As is the tradition, the EAWA combined the December Club Meeting with a Holiday Pot Luck Luncheon. It’s the quickest meeting of the year! Among the business items, the Nominating Committee presented the slate of candidates up for a vote in January: President, John KQ1P Vice President, Marion W1GRL Secretary/Treasurer, Joan W1DLC Board of Directors, Matt KC1VLH Also, in the announcements, if you have any interest in operating Winter Field Day, January 24-25, as W1TU from the club community room, please contact John KQ1P.
A photo of the members of the EAWA who attended the December meeting.
It was a particularly touching moment in the club meeting when Joan W1DLC presented Evie KA1BRA with a special gift from the club. Evie has been a backbone of the club for over 30 years. As an active member she has welcomed many hams into the club. As a special gift, members of the EAWA wrote of fond memories of interactions with Evie and special thanks to her on cards, which Joan collected and placed in a decorative box. It was a pleasure to have her presence at the party!
Thank you Evie!
Soon the business faded into raffle drawings. Thanks so all who brought raffle gifts and other items for the ‘give away’ table. It was a festive time, with anticipation and cheers. Earlier, the opening question to the meeting was, “Do you ask Santa for ham radio items?” Everyone in the room answered, “no,” with many adding, “I don’t trust Santa to get the right thing.” And yet for the raffle, all surprises were perfect in their own way.
In the top photos, Mel W1MEB won a Baofeng Mini, and in the bottom photos, Markus K1FIG received ‘the tiniest walkie talkies’.In the top photos, your truly (Marion W1GRL) won the ARRL Handbook, which she already owns. She then gifted the volumes to John KC1WNY. In the bottom photos, Mark W1ABY won a copy of Salty Walt’s Antenna Book.
The end of the raffles signaled the beginning of the feast! It didn’t take long for friends to gather in clusters, sharing ham radio moments. Here are some random photos.
Thanks to all who brought food and drink to the luncheon. Special thanks to Joan W1DLC for organizing the food and drink, arriving early and staying late to make sure everything is in its place.
Roaming around the room various topics were heard, such as “Let’s plan a POTA, “I got Hawaii,” “How’s the software set-up going?”, “Did your new radio come yet?”, “Did moving your antenna help”, “Did you work any of the ARRL 10 meter Contest?” and more.
Lastly, because it was hard to get everyone in a photo (and because the photographer wanted to enjoy the good food and conversation too), here are a few photos of the meeting to document all who attended.
It felt like a full house!
As we leave 2025, the EAWA members and friends have much to be thankful for. While the discussions of the day were casual and light, the community is strong and passionate about this great hobby. The human connection we feel is the real gift of the season. Speaking of connection, even though our next meeting is January 8, we hope to see you at the weekly Clandestine Coffee gatherings and hear you on the weekly Nets. Happy Holidays! Written by Marion W1GRL
This article is the result of a simple question: When it comes to the hobby of ham radio, what are you thankful for? The responses were immediate, genuine, and passionate. The emotional depth of the responses demonstrated that ham radio is so much more than a hobby. This story tells itself, written in the words of the experiencers.
