To all Virginia ARRL Members

Subject: October 2026 Section Newsletter

             The Spark!  Does your Amateur Radio origin story begin with a Scouting event learning Morse Code?  Or building a simple crystal diode AM broadcast radio at a scout meeting?  If so, you probably got the spark at an early age.  The excitement of building something from discrete components or communicating with a simple code oscillator might have turned into an Amateur Radio license at an early age  ... or the spark smoldered until later in life.  Regardless, we hope you are having fun with Amateur Radio, and say thanks the many  mentors – far and near.

             I raised my scouting origins, as Scouts from around the world are hosting the Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) operating event on 17-18 Oct 2026.  The scouts are looking for you!  There are no official hours, so you have the whole weekend to make JOTA contacts.  Have your origin story ready to share.  Contact your local Scout council and see what may already be planned in your area and how you can help.  More about JOTA at:  https://www.scouting.org/international/jota-joti/jota/  You can find a nearby council at:   https://www.scouting.org/about/local-council-locator/  Also see:  https://www.arrl.org/jamboree-on-the-air-jota

         Another youth-oriented event this month is the Collegiate QSO Party on 3-4 Oct 2026.  Over 1,000 youth (of all ages) are ARRL members, and they are our next generation.  They have the Spark!  Take the time to reach out to them on the air.   More about the QSO Party at:  https://collegiateqsoparty.com/ and ARRL’s Collegiate program at https://www.arrl.org/collegiate-amateur-radio

      ARRL is a member of Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD); likewise, the Virginia Section is a member of the VA VOAD. VOAD members work together to foster coordinated delivery of services to communities affected by disasters.  Other VOAD members include the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and more technical organizations like the IT Disaster Resource Center.  Besides assisting with ARES, Amateur Radio Operators may participate with these other VOAD members.  

      Highlights from visiting Newington.  I attended the new Section Manager orientation class last month, and walked away with lots of great ideas on how to better serve the 4,000 plus ARRL members in Virginia.  If you are looking for a ready source of how ARRL has supported the hobby, take a quick read of pages 10 thru 19 of the latest ARRL Annual Report, and then skip to the Financial Summary on pages 40-41.  The full report can be downloaded at:  https://www.arrl.org/files/file/About%20ARRL/Annual%20Reports/2025%20ARRL%20Annual%20Report.pdf  Suffice to say, ARRL is committed to meeting its mission objectives via member-centric programs. More to follow.

 Still looking for volunteers to operate their home station as W1AW/4 during our week working the American250 event in 3-10 Nov 2026.  Sign up at the following site:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MBHu7SlYThoNJVngq7AmnXs2OJ9-0feRF4Kvc-AG3rw/edit?usp=sharing

 73

 Mike Aimone, WA8AHZ

ARRL VA Section Manager