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Maple Grove Radio Club
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If you are having trouble reading this newsletter in your email client try turning off "Dark Mode." Also, you can always read it online from the newsletter archives.
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MGRC Mission Statement
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Maple Grove Radio Club provides education to current and future amateur radio operators, with the goal of serving the public. We are a reliable communications resource for events and emergencies in Maple Grove and surrounding communities.
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President's Message
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I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving, it is a great time to reflect and look back on years past and be grateful for where we are today. We are starting to settle into a new meeting place and it was wonderful to get everyone back together last month in person, the food is excellent and the company even better. There was a great buzz in the air. The excitement in the room following the meeting and everyone staying late to catch up was much needed and a very welcome sight.
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We had the elections scheduled for the last board meeting, however, we had a resignation from the board. Will Oliver, who has done an amazing job as secretary and keeping everyone informed of the club’s happenings has decided to step down. We should all make sure to thank him for the amazing job he has done!
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With that, we need to host a special election at our next club meeting and decided to postpone the board elections to December, we want to give the opportunity for Will’s replacement to vote on all the positions that are up for reelection. If you want to join the board and fill out his remaining term for 2026 and 2027 please reach out before the next meeting or make sure to make the meeting.
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Speaking of board elections, I have taken the time over the last year to reflect on my time here as President and have made the decision to not run for reelection. While it may seem sudden, I time out next year and instead of running again for my last year I want to be on the board and help guide whoever is after me. It’s crazy how it’s already been 2 years of running the ship and entering my sixth and final year on the board. It’s tough to put into words my appreciation and all the growth I’ve seen in myself as well as the club and its members. I couldn’t do it without all the help I’ve had along the way, so to all of you, thank you. We have an extremely robust club, and passionate members so you can rest assured whoever is the next president you’ll be in good hands. I look forward to this change for Maple Grove Radio Club, I think it’s important to always bring in new faces and fresh ideas it’s how we stay current and keep everything interesting for everyone. This isn’t one person’s club, it’s all of ours, and I hope you all are as excited as I am for our next leader, new location, and opportunities to come!
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Still looking for KØYVZ Public Service Award Nominations
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Please mark on your calendar that Midwinter Madness is on Saturday March 21, 2026. That means that we need to receive some nominations for our YVZ public service award. Here is the reward criteria;
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Nominees must have provided exceptional Amateur Radio related service to the public. The served entity must not be Amateur Radio related. Living nominees may have provided short term service in the preceding calendar year, SKs must have provided a long term service, or had a long lasting effect.
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Also note that club members are not eligible and the person doesn't need to be in the Twin Cities area.
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Please send your nominations to newsletter@k0ltc.org. We will vote on the nominations at a future club meeting.
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Don't Forget To Help Hams with H.O.A. Restrictions
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Amateur radio needs your help! There are many hams with H.O.A antenna restrictions. The Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act
(H.R. 1094 / S. 459) has been written for all hams to secure antenna rights. Please go to https://send-a-letter.org/hoa to send letters to your congressperson.The process is simple: fill in your basic information form and press the red SEND MY LETTERS button. It takes only a few seconds! Thank you for your help.
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Connect with Elmers/Mentors
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All club members are invited to join our groups.io forum. Please go to https://groups.io/g/MGRC/join to join. It should take less than a day for a moderator to approve. This form is a great way to get any technical questions answered.
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Similarly, all club members are welcome to join our Slack chat:
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Held at the Chester Bird American Legion Post 523 located at
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8900 Golden Valley Rd, Golden Valley, MN 55427
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Club meeting starts at 1900 hours (7:00pm CDT). Please come early for social time/ dinner before the meeting.
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A Maple Grove Radio Club Collective Year End Review. Come share what big or small thing you've accomplished.
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Next Board Meeting
Members are welcome to attend MGRC Board Meetings (only board members can vote), which are typically the 3rd Thursday of each month.
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Board meetings are always by zoom. Please contact president@k0ltc.org or any board member or officer if you would like the Zoom meeting link to attend.