“My appreciation for our Amateur Radio community extends back to my very first encounters with those that would become my elmers. And my thankfulness continues now almost several decades into this wonderful hobby, for all those I’m privileged to know as volunteers or merely as a distant voice (or digital contact!) out there on the bands.” –Andrew W1AXS
“I am thankful for the friendships and family that being a ham radio operator has brought me. The contacts with people all over the world who you are “part of the group” with. And locally, the family that accepted me as one of them when I got licensed and are now family to me. Ham radio gave me a purpose when I didn’t feel like I had a purpose. Ham radio is a community that I am a member of and that is what I am thankful for.” –Barbara KC1SSY
“Community – that’s the real answer.” –Bill KC2NMK
“It’s all about the people. Sure, there’s equipment and things, but really, it’s all about the people.” –Bob AB1EP
Clandestine Coffee on the day before Thanksgiving
“I just can’t put into words all the good things ham radio has brought to me.” –Chuck AC1BS
“For me it is the education. I went to get a book on simple electronics and ended up a ham realizing there is no “simple” electronics. But there are endless opportunities every day.” –Dick W1KRP
“I am thankful that I was introduced to this hobby when I was young. It put me on a path of learning and improving myself. It has always brought me joy and lifelong friends and mentors.” –Jeff KA1DBE
“I am truly thankful for the friendships I have made with members of EAWA and the special people I have met through ham radio. The social aspect of ham radio has enriched my life: learning and sharing with others, including my father and my son; supporting others through community service; sharing the thrill of making that special contact. It has been fun building radios and antennas that actually work; a thrill making a Clean Sweep in Sweepstakes, working a station through a satellite, and making the contacts for a POTA activation. But it is the relationships with other hams for which I am most thankful.” –Joan W1DLC
EAWA YLs – The Radio Sisters
“Getting that license and getting on the air pulled me out of teenage depression and literally saved my life. … I have met thousands of hams since and I am thankful for all the interesting people attracted to amateur radio. The EAWA has become something special for me and it is great to see how amateur radio and our club brings together many different people.” –John KQ1P
“I’m thankful for the my local ham community, who are like family to me, and the larger, world-wide ham community who have embraced me on this new journey. This hobby has become my lifestyle. I appreciate how it challenges me to learn and build new skills.” –Marion W1GRL
“I like the challenges of the hobby. Whether it’s building an antenna, making a distant country contact or tuning the equipment for best performance. Also the camaraderie of the people has been excellent!” –Mark W1ABY
“I am thankful for all of the club members who have shared their knowledge with and encouraged me at every step. I’m also thankful for the club members who showed me what I needed to do POTA because it combines my love of the outdoors with ham radio.” –Matt KC1VLH
Community service and helping hands
“Just plain super thankful for not only the opportunities ham radio provides, but also for the service aspect of the “hobby.” I enjoy the technical side of it, the challenges, chasing new DX opportunities and the camaraderie we hams have with each other. Also, when I went to Montana this spring, I was given the opportunity to attend another club’s Field Day. No matter where you go there is a bond between ham operators. We’re like a brotherhood and sisterhood kind of fraternity. They welcomed me like I was one of their long term friends they knew for years. That is one of the great things about the service/hobby.” –Matt W1MRH
“I’m thankful for being a part of this great group called the Ellsworth Amateur Wireless Association.” –Mel W1MEB
“Friendship, by far, is the best aspect of ham radio. It is what bonds us together in this amazing hobby. I am so thankful for the many friendships I have with hams throughout Maine, and beyond. … I’m thankful for the hams that step up in leadership positions.” –Phil N1EP
“I am thankful for a hobby that both my wife and I enjoy whether we’re doing something together or independently.” –Stan W1BOY
There is always an outlier who reminds us to enjoy each other’s company and to laugh! Phil N1EP also included, “I am thankful that Mel W1MEB will come to his senses and just gift me his amplifier, because I did buy him a piece of pumpkin pie. Equitable trade, no doubt!”
HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you, your family, and our special ham-ily!
This fast-paced meeting reminded us of the many things we’ve been up to, and introduced some enticing events coming up in the near future. Since the last club meeting we have had a Club POTA (see story), served as EmComms for the MDI Marathon (see story), and participated in the Maine Simulated Emergency Test Exercise (see story). Early in the meeting we took a few minutes to discuss the successes and areas of improvement for each event.
Barbara KC1SSY shared highlights from the After Action Reports for the MDI Marathon EmComms and the Simulated Emergency Test Exercise. While there are always areas of improvement, overall both exercises were a success!
Looking ahead, we have several events on the horizon. The next Weekend Session, November 23 at noon, will have an added feature: soldering demonstrations. Hams come to weekend sessions with all sorts of equipment and computers to get advice and assistance with set-ups, repairs, software, etc. Along with the open invitation to join in, we are encouraging people to set up a small soldering station and guide others through the soldering process. There are several members and friends who have never soldered before, and the weekend sessions are the perfect space to share soldering skills.
