Northwestern News, Volume 2 August 2025

Greetings fellow Northwestern Division members.
“PASS THE BILL” this campaign is still full steam ahead, even with
the current (as of this writing) Government shutdown. If you have not
done so, please visit the webpage at https://send-a-letter.org/hoa and
take the five seconds to click in the box, enter your call, and hit
“send my letters”. For those with a GMRS license, or those you know
with a GMRS license that are not Amateurs, we have a page for them as
well. https://send-a-letter.org/gmrs . Support is support.
Your club can also help by sending a letter on behalf of it’s members.
That information can be found here:
https://www.arrl.org/current-legislation#clubs .
Please encourage your club to help in this process.

ARRL Foundation Scholarships
The ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program has opened the application
window for 2026 scholarships. Applications will be accepted through
December 30, 2025, at 12 PM EST. Students are encouraged to apply for
more than 170 scholarships ranging from $500 to $25,000. All applicants
must be active, FCC-licensed amateur radio operators.
The scholarships were established by generous donors and are managed by
the ARRL Foundation as a means to inspire youth to explore amateur radio
and to pursue higher education and related career paths — and
especially in wireless communications.
In 2025, the ARRL Foundation awarded 170 awards totaling $800,000. More
information and the online application are available
www.arrl.org/scholarship-program.

ARRL has made 2026 the Year of the Club, a year-long celebration of
ham radio clubs and everything they do for amateur radio. As just one
way of honoring various clubs, QST will feature club photos in every
2026 issue. If your club wants a shot at being highlighted in the pages
of QST, here’s what to do:
Get your club members together, looking their best — if you have a
club t-shirt or ARRL shirts, this is a perfect occasion for wearing
them.
Consider posing with your club’s sign/banner.
Take high-resolution images. If you’re taking photos with a phone
camera, please make sure it’s set for “highest quality.”
Take photos in horizontal and vertical orientations, and please do not
crop or otherwise edit the photos.
Type up the names and call signs of any hams pictured, the name (and
call sign, if applicable) of the person who took the photos, and the
full name and call sign of the club.
Send the information, along with one vertical and one horizontal photo,
to qst@arrl.org.
Read QST each month in 2026 to see if your club has been featured!

Another “Year of the Club” activity, will be a yearlong activation
of W1AW/* similar to the centennial, and VOTA (Volunteers on the Air).
Each state will have two opportunities to host the W1AW/* call and
gather operators. ARRL Section Managers, and section ACCs will be
working out the details for these operations.
http://www.arrl.org/year-of-the-club
We will also have a special WAS (Worked All States) award in 2026. Watch
the ARRL.org web for further information.

Swaptoberfest, that Swapmeet that was,,,,, almost
Unfortunately, at the last minute, Swoptoberfest in Rickreall OR had to
be cancelled due to a major water leak discovered by the night guard
around 2 in the morning, the night before the event. This left little to
no way of effectively notifying attendees. I rolled in the parking lot
to be met by the normal guard only to tell me it had been cancelled. A
number of folks made due by tossing some items out in the lot with a
make shift tailgate, but most folks simply went back home. This is
always a well attended event, and I hope everyone can understand it was
100% out of the group’s control.

FCC licensing and the current Government shutdown… Vice Director
Sterba has addressed this below.

Upcoming Division events: (If your group would like to promote your
upcoming event, please let me know)
Upcoming ARRL sanctioned Hamfests and Conventions can be found at the
always updated webpage of Assistant Director Burlingame at n7cfo.com

This list is only inclusive of those events that have applied for ARRL
sanctioning. If you are looking to sanction your event this year, or in
the future, please review the rules HERE.
https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Rules for Hamfests Trunkfests
Conventions.pdf

73..
Mark J. Tharp KB7HDX
ARRL Director
Northwestern Division
kb7hdx@arrl.org
509-952-5764

And now some words of wisdom from Vice Director Sterba:

Hello Northwestern Division!
It’s been quiet here in the division the last couple of months yet
busy behind the scenes.
It’s great to report a surge in community activity surrounding the
Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act. If you haven’t looked into
this please visit https://www.arrl.org/current-legislation and take
advantage of the automated form to send a letter to your
representatives. There is an extra opportunity for clubs to get involved
separately by placing additional weight to our voices. Directions for
club endorsements are available at
https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Clubs/Completing%20the%20Club%20Letters%20for%20Congress.pdf.

As of this writing, we are facing impacts surrounding both initial and
renewal of amateur radio licenses. The online FCC systems have been
suspended until further notice impacting everyone who is trying to
accomplish an update. For additional information, please refer to
https://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-licensing-update-during-us-government-shutdown

Answer the Call — Strengthen Our Clubs, Strengthen Our Community!
As we prepare for the upcoming “ARRL Year of the Club,” Director
Tharp and I invite every amateur radio operator to take part in a
movement that honors the true spirit of our service… connection,
mentorship, and community.

Our local clubs are the heartbeat of amateur radio, where newcomers find
guidance, friendships are fostered, and innovation thrives. Yet many of
these clubs are feeling the strain… stretched thin, struggling to
grow, and fighting to stay strong.

Here in the Northwestern Division, I’ve seen their challenges up
close. Now is the time to rally together. Step forward. Recommit your
time, energy, and passion to the clubs that have given so much to all of
us.
Together, we can restore their strength, renew their purpose, and ensure
that amateur radio continues to inspire and unite generations to come.

Read more about the ARRL Year of the Club at
https://www.arrl.org/year-of-the-club

As I wrap up this writing, I want to take a moment to thank the leaders
and membership for the warm welcome to the 2025 Matanuska Amateur Radio
Association (MARA) Hamfest at Wasilla, AK. This was a fun family style
event which included demonstrations, presentations , VE Testing, and
lunch barbeque.
Special thanks to Scott (KL7SLM), Shelia (KL3SRO) and Don (KL7JFT) for
introductions, history, and tours of the ARES communications trailer.

Populations at the time of this writing (Lagging Indicators):
Northwestern Division Membership:

• 10,285 (Decrease from 10,345)
• 40 (New)
• 161 (Lapsed that re-joined)
  National Membership:
• 130,357 (Decrease from 130,978)
  License Counts:
• 72,094 (Division total)
• 137(New)
• 743,112 (National total)

As I mentioned in my opening, it’s been quiet in the Division.
Director Tharp and I are always open to input, good and bad, (we prefer
good) from members. If you have anything you would like to talk about,
shoot us an email or call on the phone. In addition, we are always
looking for information to share with the Division. If you have a news
item you would like to offer, please send us a note and we would be glad
to include it here. It is always great to hear from members.
Enjoy Amateur Radio… Be Active, Be Positive, Be Safe, as your voice
carries
Respectfully your servant,

Michael A. Sterba, KG7HQ
ARRL Vice Director
Northwestern Division
kg7hq@ARRL.org

ARRL Northwestern Division
Director: Mark J Tharp, KB7HDX
kb7hdx@arrl.org