Next Monthly Meeting: Thursday, Nov 12, 7pm
Weekend Sessions: Sunday, Nov 22, noon to 2pm
Nets: Every Tuesday & Wednesday at 7:00pm
Clandestine Coffee: Every Wednesday at 9:30am
All are Welcome to Attend, Licensed or Not
November Club Mtg: Our Healthy Ham Community
Everything that happened at this well-attended meeting demonstrated what a strong, healthy club the EAWA is. The meeting started with introductions and a question: Has Murphy (of Murphy’s Law) visited your shack lately? While most everyone had a story of some mishap, the overall trend was that problems were solved. When there’s a technical issue, we get it sorted out. There was also time given to recognize veterans, as it was Veterans Day, and a recent Silent Key, Everett KA1BFA (see story here).
Here is a quick summary of the many announcements and updates:
2026 MDI Marathon Report: Barbara KC1SSY shared a quick preview of the upcoming After Action Report for the marathon that will be sent to all participants. The good news is that the communications team worked well, with highlights including the use of tactical callsigns and APRS tracking. The feedback was helpful, offering many useful suggestions for next year.
2026 Field Day Report: Rob W8HAP shared the final results. The EAWA came in 2nd place in our category. We scored 20% more points than we did in 2025, and we increased our number of QSOs by 46% over 2025. We should be darn proud of that!!!
Net Controls: While we have a rotating schedule of Net Control operators for the two nets staffed by the EAWA (see Regular Events here), we can always use more! Contact Joan W1DLC if you’d like to be in the Net Control rotation.
Nominating Committee: If you are interested in learning more about filling an officer position, contact a member of the nominating committee: Stan W1BOY, Mel W1MEB, & Jeff KA1DBE. The slate will be announced at the December meeting.
Otter Cliffs Radio Station Special Event: Plans are coming along for this event, also called the “Fabbri Special Event,” scheduled for August 28, 2027. With volunteer help, current plans are to staff several stations at two locations, along with public outreach and educational components. Contact Stan W1BOY if you’d like to take a leadership role in this project, and look for another planning meeting in early 2027.
24-hr Maine State POTA Day: Momentum is growing for a 24-hour effort at Ft. Knox, on the UTC day of May 22. The goal is to get a POTA Kilo Award (1,000 QSOs) for our club callsign, W1TU, on the Maine POTA Day. Look for an informational meeting in the spring. In the meantime, contact Matt KC1VLH if you have ideas or questions.
W1AW/1 for the ARRL’s USQ250 program: If you would like to operate as W1AW/1 during the week of December 16, representing Maine in this year-long effort, please contact Sully KC1WNM to get on the schedule.
Radio Demonstrations for Students: Markus K1FIG, an instructor at the Hancock County Technical Center, is seeking radio demonstrations and activities for his students. The students are studying for their Tech license. Contact Markus if you have some time to donate to this worthy cause.
No Regular December meeting: What? Delete the meeting on the second Thursday? Keep reading.
Annual Holiday Potluck Party: Replacing our usual monthly meeting in December is our annual potluck dinner. This is scheduled for noon, on Sunday, December 13 at Meadow View Apartment (see map here). Traditionally this has been a well-attended, lively get-together of EAWA members and friends, and their families.
Our speaker for the evening was Clint, now known as Dr. Clinton Spaulding. Many EAWA members participated in his doctoral research project focused on ways hams pass along knowledge to other hams. His statistical analysis revealed four themes, also called “factors.” Clint’s data indicated that the strongest way hams share knowledge is centered around technical radio topics. Hams love innovation, discovery, and hands-on engagement — and we like to talk about it! This theme was focused more on the physics and cutting-edge science of amateur radio. The second powerful theme highlighted the ways hams share knowledge through building kits, antennas, or stations, and taking others along for the ride! We enjoy those teaching situations. (EAWA members, think “Weekend Sessions.”) The third theme or factor focused on Elmering but more in the way of sharing traditions. This theme is the energy that moves us to share our love of ham radio with our families and our communities. This energy pushes us to advertise events, such as Field Day. We all want to do our part to keep ham radio thriving for generations to come. The fourth theme or factor focused on emergency communications, public service, and connecting our skills with community needs. While the hobby is all about having fun, there is the more serious, emergency communications foundation to all we do.
