Here is your weekly SARA update!
2026 SARA’s Radios in the Park
Radios in the Park wrapped up the 2026 season with a great turnout on a beautiful evening at Pioneer Park. It’s been a fun and great summer! Radios in the Park will return in 2027.
SARA Board of Directors Meeting Wednesday Sep 16
Your Board of Directors will meet via ZOOM Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM. SARA Board meetings are open to all members although only members of the Board can vote on any business.
SARA’s Fall General Class License Upgrade Prep Class
SARA will be conducting a General Class license upgrade class again this Fall. The classes will be held on Thursday evenings beginning September 17. Sessions will run from 6:00 PM to 7:50 PM and will be at the Stillwater Public Library, 224 Third Street North.
The SARA instructor team uses the ARRL General Class License Manual for the class. You can order the manual direct from the ARRL store at https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2009476073 or from Amazon >> click here << in Kindle ebook or the spiral-bound print editions.
Interested in the class? Send Bob WØGAF w0gaf at me dot com an email to get on the class roster.
1st Thursday Technical Topic Night “Let’s Talk About…”
1st Thursday Technical Topic Night features a technical presentation and discussion based upon the level of interest in the club and the willingness of someone to prepare and lead the session. The sessions are livestreamed via Zoom for those who choose to join the session virtually; and are recorded and posted to the SARA YouTube channel for future viewing and reference.
The 1st Thursday Technical Topic Nights are held at the Baytown Township Hall, 4020 McDonald Dr N, Stillwater, MN 55082, beginning at 6:00 PM Central (23:00 UTC).
- Oct 1, 2026 1st Thursday Tech Topic Night
“Let’s Talk About … 3d Printing and ham radio” led by Leslie KD9ZMI - Nov 5, 2026 NO 1st Thursday Tech Topic Night
due to the pending Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald Special Event Nov 6 – 8, we will not have a Tech Topic on this evening but rather the session will be an Eyeball QSO Party. - Dec 3, 2026 1st Thursday Tech Topic Night
“Let’s talk about … Building A Reverse Beacon Network Spotter” led by Keith ACØVW
North Star Radio Convention Oct 10 – Registration is open!
Hosting the 2026 ARRL Dakota Division Convention, the 2026 North Star Radio Convention is Saturday October 10, 2026 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. The Convention is being held at the Hennepin Technical College, 9000 Brooklyn Boulevard, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445.
Join us at the North Star Radio Convention, the premier statewide event for Minnesota amateur radio enthusiasts. The North Star Radio Convention is known for its expert speakers and workshops covering topics for all experience levels, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Reconnect with old friends and make new ones among amateur radio enthusiasts from across the region.
SARA is a founding club and Platinum Sponsor. We will have an information table as well as hosting the Convention’s official “Get On The Air” station. Plans are afoot to draw more attention to the “GOTA” this year (more to come…)
Register now at https://northstarradio.org/. Early Bird Registration starts at $20 per person, $32.50 with Subway box lunch. Youth (under 21) registration is free (optional lunch is $12.50). Registration includes access to all sessions. Early bird registration ends September 24th, fees will increase after that date.
Special Event: Tri-State Portable – WØJH
September 25, 26 & 27, 2026
White Rock, South Dakota
Once again SARA members will operate from a remote location! In case you don’t already know, White Rock is where North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota connect. (On a map, look a little northwest of Wheaton, MN or just east of Rosholt, SD. Except for only two residents, White Rock is a ghost town.) This will be our eighth time operating here. Other times include: 1999, 2000, 2002, 2012, 2015, 2019 & 2021.
Simple Plan & Prime Directive:
We’ll set up three stations (two SSB and one CW) to operate from this unique location. We are there to have Amateur Radio FUN! We operate from “Downtown” (SSB), the “West End” (CW) and from the tri-state marker.
