Here is your SARA weekly update!
Annual Membership dues reminder for 2026
SARA started 2026 with 156 members who have renewed their membership through 2026 or beyond. We are now at 162 members, 2 renewed and 4 new members in the past week! Thank you! If you haven’t yet paid your dues, please do so now.
Remember, your dues provide important support for our remote stations, our repeater, and our activities.
SARA memberships run on a calendar year basis, from Jan 1 – Dec 31. Annual dues for membership received after January 1 will not extend membership beyond December 31, so nothing is gained by late payment. Per person dues for regular membership is $20/yr, and associate/family membership is $10/yr.
Membership renewals can be done online through the radioham.org website, by snail mail by printing the application form and including your check, or in person at the monthly SARA meeting or weekly Eyeball QSO Party. When using the online option, upon completing the application, you can then pay online with a credit card where you will incur a small convenience fee (currently $1.25), or to avoid that fee just send the form electronically and snail mail the proper dues amount in US dollars by check made out to SARA. Membership updates are made only when funds are received to match the application. Considering current postage and questionable reliability of our current postal service, the postal option would be the least favorable option.
Remembering Fr Metcalf WØJH Special Event Jan 11, 2026
LAST CHANCE! – ENDS TODAY
This event pays tribute to the original WØJH, Father George Metcalf. As a WWII Chaplain for General Patton, Fr. Metcalf helped draft the famous “Weather Prayer.” According to Patton and his troops, this prayer ended 3 months of cloudy, rainy skies in December 1944. It is a prayer that changed history!
This is SARA’s second year for this event. Belwin Conservancy in Afton, MN is again the location. It is located at a portion of the donated estate from Episcopalian Fr. Metcalf. This year, we have been granted access to the larger, former residence of the Metcalfs. The setup provides more room for station separation, while allowing dedicated areas for visitors to join us for refreshments and treats. And all indoors!
This event is an excellent chance for operators, especially newly licensed Generals, to learn and hone HF operating and logging skills. Plus, it will be a fantastic opportunity to network with other SARA members and others interested in learning about Amateur Radio.
Operating Schedule:
Jan. 11 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Station Locations/Venue:
795 Indian Trail S., Afton, MN https://maps.app.goo.gl/MQa38jkGtXHNfTr76
The building has areas to set up radio station gear and comfortable conversation areas for visitors. It is heated and has kitchens and restrooms.
Station 1 (Chapel) (80-6m) AND Station 2 (Deck Side) (40-20-10m)
Sunday January 11, 10:00 am – 4:00 PM 1-hr shifts for logger and operator at each station.
SARA Board of Directors Virtual Meeting Jan 14
The Board of Directors will meet via Zoom Wednesday evening January 14, beginning at 6:30 PM Central (00:30 UTC).
Eyeball QSO Party
The weekly Eyeball QSO Party is at the Stillwater Public Library Conference Room through the 9th of April 2026 (90 days is as far as we can schedule with the library), except for 1st Thursdays (Tech Topic Night).
Schedule Change: February Monthly Meeting now Feb. 7
To avoid creating a conflict for time, the next monthly meeting of the Stillwater Amateur Radio Association has been moved to the 1st Saturday, February 7. Same location and time. This meeting features the annual SARA POTA Challenge Awards Ceremony.
Mark your calendar! Ice Station WØJH Feb 14 – 16, 2026
WØJH returns to air for the Ice Station WØJH Special Event Saturday Fab 14, Sunday Feb 15, and Monday Feb 16, 10:00 AM to 4:00 pm daily. We will operate 2 stations, one from SARA’s nice insulated and heated Eskimo shelter on the frozen surface of Lake Elmo and the other from our trailer onshore. Full event details will be coming soon.
1st Thursday Technical Topic Nights “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 (00:00 UTC).
- Feb 5, 2026 1st Thursday Tech Topic Night
“Let’s Talk About … Pico Balloons” led by Brian KB9TBB - Mar 5, 2026 1st Thursday Tech Topic Night
“Let’s Talk About … Logging Workflows” led by Dale WØDHZ - Apr 2, 2026 1st Thursday Tech Topic Night
“Let’s Talk About … Meshtastic” led by Collin KEØIYN - May 7, 2026 1st Thursday Tech Topic Night
“Let’s Talk About … Antenna Analyzers” led by Joe KCØOIO
The SARA POTA Challenge
The SARA POTA Challenge 2025 numbers through November available are posted on the radioham.org website. >> CLICK HERE << to view the results.
The final results of the 2025 Challenge will be shared during the SARA POTA Challenge 2025 Awards Ceremony to be held during our monthly meeting on February 7th, 2026.
The SARA POTA Challenge 2026 began at 00:00 UTC January 1. All the categories reset to zero, a fresh start for all!
POTA raised the minimum contacts returned in the Top Hunter search to 50 Hunter contacts. This is a limitation placed on the hunter database by POTA. Therefore the threshold has changed for the 2026 Challenge, not by our choice, but because of what data we can extract from POTA’s database.
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.
This week’s SARA activities
- Remembering Fr. George Metcalf WØJH Special Event Sunday Jan 11
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Central (16:00 – 22:00 UTC)
Savanna Center at Belwin Conservancy
795 Indian Trail South, Afton, 55001
https://maps.app.goo.gl/MQa38jkGtXHNfTr76
and on-air 7.260 +/-, 14.260 +/-, 21.360 +/-, 28.360 +/- (depending on band conditions and QRM), the SARA repeater 147.060+ 026N DCS, or 2- meter simplex 147.555.
- “Sunday Fusion” Digital Voice Hangout Jan 11
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 (02:00 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 Jan 12
Frequency: 3.856 LSB +/- QRM - Two Meter Tuesday (TMT) Round Robin Ragchew Jan 13
7:00 – ~8:00 pm Central (or until we finish!)
SARA Repeater 147.060+ MHz (DCS/DTCS 026 Normal)
1stTuesday is Emergency Power Night – participants are encouraged to operate the stations on emergency power.
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 Virtual Meeting Wednesday Jan 14
6:30 PM Central (00:30 UTC)
SARA’s ZOOM Teleconference Room - Eyeball QSO Party Thursday Jan 15
6:00 PM
Conference Room
Stillwater Public Library
224 3rd St East