The officers kept us on track in this jam-packed meeting!
In December we are combining our monthly meeting with our annual Holiday Pot Luck Celebration, moving the meeting to Sunday, December 14 at noon. Families are welcomed! It’s “pot luck” so bring any food items you like to eat. We plan to take a group photo of all the EAWA members for the ARRL’s Year of the Club Program. A club will be featured each month in the ARRL publication QST, and perhaps one month it will be us!
Another important agenda item was the creation of the Nominating Committee for next year’s officer positions. The positions are President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer (all one year terms) and one Board of Directors position, a three year term. If you are interested or have any questions please contact Barbara KC1SSY, chair of the Nominating Committee, via QRZ or the “Contact Us” form on this webpage. The slate will be announced at the December Meeting/Holiday Celebration, and the vote will be taken at the January club meeting.
Even though the agenda was filled with items, we always have time for snacks and conversation between the meeting and the program.
For the evening program, the EAWA President, John KQ1P, gave an enlightening presentation on “How Antennas Emit Radio Waves: What happens when you transmit that makes it possible for another station to receive your signal?” He began by discussing four key ingredients: Electrons, Oscillations in voltage and current, Fields (magnetic and electric), and Conductors. Using demonstrations, such as with a magnet and metal shavings, and a piece of plexiglass with a static charge, he illustrated how these ingredients gain force and form wave lengths. Throughout the presentation he focused on these key points: *Antennas work because electric and magnetic fields are formed by motion (oscillation) *Electric and magnetic fields interact to have a net force that moves in a perpendicular direction *The force moves off the physical antenna into space at the speed of light
John, a teacher by profession, had many demonstrations and examples that helped us follow the physics involved.
There was a lot to take in during this meeting – very productive and inspiring! Mark your calendars for the upcoming events, particularly the December Club Meeting and Pot Luck Celebration, Sunday, December 14th at noon, at our usual location at Meadow View (see map here). The EAWA wouldn’t be the strong, active organization that it is without all our members and friends. We’re all in this together. Written by Marion W1GRL
We should all be thankful for the ham radio operators who volunteer their time, energy, and equipment, to prepare for what we hope never happens. On Saturday, October 25, several members and friends of the EAWA participated the Maine Simulated Emergency Test (SET) Exercise. The VHF/UHF/HF component of the exercise tested the coordinated abilities of the local members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), and EmComm groups. They were challenged to communicate with other operators and agencies within their own counties, across counties, and across the state, just as they would if they had been called on to do so during a hazardous event.
Andrew Sankey W1AXS, the Hancock County EMA Director was Net Control for the Hancock County Net, coordinating information with other county EMA Agencies. Phil N1EP, the ARRL State Section Manager, served as Net Control for 4 nets, one held each hour during the exercise. Several EAWA members and friends checked into the statewide HF nets. Along with Andrew and Phil, EAWA members Barbara KC1SSY, the Hancock County Emergency Coordinator (EC), Jeff KA1DBE, and Matt W1MRH, participated in key roles during the event.
Although SETs are open to all licensed hams for participation, those with key positions have likely joined an organization designed to train and coordinate participation in exercises and real-time disasters. One such group is the ARRL’s ARES group. Members are licensed operators who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment with their local ARES leadership.
You can learn more about ARES by exploring the ARRL’s ARES website at https://www.arrl.org/aresThis 34 minute YouTube, produced in 2024 by the New England ARES Academy, also provides a good introduction to the ARES program. You can view it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8moBMuhe-A
Another group often called upon in emergencies and preparedness training is referred to as RACES (pronounced ray-seas), created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This group consists of licensed radio operators who have been trained and certified by a civil defense agency. You can learn more about RACES at usraces.org.
