President’s Message
September is finally here, which means our premier event of the year is officially upon us! Midwest Superfest is taking place on September 19–20, and anticipation is building as hams from all across the region prepare to join us. Superfest is not only a highlight on the Midwest ham radio calendar, but it is also the vital engine that supports PAARC throughout the year. Pulling off an event of this scale takes a true team effort, and we still need volunteers to step up for a variety of roles. Whether you can spare a couple of hours to assist with setup, ticketing, parking, or teardown, your help is essential to making the weekend run smoothly. Please visit w9uvi.net to sign up. Every bit of time you donate helps ensure the event is a resounding success!
In addition to the Hamfest, tailgating, and camaraderie, we are excited to share that Chris Yates will be giving a presentation at Midwest Superfest! Chris brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, and we are thrilled to have him on the schedule. His forum will be in the Chapel at 11:30 Saturday.
Get your gear lists ready, bring your friends and family, and let’s make Midwest Superfest 2026 one for the books!
73,
Rob Zell, N9KRZ
PAARC President
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Meeting Minutes
Board of Directors – August 8, 2026
Meeting called to order at 19:05 via Zoom
Roll Call:
N9KRZ, Rob Zell – President
W4BRD, David “Birdie” Fogle – Vice President, Treasurer
W8NWG, Tom Hunt – Trustee
KD9ANU, Rich Holtman – Superfest Chairman
W9YES, David Timm – Director at Large
KE9DCS, Ed Dennis – Director at Large
Non Board Members: KC9IH, Casey
Previous Minutes: Rob read previous meeting minutes. Approved.
Old Business:
Superfest:
Radioddity GS5B radio donation has been delivered and valued at $75.
Alpha Antenna sent email with five $50 gift certificates to download and print with a total
value of $250. 3D McPrintface delivered donation prizes, value TBD. Several committed prize donations: Baofeng DMR 6×2, Alpha Antenna Antenna, Various misc prize donations. HF Transceivers for grand prize still in discussion.
David motioned to authorize the Superfest Committee to spend up to $1500 plus tax and shipping on an HF Transceiver. Ed Seconded. Motion Passed.
Dwight will be sending Superfest emails.
Chris Yates will speak on tornado detection and forecasting. Chris has requested WiFi for presentation. Birdie will bring a Starlink to use.
Additional miscellaneous Superfest updates.
Red Cross: No updates to present. Rich commented that Red Cross doesn’t really seem interested in working with 3rd parties
and seems to be content with standard phone communications instead of radio communications. Ed has MOU example, but needs help converting from PDF to Word Document for editing. Ed will email PDF to Rich.
CEFCU/Bank:
Rob explained discussions with Dillan, Morton Branch Manager, to convert current club account to business account. Rob explained that PayPal can still use the CEFCU account as the funding source for purchases, regardless of decision made tonight.
Rich suggested that e-check is also an option regardless of decision made tonight. Discussion to add Rob as the business account owner, Rich and Tom as authorized users. Rich motioned to convert the CEFCU account from a Club account to a Business account with Robert Zell, N9KRZ – President, as account owner and Richard Holtman, KD9ANU – Superfest Chairman, and Thomas Hunt, W8NWG – Trustee, as authorized
users. David “Birdie” Fogle seconds. Motion Passed.
Ed motioned to issue two debit cards, one for Rob President and one for Rich
Superfest Chairman, with a $200 transaction limit and $1000 daily or pending limit.
David Timm seconded. Motion passed.
New Business:
Rich received the State of Illinois Annual Report. Rob will file.
Jake texted Rich and mentioned that Alpha Antenna will be present as a vendor to Superfest and will provide a donated antenna at that time as well. Jake also mentioned that Retivis is no longer responding to him.
Birdie motioned to adjourn. Rich seconded.
Meeting adjourned at 20:34.
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Midwest Superfest
The beauty of volunteering is that everyone can do it.
Volunteering can make a difference. In the past, our club’s hamfests have been a success thanks to the volunteer efforts of PAARC members. Again this year, we are asking for your help during Midwest Superfest doing everything from selling tickets at the gate, helping during flea market check ins, driving golf cart shuttles and more. In addition, we need people to heard several areas:
- Flea Market Chairperson: one or more people to check in flea market arrivals, especially Saturday morning.
- Forums Chairperson: Making sure the Forums stay on schedule, introducing each speaker and being available to answer questions.
- Prize Chairperson: Coordinate the hourly prize drawings and recording names of the winners.
- Club Table Foreman: Being available to answer questions, sell 50/50 drawing tickets and additional prize tickets.
- PA Announcer: Announce upcoming Forums, hourly prize winning number and other announcements as needed.
The shifts can vary to meet your schedule and make sure you have time to enjoy Midwest Superfest as well. You can sign up on line by clicking here.
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Peoria County ARES
Amateur radio operators use their training, skills, and equipment to provide communications during emergencies, When All Else Fails®.