It was interesting to learn what Clint found in his research. Across all of his data, Clint found that hams value hands-on learning, a commitment to share our knowledge and Elmer others, and share a common bond as members of the world-wide ham radio community. We value all types of radio operations and related interests. With each finding, it became clear that we, the EAWA, are a healthy ham community! Thanks, Clint, for sharing these findings with us!
The November meeting was filled with information, event planning, and a strong evening program. Thanks to all who came out and followed the meeting on Zoom. If you haven’t yet joined us for a club meeting, perhaps the upcoming Holiday Potluck event will be your first time? We hope so!
Written by Marion W1GRL
Everett KA1BFA, SK
Today we take a few minutes to remember long-time club member Everett KA1BFA, who became a Silent Key on November 5, 2026. Some EAWA members and friends had known Everett for many years. Some of the stories shared around the coffee table highlighted how much he enjoyed Field Day.
“I first met Everett in the 70s working at Radio Shack. As time went by I saw him at Hermon Hamfest. I walked up to him and he did not remember me. After joining the EAWA, I got to know him again. He will be missed at coffee and at meetings. RIP Everett.” ~Mel W1MEB
“Everett and I were responsible for working with Harvey Trailers to fabricate the EmComm trailer. Everett took the lead in this.” ~Rob W8HAP
“KA1BFA – Big Fat Albert. That was Everett’s classic announcement whenever he got on the air. But he listened more than he talked, at least on the air. Whether on the local repeaters, or on 3.940 MHz, Ev was always listening, and sometimes would surprise me when I put my call out on 3940 prior to the Seagull Net or the Maine Emergency Communications Net starting. Clandestine coffee meetings will not be the same without him. RIP Everett.” ~Phil N1EP
“Ev, KA1BFA was one of my many great Elmers 28 years ago when I got licensed. Sometimes gruff, but there when you needed him, not only for radio but life’s rough spells. Last year, while undergoing treatments for cancer at the Lafayette Center in Brewer, Monday thru Friday, I was at home during a very rainy day and a I heard knocking at the door. I found Ev standing there, soaking wet. He wanted me to know that if I needed a ride to treatments he would drop everything and be available. Ham radio introduced me to Everett and showed me Amateur Radio isn’t all technical….it’s community and understanding.” ~Dick W1KRP
Some of the club members had only met Everett in the last few years. For those of us who have joined the club in the last few years, we know Everett as one who visited Clandestine Coffee and Weekend Sessions for as long as his health would allow.
“When I joined the club, I remember a conversation I had with him about emergency preparedness. I explained I thought ham radio might be useful in an emergency to keep my family in contact with emergency services and to know what is going on. He quickly corrected me and explained that I had an obligation not only to my family, but to the community as well. By the way he said it, I could tell he was passionate about helping others and his insight has stuck with me.” ~Greg KC1RID
“One day at coffee I was talking about contesting. Everett stated with much conviction, “Marion, you don’t get on the radio to say ‘5 9 Mike Echo,’ you get on the radio to talk to people.” It was clear that communicating with local hams, keeping the community informed, was very important to him.” ~Marion W1GRL
“When I first became a ham radio operator Everett befriended me. He was a neighbor to my coworker, so we had that in common. She told me about how Everett had helped her helped her and her children out when she lost her home to a house fire – that is just the kind of person he was. He helped me out, encouraged me, talked to me on the local repeater, and would call me on the phone to get on the repeater so we could make those local QSOs. What he was really doing was getting me more comfortable talking on the air. I am still using an ICOM desk mic that he gave me. He told me, “Anything you can do to make getting on the air easier, do it”. As his hearing got more difficult it made it hard for him to attend our breakfast gathering and our club meetings, but I always enjoyed talking with him whenever possible. He will indeed be missed.” ~ Barbara KC1SSY
Rest In Peace, Everett.