We will operate on HF frequencies (160 – 10m). A list of frequencies and schedules will be available in advance to SARA members, and the event will be listed by the ARRL. WX, propagation and operator bedtimes dictate our schedule.
Mark your calendar now for this rare Special Event Station!
The SARA POTA Challenge
Summer is coming to an end, but that hasn’t slowed down our POTA hunters and activators. August numbers have been compiled and will be available on the SARA website in the coming week.
Some highlights through August:
- 13 members have made it to Legend status
- 54 members participating
- 57798 hunter QSOs
- 1698 activations from 1006 parks with 55782 QSOs by 40 activators
The numbers for July 2026 are now posted on our website. >> CLICK HERE << to view the most recent posted results.
Important Note: The POTA group has changed the minimum number of hunter contacts required to be included in the data feed we use to calculate our totals. You will now need a minimum of 100 hunter contacts to be included in the data feed. We will continue to include anyone that has been on the reports with less than 100 contacts, but new challenge participants will need to make 100 contacts before they are included in these reports. Please reach out to Bob – W0GAF or Brian – KB9TBB if you have questions.
The Parks on the Air resource page is a great place to get your POTA questions answered.
To participate in the POTA Challenge, there are two simple steps required.
– Register for an account at parksontheair.com
– Go out and work some parks
SARA members who have registered on the POTA website https://parksontheair.com/# (sign up is under the Help/Getting Started tab) are automatically included in the SARA Challenges.
Meeting Program Team
Zack AAØU, and Dave N9JNQ, plan and schedule the programs for our monthly meetings. Their efforts provide quality presenters and programs for SARA! They welcome suggestions for future programs for March 2027 – May 2027 meeting cycle. Email your ideas and comments to Dave at dbiverson123 at gmail dot com and he will share them with the team.
The team is looking for new programs and presenters for the March, April, and May 2027.
The October 3rd program will feature Rob Votin KC3LBR in Pico Ballooning.
The November 14th program will be on “Allstar Link” with John Dean KØJDD.
The December 12th program will have Pat Cain KØPC sharing his 2019 Pitcairn Island DXpedition experience.
January 2nd brings the annual SARA White Elephant Exchange Program (SWEEP).
And we have the SARA POTA Challenge 2026 Awards Ceremony on February 13th, 2027
This week’s SARA activities
- “Sunday Fusion” Digital Voice Hangout September 13
19:00 Central (Daylight Time) (00:00 UTC)
SARA Repeater 147.060+ MHz (DCS/DTCS 026 Normal)
or connect via WIRES-X to the W0JH-Room 63969
System Fusion digital voice hangout to expand use and familiarity with the digital voice capabilities available on the WØJH repeater. - SARA Evening HF Ragchew
Nightly
20:00 Central (01:00 UTC)
Frequency: 3.813LSB +/- QRM
Alternates: 1.966 MHz +/- QRM (LSB), 21.316 MHz +/- QRM (USB) 50.166 MHz +/- QRM (USB) - SARA Monday Morning 75-meter Ragchew September 14
Frequency: 3.856 LSB +/- QRM - Two Meter Tuesday (TMT) Round Robin Ragchew Sept 15
7:00 – ~8:00 pm Central (or until we finish!)
SARA Repeater 147.060+ MHz (DCS/DTCS 026 Normal)
The Tuesday evening on-air round robin ragchew, featuring the “Ask the Elmer” segment. The group leaders focus on encouraging any and everyone, especially those new to the airwaves, to join the session via the repeater. - Board of Directors ZOOM Meeting Wednesday Sept 16
7:00 PM
SARA ZOOM Meeting Room - General Class License Course Session 1 Thursday Sept 17
6:00 PM
Conference Room
Stillwater Public Library, 224 3rd St N, Stillwater - Eyeball QSO Party Thursday Sept 17
6:00 PM
Meeting Rooms A+B
Lake Elmo Public Library, 3537 Lake Elmo Blvd N, Lake Elmo
