ARRL Delaware Section Manager Newsletter – May 2025

Greetings from Sussex County

Another Delaware State Convention & Hamfest is in the books, and by all accounts, it was a fantastic event. Attendees found great deals, spent wisely, and kicked off exciting new projects with their freshly acquired gear. While the Cheer Center was sold out, the pending weather meant the parking lot wasn’t as full as usual. The presentations were well received, with our ARRL Division Director offering valuable insights into the latest developments within the ARRL and our Atlantic Division.

One particularly impactful presentation — ‘Deployment to North Carolina during Hurricane Helen’—highlighted the real-world consequences of inadequate disaster planning. During the hurricane, all communications in Avery County, NC were down, except for amateur radio. This reinforces the importance of the Fugate Principle within ARES: planning for the least probable incident that has the highest impact. For many of us, this means preparing for a direct or near strike from a hurricane. While routine communication failures occur more frequently, an unexpected large-scale disaster can have devastating consequences.  While picking up a microphone is often the first instinct in emergency situations, ARES must continue evolving to meet the changing needs of our served agencies. This might include developing basic networking skills, learning to operate satellite phones, utilizing the county’s 800 MHz radio system, or deploying a Starlink satellite system to establish broadband internet within minutes. Expanding our skill set makes us more valuable and effective when providing critical communication support.

2025 ARRL Field Day – June 28-29

The 2025 ARRL Field Day, an event that started in 1933, is just around the corner and is the largest annual operating event in amateur radio, held on the fourth full weekend of June each year. This years’ theme is “Radio Connects.” It brings together more than 31,000 radio amateurs across the U.S. and Canada to set up temporary stations in public places, demonstrating the science, skill, and service of amateur radio. The event serves multiple purposes: testing emergency preparedness, fostering community engagement, and showcasing the capabilities of amateur radio operators in less-than-optimal conditions. Participants aim to contact as many stations as possible across various frequency bands while honing their technical and communication skills. Field Day is not just about competition—it’s a celebration of camaraderie, learning, and public outreach, making it a cornerstone of the amateur radio calendar.

Ensure your Field Day site is registered on the ARRL Field Day Site Locator page which allows the public and other visiting radio operators to find your site. If possible, setup in a public area and post signage to get the public to stop by. The ARRL Field Day site also has the rules, logging software suggestions, logos for your group, Public Relations documents such as the Public Relations Kit and audio public service announcements.

Updated ARRL Club documents released

The ARRL has released two updated club documents: the ARRL Active Club Primer and the Hamfest Rules. While the Hamfest Rules document has a more limited scope, the Active Club Primer is relevant to all ARRL Affiliated Clubs. The previous version of the primer was written nearly 30 years ago, and this updated edition has been carefully crafted to provide club officers with essential tools and insights for fostering a welcoming and engaging environment within their clubs.  This guide empowers leadership to not only train effectively but also cultivate an inclusive culture that strengthens membership and participation. It covers a wide range of topics, including creating a welcoming atmosphere, the responsibilities of club officers, mentorship, leading by example, the benefits of ARRL Affiliation, club enhancement strategies, programs and activities, developing a club calendar, and much more.  For the greatest impact, this document should be reviewed annually or whenever new leadership is in place. To access the primer, visit arrl.org  and search for ‘ARRL Club Primer.’

Upcoming Events & Contests

• Delaware QSO Party- The Delaware QSO Party, which has been running annually since at least 2007, sponsored by the First State Amateur Radio Club (FSARC), is an exciting annual event that invites amateur radio operators from across the country—and beyond—to make contacts with stations in Delaware. Held over a weekend, this contest provides a unique opportunity for hams to work all three counties in the First State while testing their operating skills and enjoying the camaraderie of fellow radio enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned contester or a casual operator, the Delaware QSO Party offers a fun and rewarding experience with a variety of operating categories and certificates available for participants. Visit the FSARC website at www.fsarc.org for more information.  Visit contests.arrl.org or www.contestcalendar.com for details on these and upcoming contests.  

A Warm Welcome to Our Newest & Upgrading Members Join me in welcoming the latest additions to our vibrant community. Almost all of these new hams are part of the Delaware Section Youth Initiative. Upon passing their technician exam, they were provided a new Ham Radio HT kit which included a fully programmed QRZ-1 Explorer Radio kit.

KD3AYC      Anderson, Keagan

KD3AYD      Boltz, Jacob

KD3AYE      Hill, Kevin

KD3AYF      Loper, Marcus K

KD3AYG     McKnight, Layla

KD3AYH     Montgomery, Gabriel

KD3AYI       Nelson Jr, James L

KD3AYJ      Aylward, Isabelle S

KD3AYK     Gonet, Alexzander S

KD3AYL      Rulamka, Amaziah B

KD3AYM     Walters, Carly

KD3AYN     Corrice, Brynner S

KD3AYO     Hatch, Roman

KD3AYP     Hoffecker, Oliver

KD3AYQ    Jones, My’Laiah L

KD3AYR     Veney, Darion

KD3AYS     Salter, Caleb

KD3AYT     Twardus, Owen

KD3AYV     Barrett, Eric N

KD3AYW    Walker, John

KD3AYY     Bissette, Gabriel D

KD3AYZ     Fleming, Jason

KD3AZA     Vogan, Kaelynn M

KD3AZB     Vanyanbah, Oscar

KD3AZC     Zickgraf, Zoey

KD3AZF     Healy, Rees

KD3AZG    Soto-Pacheco, Engel Y

KD3AZI      Cushman, Victor T

KD3BAE     Timmons, Salem M

KD3BAD     Hyde, Cameron G.

KD3BAL      Oswald, James

KD3BBG     Nachbar, Joshua

Adapt, Innovate and Expand!

As we move further into the 21st century, ARES members must continue to adapt, innovate, and expand their skill sets to meet the evolving needs of emergency communications. Preparedness is no longer just about picking up a microphone—it’s about leveraging new technologies, strengthening partnerships, and staying ready for the unexpected. By embracing advancements such as satellite communications, digital networking, and modern radio systems, we enhance our ability to serve our communities when they need us most. ARES has always stood as a beacon of reliability in times of crisis, and with dedication, training, and a forward-thinking mindset, we will continue to uphold that legacy for generations to come.

73, Steven Keller Delaware Section Manager 

Email: kc3dso@gmail.com 

Cell: 240.515.0620 Office: 302.604.7470 

ARRL Delaware Section Reflector (https://groups.io/g/ARRLDelawareSection) 

ARRL Sections – Delaware (https://arrl.org/sections/view/delaware)