Welcome

arrlAn ARRL Affiliated Special Service Club

The Santa Fe Trail Amateur Radio Club is a general-purpose club with the goal of promoting and supporting the educational and operational aspects of ham radio through ham radio classes, on-the-air events, and hands-on activity. THE SATURDAY BREAKFAST MEETINGS ARE HELD  AT PERKINS IN GARDNER EACH SATURDAY. YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN US 6:30 AM TO ~8:30AM.  The monthly business meeting is the 2nd Saturday of each month. This meeting is a hybrid meeting in which you can attend in person at Perkins in Gardner or you can attend via a Zoom connection. Additionally, the club holds a Tech Night presentation via Zoom the last Thursday evening of each month at 7:30 pm. Log in to the web site and select the "Links/Zoom Links" menu to find meeting links or contact a club officer. 

Member Survey

     "The Santa Fe Trail Amateur Radio Club wants to better serve its members and strengthen the amateur radio community. Please share your opinions about club activities, meetings, communication, training, and future priorities by responding to the survey below.

     Your responses may be anonymous. Please answer honestly and constructively. The survey should take approximately 5–8 minutes. If you need any assistance in completing the survey please reach out to Trig - KC0RPY."

https://forms.gle/1ZBLnKUnKDF7f17i6

Upcoming Events

29 Oct 2026;
07:30PM - 08:30PM
Tech Night - PORTABLE  OPERATION
03 Nov 2026;
08:00PM -
SFTARC Net
10 Nov 2026;
08:00PM -
SFTARC Net
14 Nov 2026;
08:00AM -
SFTARC business meeting
14 Nov 2026;
08:00AM - 05:00PM
2026 Nixa ARC Hamfest - Saturday, November 14th, 8:00AM
17 Nov 2026;
08:00PM -
SFTARC Net
24 Nov 2026;
08:00PM -
SFTARC Net

snoppy typing

MEETING TO ORDER:

      President George WBØCNK called the meeting to order shortly after 8 AM on October 12. Attending members gave their names and call signs. There were a total of 19 members attedning, 12 in person and 7 online. There was one guest.

SECRETARY-TREASURER REPORT: 

      Marty KEØPEZ reported the bank balance and the one expenditure since the September meeting, reimbursement for pizza for the KQP crew at Edgerton. The club will soon receive a reimbursement check from ARRL Risk Strategies as a result of removing some items from our equipment insurance policy. Membership chair Jason KFØISL reported that the club currently has 81 members, of which 42 are ARRL members.

Repeater Committee Report [Jim KØNK]

     There was a discussion of repeater possibilities, including pros and cons. Jeff KSØJD moved that the club have its 2M repeater installed in DeSoto using hardline provided by Jim and cover other expenses with up to $800 of club funds. Motion seconded by Jim Cessna ACØKN. The motion passed unanimously.

Christmas Party [Jim KØNK]

     This annual pot-luck event will be held December 21, 2024, 6-8:30 PM, at the Gardner Senior Center, 128 E Park, Gardner. Catering by Smokey Hill BBQ. Watch for the pot luck sign-up sheet that will be published next month.

SFTARC Ham Class [Jim KØNK]

      Jim sent an email to the Salvation Army about reserving the classroom but Salvation Army has not replied yet. Joe Krout suggested we contact Brian Short as he just completed a class of Technician Class students that may now desire a General Class upgrade.

Club Member's Equipment for Sale [George WBØCNK]

     Joe Krout had equipment at today's Ensor Auction as well as at Schulman Auction & Realty, LLC. Rob Mayberry's equipment is listed in SFTARC September Newsletter. Mike Lane's equipment is listed in SFTARC September Newsletter as well as at Schulman Auction and Realty, LLC.

Elections at the November Business Meeting [George WBØCNK]

     George stated that elections at the regular November business meeting would consist of 4 offices: President, VP, Secretary and Treasurer. Also two At-Large Directors will be elected to complete the Board of Directors as required by our Constitution. George stated that the club Constitution provides for elections to be by show of hands or written ballot, and the latter is being considered. George requested members to consider who they would like to nominate and submit their names ahead of time, although nominations can be made up to the time of voting. 

OTHER BUSINESS:

 No other business.

ADJOURN:

     Jim ACØKN moved to adjourn the meeting. Second by Rick. Passed unanimously.

 

Trail Bytes

Midwest Division Town Hall Sept 24. 2026
01 Oct 2026

The Santa Fe Trails Amateur Radio club hosts a monthly virtual Tech Night.  For the September Tech Night we asked members to join in an ARRL Midwest Division...

B-25 Project and Miltary Radios
29 Aug 2026

Mike Laney (KEØGHU) presented a talk on the B-25 Project and the radios used in the WW II bomber. Mike included several stories about the B-25 in WW II and the airmen who...

Field Day at Lake Olathe (Mid 1990s)
26 Aug 2026

This newspaper article about Field Day at Lake Olathe is from the mid 1990's. I found it in some of my old storage boxes. Some interesting old memories. The following...

Military Radio - Pat, KFØOYS
13 Aug 2026

Pat, KFØOYS presented a talk on Military Radios for the SFTARC July 2026 Tech Night.He presented details for a simple radio made from readily available parts.

Kansas QSO Party Signup
08 Aug 2026

       Good Day to the Santa Fe Trail Amateur Radio Club.  It is that time of year again for the Kansas QSO party.  I am Jeff...

FD in Clolorado - Ex Honeywell-Olathe Hams
12 Jul 2026

Several retired Honeywell-Olathe employees now live in Colorado and belong to their local Chaffee Lake Amateur Radio Association.  The local paper wrote up this very...

Field Day at a Ham Radio Landmark
03 Jul 2026

Brian, WQØA, presented a video on his YouTube channel titled "Field Day at a Ham Radio Landmark | Ensor Museum, Santa Fe Trail ARC & More". The video started with an...

Introduction to Grounding for Ham Radio
02 May 2026

At our April 30th, 2026, tech night, George McCarville, WB0CNK, covered essential grounding techniques for ham radio, focusing on safety, lightning, and RF grounding. Key...