The obituary: https://obituaries.bangordailynews.com/obituary/everett-beal-jr-1094142667
Written by Marion W1GRL
Community Service: EmComms for the 2026 MDI Marathon
The 2026 MDI Marathon and Half-Marathon went off without a hitch on Sunday, October 18. As a destination race, known for its beautiful yet very challenging course, over 2,000 runners from around the world made their way around Mt. Desert Island. A quick search of the MDI Marathon website and local news will give you all the stories of triumph, persistence, and celebrations. The runners are truly inspiring! That said, this is a story about the Communications Team who worked behind the scenes with other volunteer groups and various local and state agencies to create the best experience for the runners.
Led by Barbara KC1SSY and Joan W1DLC, the team included members of the Ellsworth Amateur Wireless Association, Hancock County ARES, Hancock County EMA, Waldo County Amateur Wireless Association, Waldo County ARES, Waldo County EMA, Pine State Amateur Wireless Club, Penobscot County ARES, and Penobscot County EMA.
Members of the Comms Team arrived on their assigned sites as the sun was rising and temperatures were below freezing. Many needed to set-up power sources (batteries, generators, solar panels), connect their radios, multiple antennas, and test their systems. Before the race began, there were check-ins to the Net Control and final tweaks. For most of the radio operators, this is an 8-10 hour event.
The primary task of each station was to radio in the bib numbers of the first three male and female runners in both the full and half marathons, and runners who injured or decided to leave the race. Stations also reported the last few runners as the race time drew to a close. In the down times, operators were among the many spectators cheering and encouraging the racers. Responsible for their own needs, operators also took advantage of down times for snacks.
There were 10 assigned stations along the course, with other members in cars checking on runners and Comms Teams throughout the day. Olin KC1IRK rode in the lead car for the marathon, and once the winners passed the finish line, he rode in the vehicle checking on the last runners.
This was the first year for yours truly, Marion W1GRL, to work at a station along the route. The precision of the Net Control system, with operators following a standard protocol, was impressive. Honestly, I expected to witness the professionalism of the operators. There were two things I didn’t expect. I found it tricky to accurately read bib numbers as runners are galloping by, particularly if the top runners were bunched together. The second unexpected item was the sincere gratitude of the runners! So many runners said, “Thank you,” and “Thanks for being here.” They appreciated seeing someone ‘official’ confirming they were on the course track. It was fun to be on the course, with all the friends and family members cheering for their runners. Seeing the struggle and gratitude of the runners made it a personally inspiring experience.
The lion’s share of the work, starting months before the race, was done by the Hancock County Emergency Coordinator and EAWA member Barbara KC1SSY and her Assistant, Joan W1DLC. They attended numerous meetings, gave a presentation for those involved at the last EAWA club meeting, coordinated ordering and distributing T-shirts, and followed up with various groups and agencies working on different aspects of the event. THANK YOU BARBARA and JOAN! This operation would not be as well planned and professional without your efforts!
So much of what we do as hams, including the fun contests and operating portable in parks, is to hone our skills should we be called upon to help in an emergency situation. The MDI Marathon, along with the annual Field Day in June, are the two primary large scale exercises for EAWA members and friends. Thanks to everyone who gave up their Sunday, shared their equipment and expertise, encouraged the runners, and performed tasks with precision. We were a great team!
Written by Marion W1GRL, Photos by Joan W1DLC & Barbara KC1SSY
Weekend Sessions: Sharing, Fixing, and Fun!
The Weekend Session on Sunday, October 11, was filled with conversation, mentoring, sharing, and fun. That’s just what the bi-monthly gatherings are designed for. Here’s a quick summary of the afternoon.