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MGRC Weekly Net
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Our weekly Net is on Wednesdays at 20:00 UTC (8pm), on 147.000, positive offset, tone 114.8. We use directed Net protocol and will have a new question for discussion every week. Please call in if you can reach the K0LTC repeater. We need additional NET Operators! If you'd like to receive Net operator training please contact net@k0ltc.org.
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TALARC The American Legion Amateur Radio Club
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President: Tim Arimond NØBYH.
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Shack is closed down for now.
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Contact the Membership Chairmain Scott Henley, KFØFFE at scottehenley@gmail.com if you are interested in shack access and/or an honorary membership.
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Just need to be an MGRC member in good standing to be eligible for honorary membership.
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Zoom meetings 4th Thursday of each month at 6:30pm.
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Club Calendar of Events
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Club Member Spotlight
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Ham radio allows us to have a wide range of varying interests. I just wanted to provide a spot light to the amazing people we have in this club. This months interview is with Zach Whitney, KØZTW
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Question 1: How did I get started in amateur radio?
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I started in amateur radio to become a volunteer at Ojibwe Forests Rally in Detroit lakes. I had gone up as a spectator when they offered a bus ride out to private turns and I saw volunteers getting to be closer and more involved with the race. I heard the radios going and got to talking with an operator and they let me know the rally was run via ham radio operators. I went home and looked up a club and the rest is history.
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Question 2: What is your most favorite part of amateur radio?
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I enjoy the social aspects of radio, getting out and being involved with a club is fascinating because there are so many members who all have different specialties in radio. It’s always fun to see which way different people like to explore and spend time in the hobby. Anytime someone is passionate about an aspect of the hobby I enjoy listening, there’s a million ways to be involved in amateur radio and I find them all interesting. Someday I will work some satellites, it took us all night to get one contact on field day and I think with time, I’d like to try more of that.
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Question 3: What is your most proud accomplishment in amateur radio?
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That’s a tough one, I would say the first time I went up to Ojibwe Rally as a radio volunteer. I practiced as much as I could at home. Set up antennas, vehicle setup, learn the ins and outs of my radio and cross band repeat. Now the big caveat being up there they wanted to make sure that you didn’t set up improperly and constantly transmit onto the repeater so it was always advised no cross band repeat. Well this year they had a big red bull live stream display set up at the jump / spectator area. Working a radio anywhere near the crowd was out of the question, there was no one there but red bull and I could not get into the repeater. The only option was to move. So I got my truck up on a hill and set up crossband repeat to my handheld. I was confident that I had it all set up correctly beforehand so a simple press of the buttons and away we went. Remote starting my truck from time to time while I was able to stay in the action and right on the line with the crowd. It was a good thing I was down there too because we had a spectator across the road park on a ground bee hive and they got stung a lot as they got out of their car we were able to inform both the spectator medical as well as rally medical. No major injuries besides that one but it was a humbling experience in both know your equipment and did you try moving?
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Question 4: Do you have any recommendations, words of wisdom, or ideas for newly licensed hams?
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Grab a radio and see if it works for you. Don’t let the chase of a perfect setup get in the way of getting on the air. Find something at Midwinter Madness and get after it. Look at how much can be done with such small radios these days, everything is portable compared to the older radios. Getting hung up with all the bells and whistles or chasing the perfect fit will keep you off the air. Hook up an antenna, run around, experiment with what you have. Whether it’s your home, the woods, parking lot, on the road, you name it, try something and see what's out there. Don’t let this solar cycle go to waste, if you don’t have your general ticket, reach out to the club and sit with someone who does and work HF. It’s pretty amazing what you can do with a simple setup and low power. Don’ t need a tower and a billion watts to have a good time.
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Interesting Media and Links
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If you remember back in September I introduced the the FM radio design series. This is the 401 series where you learn over 8 videos how to design a Low Noise Amplifier with a Pre-select filter. Would be a great video if you are preparing for your Amateur Extra Exam or are interested in advanced radio concepts.
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Found this video very interesting about finding a material that can be used as an antenna that is also very strong. Thought you might find it interesting too.
