We are nearly through December, and soon 2026 will be here. 2025 was another very successful year for the club, in which we put on a quite a variety of operating events throughout the year, starting with Kansas Day in January, Ensorfest25 and the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve POTA in May, Field Day in June, then following up with the Kansas QSO Party at Del's SAF in Edgerton, KS, and the Pony Express POTA at Hollenberg, KS, in August. Other activities included our Tech Nights and Hamfests that members attend together, including Mine Creek in February, The KC Area Hambash in April, the Warrensburg Hamfest in July, and ending with a big hit, the Midwest Division Convention at Spark-Con at Sedalia, MO., featuring Amelia Rose Earhart in October.

     Early in the year, the Education Committee successfully conducted 8 instruction sessions for the General Class License at the Salvation Army in Olathe, with all students passing their FCC exams.   Going forward into 2026, I encourage you to increase your enjoyment by not only participating in activities but also enjoying member camaraderie by helping, planning, and coordinating events, as well as inspiring and sponsoring brand-new activities the club can enjoy. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a joyful holiday season, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy Hanukkah!

SECRETARY-TREASURER REPORT: 

      Marty was not able to attend the meeting so George provided a treasurer update. A number of people have already paid their annual dues for 2026 and more renewals are expected. There is no update from the 501c3 application. George said it could be late 2026 before we hear back about our application. Jason providied an update on the number of club members and ARRL members.

 AGENDA ITEMS:

Clothing and Badge Orders [Jason – KFØISL]

      The name tag order has been placed. A total of 16 people have ordered name tags. Most of the hats and clothing items have been completed and distributed. There are 3 to 4 items that were back ordered and those that have come in are currently being embroidered.

Club Officers Elected At November Meeting [George - WBØCNK]

• President: George McCarville, WBØCNK
• Vice President: Trig Morley, KCØRPY (Welcome and Thank you Trig!)
• Treasurer: Marty Peters, KEØPEZ
• Secretary: Jason Gaumer, KFØISL
• Board Members at Large: Woody Jeffrey, KEØNTU
• Bob Davidson, KFØAUI (Welcome and Thank you Bob!)

Thank Yous [George - WBØCNK]

• Thank you to the outgoing Vice President, Larry Hall, KDØRIU for his club service over the past years and Field Day Co-Chair.
• Thank you to outgoing Board Member at Large, Greg Sippel, KØGCS, for his club service this past year.
• Marty Peters,KEØPEZ: Treasurer – continues in his role. He provides year around assistance, worked on the 501c3 application, and manages club funds, 
• Jason Gaumer,KFØISL : Secretary - continues in his role.  He worked on clothing and name tag orders.  
• Woody Jeffrey, KEØNTU: Board Member at Large - continues in his role. He has worked on Co-NCS 2M Net.
• Greg Sippel, KØGCS-Board Member at Large.  
• Jim Andera,KØNK:  Repeater & Education Committees Chairman / Field Day Co-Chairman
• Repeater Trustees: Danny Lane,KAØFMZ, Duke Neeland, WØQQQ, Jim Andera, KØNK.
• Greg Wolfe, KIØKK: WebMaster - Responsible for design / daily Maintenance, protection, monthly news letter editor, and web program purchases.
• Deborah Apalenek, N2LZN: Provided the club with embroidered shirts and hats.
• Trig Morley, KFØRPY: Co-NCS Weekly 2M Net. Accepted position as Vice President. 
• Rick Nichols, Jim Andera, Greg Wolfe, Jeff Darby: Contributed web site articles.
• Jeff Darby for hosting numerous Zoom Sessions through out the year:Business meetings, Tech Nights, Committee meetings.
• Thank you to All 2025 Officers, Committee' Chairs, and key individuals instrumental to club functions. 
• Thanks to all that have supported the club by coming to events, club meetings, and activities. 

Repeater Update [Jim - KØNK] - Latest Activities / Status Update

      Jim provided a repeater update. The Gardner repeater is having some issues. A 151.4 Mhz tone is required to hit the repeater. The repeater maybe off the air while issues are resolved.   

Tech Night [George – WBØCNK]

      The next tech night is January 29th on chasing weather radiosonde presented by Mike Laney KE0GHU

2026 SFTARC Ham Radio Classes [Jim – KØNK] - Extra Class:Date / Location / Status

      Around 13 people have signed up for the Extra ham class. The plan is to cap enrollment at 20 people.  

Reminder: Christmas Party [Jim – KØNK]

      A reminder was given about the annual Christmas party scheduled for Friday, December 19, 2025 at the Gardner Senior Citizen Community Center. Start time was revised to 6:15PM.

Free Tower Offer - Chris Nichols,

      Chris has reached out to the club about a tower around 70 foot tall with Yagi Antenna free for removal. It anyone is interested in the tower, please reach out to one of the officers. Help is needed to take down the tower. If you are interested in helping to take down the tower, please reach out to an officer.  Contact Chris at: chris@clnichols.com.

Upcoming Hamfests – See Website Calendar [George - WBØCNK]

• Mine Creek Hamfest: Feb 7th, 2026, Linn County Fair 4H Building, 8510 KS-7 Hwy Mound City, KS 
• Ham Bash 2026: April 25th 8AM-2PM, Raytown High School 6019 Blue Ridge Blvd. Raytown, MO
  (see SFTARC website calendar for weblinks: Flyer, Vendor/ Table Registration, Raffle Ticket orders)

Members Who Would Enjoy A Card Or a Visit:

• Mike Lane -KEØCIS At: Good Samaritan Olathe Medical Campus

ADJOURN:

The meeting was adjourned at 8:58 am. Tom made the motion to adjourn the meeting and Jeff seconded the motion.  

     All in all, this time of the year probably isn't the best time of the year to enjoy the great outdoors, but I would encourage anyone who wants to get in their steps in a familiar setting to begin thinking about giving the Prairie Restoration Walking Trail at Ensor Park and Museum a try once winter is behind us and next year's native grasses and wild flowers have grown tall enough to justify the cutting of various trails through them.

     This past spring the City of Olathe created two trails in the rectangular pasture that lies directly to the east of the public parking area for Ensorfest, another two trails in the rectangular pasture immediately to the south of the east pasture, and still another two trails in the rectangular pasture that occupies the southeast corner of the 40-acre tract of land at 18995 W. 183rd Street the city owns. In each pasture there was a trail that basically ran along the perimeter of the field and another that twisted and turned its way through the interior.

     I first walked the Prairie Restoration Walking Trail in mid-May about a week after Ensorfest '25 and managed to navigate my way around each of the perimeter trails at that time. It was then that I came across a curious two-wall, L-shaped log structure in the northwest corner of the southeast pasture I have since dubbed Fort Ensor, and shortly after that in the same pasture a patch of wild blackberry shrubs. I dutifully made a mental note of the wild blackberry shrubs and returned to the site more than once some two months later to pick as many of these delicious berries as I could reach without getting my hands cut up by thorns too much despite wearing garden gloves. The berries went well with a bowl of cereal in the morning and they really added a lot to a bowl of ice cream in the evening at the end of a long, hot day.

     But I digress. Back to the Prairie Restoration Walking Trail. Come May when the weather should be more agreeable, if you need to exercise your legs a bit while giving your mind a well-deserved break amid the beauty of God's creation, then slip your feet into some sturdy but comfortable walking shoes and head for Ensor Park and Museum. Got a dog? Then feel free to bring him (or her) along by all means. Your four-legged friend will enjoy the hike, too!