Prior to the session, Jeff KA1DBE had hidden a “fox” (transmitter) for the hunters, Barbara KC1SSY and Marion W1GRL, to find. Armed with a handheld radio, the women searched the wide area around Meadow View Apartments with success, zeroing in on the basic location. They needed a little bit of assistance to find the exact location of the fox. It was great fun on a crisp, fall day!
Stan W1BOY and Mark W1ABY worked with Dick W1KRP to get WSJT-X fine-tuned for FT8 operating. They also worked on setting up GridTracker. There were some tricky settings to figure out regarding the audio, but the team was successful! Also, in the bottom photo, Mel W1MEB was waiting for another ham to arrive, carefully guarding his box of goodies.
Tracey AC1UN, Jeff KA1DBE, and Barbara KC1SSY set up the APRS system that will be used in the upcoming MDI Marathon. They were able to check that the system was working properly and show the system to Stan W1BOY and Mel W1MEB, who are on the Net Control Team for the Marathon.
Finally, Marion W1GRL shared with Barbara KC1SSY a website-based training program she uses to practice hearing voice callsigns and accurately typing them into a logging program. The practice site, Callsign Training Platform (cw4ever.eu), is a free, no-account-needed webpage that announces callsigns for the user to type. When finished, the program will give the percentage correct and a chance to see where mistakes were made. The program can also announce voice calls in a pileup, as well as CW callsigns individually or in a pileup.
Every weekend session is unique. You never know what equipment, software, or conversation topics will appear. Knowing the space is available twice a month, hams will often arrange to meet to work on equipment and software issues. Occasionally there are small meetings discussing things that would otherwise take extra time at club meetings. The next session is scheduled for Sunday, October 25. You can find the location and the upcoming dates on our Regular Events page (here).
Written by Marion W1GRL
October Club Mtg: Plan, Prep, Execute!
The October club meeting started as they always do, with introductions and a question: Are your antennas ready for winter? Most said ‘yes,’ but everyone acknowledged that Maine weather is unpredictable.
The business meeting included several key announcements. Barbara KC1SSY, acting in her role as Emergency Coordinator for Hancock County, shared details of upcoming SET (Simulated Emergency Test). Scheduled for Saturday, October 24, the exercise will involve local nets across several counties. An email will be sent out with further details.
Stan W1BOY announced an information and planning meeting for the upcoming Fabbri Special Event to be held in August of 2027. The meeting, open to all interested, is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, at 12:15pm, during the Weekend Session.
John KQ1P, the club President, reminded us of an ongoing discussion regarding estate planning for our radio equipment. He encouraged us to leave instructions for loved ones regarding what to do with our equipment after our passing. As the EAWA may be the recipient of equipment, from an estate or other type of donation, it’s important that we have a clear process for moving forward with items given to us. He shared some examples of procedures we may adopt, and asked us to give some thought to our preferences moving forward.
The program for the meeting was a detailed overview of the emergency communications plans for the MDI Marathon, to be held Sunday, October 18. Barbara KC1SSY and Joan W1DLC are the organizers and club liaisons to the larger group of emergency personnel involved. The EmComm team includes more than EAWA members, and some of those operators joined us. A special thanks goes to those from Hancock, Penobscot and Waldo counties who attended. Barbara started by pointing out that many of the recommendations and suggestions from last year’s After Action Report were incorporated into this year’s procedures. She then covered many important topics, including locations for stations, equipment needs, radio communication protocols, weather options, and personal comforts such as food and water.
If you are serving as an EmComm participant, you should have received an email from Joan with several important attachments. Barbara will send more information by email soon. Two important items to keep in mind: (1) be at your location and ready for Net Control roll call at 7:30am, and (2) wear your orange EmComm t-shirt and hoodie (runners are told to look for the people in orange if they need help).
If you have not contacted Barbara about participating, the window has closed on the opportunity to be officially on the team. Don’t despair! There are many ways to join in club events and learn more about the EAWA’s role in area emergency communications. The previous article, Fall Back into Ham Radio (click here), and our Regular Events page (click here), offer many ways for you to get involved.
Written by Marion W1GRL