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I don't often come across content that talks about the 630 meter band. I watched this with great curiosity. Putting it here to hopefully interest you too.
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ARRL NEWS
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2025 ARRL Board of Directors Election Results
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In the ARRL Pacific Division, current Director John Litz, NZ6Q (1,270 votes), of Stockton, California, was declared the winner, defeating Bob Vallio, W6RGG (960 votes).
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In the Southeastern Division, current Director Mickey Baker, N4MB (1,596 votes), of West Palm Beach, Florida, was declared the winner, defeating Tom Schaefer, NY4I (928 votes), Jim Kvochick, K8JK (774 votes), and Northern Florida Section Manager Scott Roberts, KK4ECR (529 votes).
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In the Southwestern Division, current Director Richard Norton, N6AA (1,392 votes), of Topanga, California, was declared the winner, defeating Arizona Section Manager Rick Paquette, W7RAP (1,388 votes). John Kitchens, NS6X (1,623 votes), of Somis, California, who is the Santa Barbara Section Manager, was declared the winner, defeating David Ginsberg, N3BKV (1,162 votes), for the position of Vice Director.
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In August, the following incumbents and candidate were declared elected without opposition: In the Pacific Division, current Vice Director Carol Milazzo, KP4MD. In the Rocky Mountain Division, current Director Jeff Ryan, K0RM, and Mel Parkes, NM7P, who ran uncontested for the position of Vice Director. In the Southeastern Division, current Vice Director Andrew Milluzzi, KK4LWR. In the West Gulf Division, Director John Robert Stratton, N5AUS, and Vice Director Lee Cooper, W5LHC — both already serving in these positions.
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Winners will assume their roles for terms beginning January 1, 2026.
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Members voted online or could request paper ballots. The election was conducted by third party Election Services Co., of Melville, New York — the same company that has conducted ARRL elections since 2022.
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ARRL is governed by its Board of Directors. Elections are held for five of the 15 ARRL Divisions each year, for terms of 3 years.
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Upcoming Contests
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- December 2 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)
- December 4 -- QRP ARCI Top Band Sprint (CW)
- December 4 - 5 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
- December 4 -- NRAU 10m Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)
- December 4 -- SKCC Sprint Europe (CW)
- December 5 -- NCCC FT4 Sprint (digital)
- December 5 -- Weekly RTTY Test (digital)
- December 5 - 7 -- ARRL 160-Meter Contest (CW)
- December 5 -- NCCC Sprint (CW)
- December 6 - 7 -- Kalbar Contest (phone)
- December 6 -- Wake-Up! QRP Sprint (CW)
- December 6 - 7 -- PRO CW Contest (CW)
- December 6 - 7 -- INORC Contest (CW)
- December 6 - 7 --FT Challenge (digital)
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Upcoming State, Section, and Division Conventions
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- December 12 - 13 | The Tampa Bay Hamfest, hosting the ARRL West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant City, Florida
- January 10 | Ham Radio University, ARRL New York City-Long Island Section Convention, Brookville, New York
- January 16 - 17 | Southwest Florida Regional Hamfest, ARRL Southern Florida Section Convention, Fort Myers, Florida
- January 30 - 31 | Jackson MS Capital City Hamfest, ARRL Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi
- February 7 | Hendricks County Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Indiana Section Convention, Danville, Indiana
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February 13 - 15 | Orlando HamCation, hosting the ARRL Southeastern Division Convention, Orlando, Florida
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President: Zack Whitney – KØZTW (2021)
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Vice President: Stephen Cullen – KFØAED (2023)
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Secretary: William Oliver – KFØADU (2022)
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Treasurer: Barb Hanson – KDØHUV (2024)
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Trustee K0LTC: Jerry Dorf – NØFWG
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Member: Clay Bartholow – WØLED (2021)
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Member: Gordon Patenaude – WAØWSR (2023)
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Member: Aaron Lewis – WØADL (2024)
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Member: Scott Henley – KFØFFE (2024)
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Member: Paul Brandt - KØPJB (2025)
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Member: Chris Silva - AEØIM (2025)
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Love it, or hate it?
See anything interesting that I missed?
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