARES/Auxcomm Coordinator organized and led the meeting which covered plans for future training and an expansion of the digital network involving 18 repeaters that link the area back to the Western Branch Regional Coordinating Center. The High Country UHF Digital Network is tested each Tuesday evening at 8 pm. Additionally, Auxcomm leadership can activate/deactivate the linking of the repeaters whenever needed by use of special talk group commands.

The Western Branch Regional Coordinating Center has been relocated from Conover to 240 Pleasant Hill Road in Hudson.  Installation of amateur radio equipment for use by ARES/Auxcomm personnel should be operational soon.

Since we are in the midst of hurricane season, with the potential that several areas in North Carolina may be affected by a tropical storm or other severe weather, you should briefly review your ICS training and particularly review the ICS forms most likely to be used in an emergency include ICS Forms 213, 213RR, 205, 205A and 214.

·       There is an upcoming ARISS contact which will involve the Mecklenburg Amateur Radio Society to be held at the Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte.  This event will provide young patients at the hospital with the opportunity to speak via amateur radio with an Astronaut on the ISS.  The date of the ARISS contact has not yet been finalized but will occur sometime near the middle of October.  Prior to the ARISS contact, MARS will have a public contact table in the lobby for 90 minutes on four dates in August, September and October. 

·       A contact table and ham station will again be set up at the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh for a ten day period running from October 15-25.  Opportunities exist for volunteers to sign up for one of the two eight hour shifts each day to be on the air and talk with the public about amateur radio.  Information on signing up is posted at ……….

·       Orlando Hamcation will be held at the Central Florida Fairgrounds on February 12-14 2027.  Information will be posted at Hamcation.org.

·       PRN/DMR operational guidance for users of the system.

·       It is with sadness that I share information on the passing of Rose Haberstumpf, widow of K4ITL, Danny Hampton.  By her many acts of kindness, she made it possible for Danny to accomplish many things.  She drove him to medical appointments and ham radio meetings and made sure that he stayed relatively well despite his own significant health issues. Danny died over two years ago.

Rose was an award-winning baker and took home many blue ribbons for pastries and other delights she entered at the NC State Fair.  Whenever I went to Raleigh and visited Danny, Rose gave me a container full of chocolate chip cookies or other pastry creations, all of which were wonderful.

Two years after Danny passed away, Rose married Randy Haberstumpf

Rose’s funeral will be held on August 10 at McCullers Baptist Church south of Raleigh.