Next Monthly Meeting: Thursday, February 12, 7pm
Next Weekend Session: Sunday, January 11, Noon
Nets: Every Tuesday & Wednesday at 7:00pm
Clandestine Coffee: Every Wednesday at 9:30am
All Hams, Licensed or Not, are Welcomed to Attend
January Club Mtg: New Year, New Energy!
The January 8th club meeting brought new energy to the challenges waiting in 2026. The meeting opened with introductions and the question, “What is one radio goal you have for 2026.” Responses varied from license upgrades to new antennas to learning CW. The topics covered in the old and new business were also varied. Among the noteworthy items was the election of club officers for 2026: John KQ1P returns as President, Marion W1GRL begins a term as Vice President, Joan W1DLC returns as Secretary/Treasurer, and Matt KC1VLH joins Stan W1BOY and Greg KC1RID as a Director of the Board. President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer are one year terms. The additional directors are elected for staggered three year terms. The club would like to thank Chuck AC1BS for his many years serving as the club Vice President, and Evie KA1BRA for serving on the Board.
On a different note, Barbara KC1SSY, EAWA member and Hancock County Emergency Coordinator, encouraged members to use some winter downtime to take two important FEMA courses: ICS 100, Introduction to the Incident Command System and ICS 800, Introduction to the National Response Framework. These are the beginning courses for anyone interested in moving forward in Emergency Communications.
There were numerous announcements, including a friendly reminder that yearly dues should be paid soon ($15 per person, $20 per family), at the Weekend Session this coming Sunday Jeff KA1DBE is holding a planning session for our Annual Ham Symposium in April, and new equipment has been installed for the W1TU repeater. There was also discussion of the various awards associated with ARRL’s American250 WAS program, and lastly, Marion W1GRL announced that at least 8 EAWA members participated in the 2025 DX Marathon.
The title of program, presented by Marion W1GRL, was “The EAWA Website is 2 years old! How are we doing?” The presentation began with many statistics, provided by our website host, WordPress. Combining 2024 and 2025, we have had 3,150 visitors, and 13,028 pages viewed. Focusing on 2025, we published 42 blog posts, and averaged 641 views per month. The most views came in June and October, and our most viewed story was Hamming It Up In the Summertime. Most visitors are reaching us through search engines, however a significant number found us through Facebook. We did have visitors from the ARRL’s club page and from QRZ.
Following a review of the stats, Marion shifted to discuss the ARRL Website Competition that is part of the 2026 Year of the Club. The competition requires a club to state the goals for their website and describe how they are meeting those goals. We have two simple yet powerful goals for the website: To strengthen the sense of community within the club, and share our thriving community with others in an accessible and approachable way. One indicator that we are meeting our goals is that in 2025 we had 1,924 visitors to our website, with most viewing our Homepage (with the calendar and most recent blog posts), Regular Events, and Club Information and History. A second indicator, using data provided by Joan, the EAWA Secretary. Our membership had been declining, reaching 36 in 2023, and since the launch of our website in January of 2024, our membership grew to 43 in 2024 and 54 in 2025. At the time of this writing our website entry has been submitted. Winners will be announced in May. Whether we win something the ARRL competition or not, we are achieving bigger and better things by growing the EAWA and sharing our passion for this great hobby with all who visit our website.
Written by Marion W1GRL
EAWA Members Prep for ARRL America250 WAS Awards
The ARRL has several initiatives for 2026 commemorating the Year of the Club and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The EAWA has sent in a club photo for a chance to be featured in QST, and has entered this website in the club website competition.
This article is focused on how you can participate in the largest initiative, the “America250 WAS,” is a year-long event offering several special awards through the ARRL’s Logbook Of The World (LoTW).
Using the terms in LoTW, there are new WAS endorsements available for 2026. Endorsements are are like branches on a tree, indicating specific achievements. For example, the tree is the Worked All States Award, completed in any combination of bands and modes. An endorsement, or branch on the tree, is added when the operator works all states in just one mode (CW, Phone, Digital), or just one band, or even one mode/band combination (for example, SSB only on 20 meters). The America250 WAS offers several new endorsements.
One of the awards or new endorsements is for contacting each state when hams in that state are using the ARRL callsign of W1AW/Portable. The “Portable” is the number corresponding to the state’s ARRL region or territory. For example, New York hams will use W1AW/2, while Louisiana hams will use W1AW/5. Across the year each state will have two separate weeks when W1AW/Portable will be on the air, and for Maine those are the weeks of January 28 and December 16. Maine will use W1AW/1 as will all states in the 1 call area, however we will be distinguished from other 1 call area states by our designated weeks. It would be ideal to have W1AW/1 activated on all bands and in all modes often during our two weeks.
