Special Events

Potluck Dinner, Feb 27, 2026

Our annual potluck dinner on February 27 was great! 30 people attended, including 3 visitors and 2 hams new to the club.

The food was terrific! It was noted that the club’s favorite is dessert! But there was also a lot of salads, meats, and side dishes enough to fill everyone and most people had to take some of their dish back home.

Winter Field Day January 24, 2026

RVARC participated in Winter Field Day on Saturday, January 24 from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM. One radio was used in the radio room. 86 contacts were made there. When the snow started, we closed up for safety. As we all know, the snow Saturday turned to sleet and ice, so staying through the night to Sunday would have been risky. More information will be shared shortly.

In the conference room we had Power Pole connectors and crimp/solder coax connectors with tools for projects or repairs, or just to learn how to attach them. Seven hams worked in the conference room on various projects. One was to get VarAC software loaded, get the program working, and make some contacts.

After a lunch of pizza from Dominoes, Avery KZ4WC Gibbs gave a presentation on getting started with CW (continuous wave or Morse Code). He will repeat the presentation at a future program meeting, so stay tuned.

I have to apologize. I was at the Red Cross through most of the day, but I forgot to take any pictures. I never have been a good picture taker, and I’m afraid I need to be reminded when I am at functions, to take pictures. Sorry for the loss. Here is the only picture I can provide, of Avery’s CW presentation.

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Past Year's Events

Christmas Party

Our Christmas party at Mama Maria’s was attended by 22 people including regular members and their spouses. Fun was had by all, and the food was superb! There was lots of excitement in the air, discussion of the season, and what is going to happen for the club in 2026.

Mill Mountain Star
Special Event Station

November 2, 2025
10 AM – 3 PM ET

Commemorating the Roanoke Star on Mill Mountain. Shining its light on the city below since November 1949 and giving the nickname “Star City of the South” to Roanoke, Virginia.

10-15 hams came together for fun and working radios at the pavilion at Mill Mountain Star. Some of those included were Marty K4EQS, Mike K2JML, Doug N4MGW, Ben KK4EWT, Cathy K4NIT, Tom W4TKW, Avery KZ4WC, Steve KQ4VGC, and Ben M.

Radio were set up running on 10 meters, 15 meters, and 40 meters.

The lunch was potluck with hotdogs and hamburgers furnished by the club. The extras were donated to a church youth group.

Additional Information

More information about the star’s history can be found at www.playroanoke.com/the-roanoke-star.

Radios in the Park
Green Hill Park, Salem VA

October 4, 2025
10AM – 3PM

Five or six stations were set up at Green Hill Park. It was a beautiful day to be outside. We had several POTA activators, and they made contacts. Others just enjoyed being with other hams, discussing various subjects.

Ben KK4EWT Williams’s project was to connect with a satellite. He succeeded! Check out the pictures below, of Ben on the left aiming his antenna, and the message from the satellite on the right.

Blue Ridge Bonanza
Special Event

September 7, 2025
9AM – 4PM ET

This event commemorates the beginning of construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway in September, 1935. Every 1st Saturday in September we set up stations along the 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway and make contacts. Here are the results of the 2025 event:

W4CA’s Contest Summary Report for N3FJP’s Amateur Contact Log
Created by N3FJP’s Amateur Contact Log Version 7.0.11 www.n3fjp.com

Total Contacts = 330
Total Points = 0
Operating Period: 2025/09/07 13:17 – 2025/09/07 16:46
Total Contacts by Band and Mode:

Total Contacts by State \ Province: 39

Total Contacts by Operator:

Hamfest 2025!

Another successful year! Thanks to all of the organizers, venders, volunteers, and participants.

The welcoming committee outside William Byrd Middle School in Vinton

The following pictures are of the inside hamfest:

Everything was available! You can get new radios, used radios, antennas, parts, information, and even get a personal shirt or hat made with your callsign, club, etc.

Some of the outside vendors below. At least the weather was cool (73 degrees), cloudy but with no rain. Very pleasant.

Meeting With Eating: October 25, 8:30 AM at Famous Anthony's

To keep the comradery up, bring some former members back and introduce new ones, how about meeting at a restaurant regularly for a time of com-ham-radship?

RVARC is inviting all hams–former members, current members, non-members, families, and any interested friends in the area–to get together on a regular basis to break bread and socialize. Our first meeting will be for breakfast at Famous Anthony’s at 6499 Williamson Rd, Roanoke, VA 24019 at 8:30 AM on Saturday, October 25, 2025. Just come, eat, and have a good time visiting and talking ham while munching on some.

If this location is not to your liking and you have a suggestion, please share with Linda KQ4VGS (membership@w4ca.com) and we will try to accommodate in the future. We want a place and time that will be the bestest for the mostest.

To get an idea of where people live who would be interested in meeting and eating, figure out where you live (approximately), with the gridmap below and email your location (Example, I live at 6vertical/13 horizontal) to Linda KQ4VGS Cheek at membership@w4ca.com. We will figure out where the closest location to the most people is, and schedule a meal. Also, let me know if you would prefer breakfast (and what time works best for you) or lunch. We want to organize the best place for the most people.

If you live off the map but would still like to join us, just give me the direction off of the map that you live, and how many miles.