The SET exercise on Saturday also included a second component which tested the ability of members of the Shared Resources Group (SHARES) and local ham radio operators to communicate and pass along messages with very specific information. This arm of the SET exercise involved using WinLink to receive and respond to messages. Information flowed through a SHARES bulletin board service (BBS) via HF to amateur radio operators who responded by sending specific information back up the chain. More specifically, the goals of this test were to evaluate this method of obtaining specific information quickly from a large group of people, the ability to tabulate those responses into a spreadsheet, and then to pass that information to appropriate agencies.
Through the SHARES program, amateur radio operators voluntarily work with national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) personnel to transmit critical messages when landlines and cellphones are not working.
The purpose of any simulated exercise is to learn what processes worked well and which need exploration and improvement. Whether we participated or not, and whether we are licensed amateur radio operators or not — all of us benefit from our neighbors working through these exercises in preparation for any emergency. If you are interested in becoming active in local emergency communication efforts or want more information about the SET exercise, please contact Barbara KC1SSY through QRZ or the Contact Us page on this website. Written by Barbara KC1SSY and Marion W1GRL
Long before the running of the 22nd annual MDI Marathon began, members of the EAWA, Pine State Amateur Radio Club, and the Penobscot County ARES were making their way to various assigned stations, assembling power sources (batteries, generators, solar panels), radios and antennas, and testing their systems. Before the race began, there were check-ins to the net control and final tweaks. For the radio operators, this would be a 10-12 hour event.
Before daybreak Rob W8HAP, Mel W1MEB, and Stan W1BOY were busy in the Hancock County Emergency Management Agency trailer at the finish line, while (bottom photos) the spectacular sunrise signaled the time for the Emergency Coordinator, Barbara KC1SSY, and Marion W1GRL, to begin checking in with all the stations.
While there are many published stories about the struggles and celebrations of the runners, this is a story about the planning, preparation, and performance of these dedicated hams and family members, and friends who supported them. The thirty-two member EmComms crew worked together throughout the day to keep up with events along the race route, including the current top three male and female runners in both the full and half marathons, and runners who decided to leave and not complete the race. In the down times, operators were among the many spectators cheering on the hundreds of racers. Responsible for their own needs, operators also took advantage of down times for snacks.
The following is a round up of photos of the 10 stations positioned along the race route. Not featured in the photos are the two hams riding with police in the lead and sweep vehicles, Olin KC1IRK and Greg KC1RID.
Top photos: Station 1 ( and moving to Station 8), Chris K1WJY and Andy N1WTQ, and Station 2, Jeff KA1DBE, Bernie KI4VCR, Amber (no call), and Chris KC1YDE. Bottom photos: Station 3 Mike KA1UMG and Fred KC1CMN.Top photos: Station 4, Ed WI1Z and John K1QLN, and Station 5, Tom N1NEL and Mark W1ABY. Station 5 is also featured in the bottom photos.Top photos: Station 6, Dave N1DAE, Matt KC1VLH, and Susan (no call). Bottom photos: Station 7, Joan W1DLC and Jean (no call).Top photos: Station 9, Elias (no call), Luke KC1AXY, and Bill KC2NMK, and Station 10, Bill N1EMF and John K1JO. Bottom photos: Taking down the net control trailer, Mel W1MEB and Stan W1BOY.
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. She attended numerous meetings, gave a presentation for those involved at the last EAWA club meeting, and met with various participants working on different aspects of the event, such as mapping the course with the operator stations and working on the forms for recording information at net control. THANK YOU BARBARA! This operation would not be as well planned and professional without your efforts!
From the beginning, with Rob W8HAP starting the set-up, to Andrew W1AXS, the Hancock County EMA Director closing the last windows, the event was a success!
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 with an emergency. The MDI Marathon, along with the annual Field Day in June, are the two primary large scale exercises for the EAWA and friends. You probably won’t find us mentioned in any of the new stories about the marathon, and that’s how it should be! We blended in seamlessly in the race, and thankfully we weren’t tested with a real emergency. Thanks to everyone who gave up their Sunday, shared their equipment and expertise, and encouraged the runners, and performed with tasks with precision. We were a great team! Written by Marion W1GRL
W1TU 