You can participate in this award chase in two ways. The first is to follow the ARRL calendar and make QSOs with W1AW/Portable operators in each state – on any band or mode. The first two states, New York W1AW/2 and Nebraska W1AW/0 start their first weeks on Wednesday January 7th. The second way you can participate is to represent Maine as W1AW/1 in the modes and on the bands of your choice during our specified weeks. The exchange is a typical one, with the addition that W1AW/1 is a special event station, part of the ARRL America250 WAS. To learn more or sign up, please contact club member and Maine Section Manager, Phil N1EP, at was250me@gmail.com. Several club members have volunteered, including Matt KC1VLH, Rob W8HAP, and Bob AB1EP.
Another award is for making a QSO with an ARRL Affiliated Club station in all 50 states. You don’t have to wait for a specific week for this activity. The ARRL has a search mechanism for affiliated clubs in each state. Not only can you search for them, but if you happen upon an affiliated station there will likely be a statement about America250 WAS in the exchange. Announcements will be made as plans are finalized to put W1TU on the air.
A third award, the WAS Triple Play, is earned by contacting operators all 50 states, using W1AW/Portable and/or Affiliated Club calls on all three modes (CW/Phone/Digital). Just like the first two awards, you apply for this endorsement through LoTW after you have achieved the award requirements.
There are also awards for contacting all 50 states on one band, using one mode, or by satellite.
A summary of the event can be found in the ARRL’s On The Air magazine. You can check the event webpage for more details. America250 WAS is a great way to make sure you get all the states this year, and also a way to give back to the hobby by representing Maine as a special event operator.
Written by Marion W1GRL
Join EAWA Members in the DX Marathon!
The EAWA and the DX Marathon program have crossed paths numerous times. Several EAWA members have participated in the program over the last couple of years. Last spring the program administrator, Mark WC3W, gave a Zoom presentation to the club. Also, the EAWA sponsors a winner’s plaque for the highest score in the Formula Unlimited Class. (The sponsorship was a gift from Marion W1GRL and Stan W1BOY to the EAWA as a way to honor the club for being the special group that it is!)
The DX Marathon program is free, easy, and fun to participate in. “Free,” as in no fees or registration. It’s easy because all you need is an ADIF file that includes this year’s DX contacts — no filtering is needed on your part. You can give them your whole QRZ file or download from your logging program if you’d like. It’s fun to see what you have accomplished this year, and to see how you’re doing compared to others with similar power-levels and antennas. The program gives seasoned DX hunters a reason to contact the easy-to-find countries and CQ zones each year. Also, if you spend time in DX contests, you may be surprised at how high your DX Marathon score is!
In a recent email exchange with Marion W1GRL, Mark WC3W emphasized that ALL participants will receive a “beautiful” certificate listing all their accomplishments (including standing among EAWA submissions). Your score is the sum of the number of DX entities contacted and CQ zones worked in 2025. Operators may choose to enter a with a specific mode, such as digital only, or mixed modes. The DX Marathon is a program, not a contest, so all bands count toward your score )similar to the State QSO Party Challenge). There are overlays for youth and YLs. At the time of this writing there were 1,007 entries from hams around the world, including EAWA members Barbara KC1SSY, Phil N1EP, Stan W1BOY, and Marion W1GRL. Mark W1ABY was among those who entered in 2024.
When you submit your file (here), it’s a good idea to use the Entry Editor that explains options and gives tips for choosing the best QSO to represent each entity. Recently, Marion W1GRL entered a mini DX Marathon sprint, didn’t bother with the Entry Editor, and promptly received 11 deductions because of invalid call signs, incorrect entities (call signs didn’t match expected entity), and incorrect CQ zones. It’s easy to mix up CQ and ITU zones on QRZ, in logging programs, WSJT-X, or other software. It’s worth a few minutes to go over the entries in your submission — Marion could have chosen different QSOs and saved those points.
Once you’re satisfied with your submission, the website will present questions regarding your modes, power-levels and antennas in order to place your entry in the appropriate category. Don’t forget the EAWA! Use the dropdown box for clubs to find the EAWA. You can also choose whether to make your results public on the Leaderboard or keep them private.
The deadline for submissions is 7:00pm EST, Monday, January 5, 2026. So, in addition to planning New Year’s Resolutions and ham radio goals, perhaps you will also choose to post your DX contacts on the CQ DX Marathon website. It would be great to see the list of EAWA entries grow!
Written by Marion W1GRL
December Club Mtg: A Little Business & A Lot of Fun!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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
The Thanksgiving Ham
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
“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
“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
“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!
Written by the EAWA, organized by Marion W1GRL
W1TU 