September 2, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on W9UVI (147.075)/K9PEO (146.850)/Echolink/Allstar
September 9, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on W9UVI (147.075)/K9PEO (146.850)/Echolink/Allstar
September 16, ARES Monthly Meeting via Zoom, 7:30 PM
ARES website: http://www.peoriacountyares.org/
Rich Holtman, KD9ANU, Emergency Coordinator for Peoria County ARES
email: [email protected]
Winlink: [email protected]
Cell: 309-256-4272
Hams Over IP Extension 101989
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Sunday Net Logs
The Sunday Club Net meets every Sunday at 8:30 pm. on the 147.075 and 146.850 Repeaters
8/2
N9PIE KE9ANU W8NWG W9WGN KE9DFF KE9FZR K9HJZ KD9NYN K9QZ K9LE W9JDP N9NDF KD9IVV KE9ENP KD9IBC KC9YTT K9STL K9RCS W9GLO KD9WVP NP2WJ KD9QQU KD9AER KJ5PZV W9WAS KD5CT KI5SQP KE9BPB KD9WRX KC9IH W9YES KE9DAI K9CEW KB9ATO Submitted by N9KRZ 73
8/9
N9KRZ KD9ANU W9YES KE9DFF W9WGN KD9NYN K9HJZ KC9IH KD9WVP W9JDP N9NDF W8NWG K9ENP KD9VAN KB9OMS N9WFT N9JOZ KE9EDF KD9PXZ K9MK KD9QQU KB9ATO N9PIE W9KIR KD9AER K9RCS KC9YTT KI5SQP KJ5AYX KD5CT W9WAS KD9IBC KD9STL KC9REG K9LE KE9BPB Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
8/16
N9KRZ KD9ANU KD9IBC KE9DFF K9HJZ KE9FZR W9WGN W8NWG KD9WVP KD9PXZ KD9IVV KC9YTT N9WFT KD9RJH KD9AER W9KIR N9PIE KE9EDF N9NDF KD9STL W9YES W9WAS KD5CT KI5SQP KJ5AYX KC9IH WF9E N9GZ KD9VAN K9CEW K9LE KC3UNA WD9EB KB9ATO KE9BSA Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
8/23
N9KRZ KD9ANU KD9IBC W9WGN K9HJZ KD9AER KD9WVP W9JDP W9WTF KE9ENP N9PIE KE9DMW KD9STL W8NWG K9RCS N9WFT W9YES W9WAS KJ5HHT KE9DFF KB9YYD KD9WRX K9LE W9KIR N9GZ KB9ATO KE9DAI Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
8/30
N9KRZ KD9ANU KC3UNA KD9IBC W9WGN NP2WJ K9HJZ KC3VJQ KD9WRX KE9DCS KD9WVP KE9EDF W4BRD W8NWG KB9ATO KD9PXZ KD9VAN N9WFT N9PIE W9KIR KE9ENP W9YES KD9STL W9GLO WF9E N9GZ K9LE KA9FCB KD9IVV KN0WHF KD9MPI KD9AER WJ5VT K9RCS AI7UG W9WAS KD5CT KE9DFF KI5SQP KC9IH KE9DAI N9PZ K9CEW Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
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Newcomer Net Logs
The Newcomer Net meets every Thursday at 8:00 pm. on the 147.075 and 146.850 Repeaters
8/6
N9PIE K5SRZV KF0YXY KE9FZR W9GAS KD5CT KE9DFE KI5GCP W9YES KT9Y Submitted by N9KRZ 73
8/13
N9PIE KE0YXV W9WAS KE9DFF KD5CT K9LE W9WGN KC9VEW KD9MPI W9YES KI5SQP KD9NYN Submitted by N9KRZ 73
8/20
N9PIE KJ5PZV KF0YXV KE9FJW KC9DMW W9WAS KE9DFF W9KTN W9WGN N9WFT W9YES Submittedby N9KRZ 73
8/27
KJ5PZV N9PIE W9WAS W9KTN KD9WVP KD9DBQ W9YES KE9DFF N9NDF KC3UNA KD9NYN W4BRD KE9FOO Submitted by N9KRZ 73
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September Club Events
September 1 – 7:00 p.m. – Board of Directors Meeting – Zoom
September 8 – 7:00 p.m. – Club Membership Meeting: Modulation: AM, FM, SSB – Highview Christian Church, 403 James Parkway, Washington, IL 61571. Details to be announced
September 16 – 7:30 p.m. – ARES Meeting – Zoom
September 19-20 – Midwest Superfest – Three Sisters Park, 17189 IL-29, Chillicothe. Hours: Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. See the Schedule of Events
NETS:
CLUB NET – Every Sunday at 8:30 p.m., followed by the Elmer Hour
NEWCOMER NET – Every Thursday at 8:00 p.m.
ARES NET – First and Second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m
All nets meet on the W9UVI Repeater: 147.075 (CTCSS Tone 156.7) linked with the K9PEO Repeater: 146.85 (CTCSS Tone103.5) and on EchoLink Node 706480 or All Star Node 62516.
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