NOVEMBER 9  2025 NC SECTION NEWSLETTER

GREETINGS FROM THE HIGH COUNTRY

Fall made a brief appearance with enough wind to bring the leaves down out of the trees and provide fuel for wildfires up here in the High Country. Please avoid outdoor burning which can easily get out of control due to the dry leaves that are on the ground.

Winter weather is not too far off.   Monday and Tuesday Sunday and Monday are expected to bring snow to the mountains.  Above 4000 feet in elevation the forecasts are calling for 4-9 inches of snow which will be the first taste of winter weather and will include temperatures down to 20 degrees and wind chills down close to zero.  Predicted snowfall in Boone and Blowing Rock is expected to be around 3 inches. Beech Mountain and the Parkway around Mt. Mitchell will likely get up to 6 inches. 

On Sunday morning, the Weather Channel began advising that that a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for much of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, including the High Country, through 7 am on Tuesday morning.  Winds are expected to be around 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph along with significant low chill factors.

In order to give you a glimpse of what weather can be like up here, the Sunday afternoon high was 60 degrees while the high temperature on Monday is predicted to be 28 with a low temperature of 18 degrees.

Welcome to Winter in the High Country.

ARRL MATTERS

·       The ARRL Annual Report for 2024 was released this week and it can be obtained by going to the ARRL homepage (arrl.org) and searching for “ANNUAL REPORT”.  The current Annual Report indicates that the number of members at year end was 137,114.  Previously published data indicate that ARRL had a peak membership of slightly more than 170,000 in 2015 with decreases in nearly every year.  An exception to this downward trend occurred in 2020-2021 with membership of slightly more than 159,000 members after which the decline in membership resumed.

·       With the support of ICOM, ARRL launched a campaign to attract additional ARRL members.  Persons who join or renew their membership in ARRL, as well as persons who contribute to the ARRL Diamond Club, are entered into the a prize-winning drawing that will determine who wins the ICOM DREAM STATION (ICOM 7760 with power supply and amplifier}.  Deadline for entering is December 31 2025.  Details can be found at https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-members-enter-to-win-an-icom-dream-station .

·       VE TEAMS are continuing to give license exams but actual licenses will not be issued until the FCC resumes normal operations once the Government Shutdown ends.  Details can be found at https://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-licensing-update-during-us-government-shutdown.

·       ARRL continues to be quite active in urging hams to indicate their support for the PASS THE BILL campaign.  Hams can go to a website ARRL has created which matches the ham’s call sign and prepares letters that are addressed to the relevant member of the US House of Representatives as well as both US Senators.  Letters will be hand delivered to the appropriate Congressional office by the ARRL lobbying team.  Information can be found at https://www.arrl.org/current-legislation .

·       ARRL has expanded its PASS THE BILL campaign to encourage GMRS repeater owners to also join in sending petitions to Congress for relief from antenna rules established by HOA and POA groups.  ARRL has prepared an on-line petition (similar to the one for amateurs) which produces letters from GMRS license holders that will be delivered to theN appropriate US House and US Senate members.  Information can be found at https://send-a-letter.org/gmrs/

Information on the campaign can be found on the home page https://www.arrl.org/home .

·       MESSAGE TRAFFIC REPORT

Each moth, Dave Roy (W4DNA, NC Section Traffic Manager) prepares a report on the activities of the various traffic nets.  Set out below is an abbreviated version of his September report but the complete report can be viewed at ncarrl.org. 

Thanks go out to Dave, the various net managers and the traffic handlers who pass the message traffic that is summarized below.

W4DNA - NC Section Net Report - SEPTEMBER 2025

·       UPCOMING HAMFEST

               The final hamfest in North Carolina in 2025 is the JARSFEST which is organized by the          Johnston County Amateur Radio Society.  It will be held next Sunday (November 16 in Benson     NC at the American Legion Building--605 North Wall Street) .  information can be found at https://www.jars.net/jarsfest-2025/ .

·       Veterans Day is Tuesday, November 11.  Much is owed to the millions of citizen-soldiers as well as career military personnel who, for centuries, have kept us safe.

CLOSING COMMENT

Many people up here in the mountains still suffer from the effects of Hurricane Helene which occurred more than a year ago.  Businesses lost income due to the disruption of touriam and a number of homes are still not fully restored for those who live up here.  Lives were lost, vehicles and homes were destroyed, roads and bridges were severely damaged.

Although there were many individuals and groups who offered time, labor, money and emotional support to those who lost so much, everything has not returned to what was once the everyday “normal” in various areas of the NC Mountains.

Given that reality, some will find it difficult to celebrate Thanksgiving having lost so much.

Yet, even in their long road to full recovery, there are things to be thankful for.

First, despite much to mourn and grieve, those who died will be remembered and the need for more effective preparedness will be recognized.  Second, the outpouring of help by neighbors as well as complete strangers is something to be thankful for.  Loving support within families, churches, communities and small businesses has made somewhat more bearable the nearly unbearable losses so many people experienced from Hurricane Helene.

Regardless of how much or how little any of us lost from the storm and its 20 inch rainfall, there are others who lost more. 

During the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, reflect on what we each have to be thankful for.   If possible, make a contribution to your local church, your community fire department or rescue squad, to a volunteer group that is still working on rebuilding. 

Best wishes as we close out a difficult year.

Marv, WA4NC

NC SECTION MANAGER

BOONE