President’s Message
As we move into March, we are officially entering “weather aware” season here in Central Illinois. With spring storms well underway, now is the perfect time to double-check your antennas, test your backup power systems, and ensure your mobile rigs are ready. Our ability to provide reliable communication when the weather turns severe remains one of our most important community services. Whether you are supporting Peoria County ARES or working with our various local county EMAs, I know this club stands ready to provide the vital links our community depends on.
To help grow our ranks and strengthen that response, we are looking forward to our next amateur radio testing session at 12:00 PM on April 18, 2026, at the Knights of Columbus in Morton. If you know someone looking to earn their first license or a fellow ham ready to upgrade, please encourage them to join us. We do not charge a testing fee.
I also want to highlight some of the exciting tech gaining traction in our area: Meshtastic. We’ve seen a fantastic, growing mesh network taking shape in Tazewell County, and I want to encourage everyone to help us expand that footprint into Peoria County and beyond as well. While it operates on the 900 MHz ISM band rather than our traditional ham frequencies, it is a powerful tool for off-grid messaging and local networking that complements our existing emergency kits perfectly. Whether you’re a seasoned HF operator or just starting to build out a mesh node, there is plenty of room for innovation and expansion this spring. I look forward to seeing everyone at the next meeting to discuss these projects and more.
73,
Rob Zell – N9KRZ
President, PAARC
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Meeting Minutes
Board of Directors – March 3
Members of the Board met on Zoom at 7:03p.m. There was no formal Board business due to lack of a quorum. Present: N9KRZ- Rob, N9PIE- Val, W8WNG- Tom, W9YES- David, KDRYH- Ben, KD9DBQ- Rob, KC9HI- Casey, K9RCS- Rich
Discussion: We will start using the Asset manager on HamClubOnline.
Rob talked to Craig Thompson about the website and the server.
Jake looking at new banks
Treasurer? Rob Z will reach out to Birdie to make sure he is willing to do this position
Appointing a new Vice President and Repeater Chairman, we will recruit members for a new Vice President.
Working with Bill Maduox- regarding Ingersoll.
Surveys need to be sent out via HamClubOnline.
Kathy Hunt still willing to help out with going over financial records.
Discussion ended at 7:36pm
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The membership meeting on March 10 was cancelled due to the enhanced risk of severe weather.
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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®.
Apr 1 ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on W9UVI (147.075)/K9PEO (146.850)/Echolink/Allstar
Apr 8, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on W9UVI (147.075)/K9PEO (146.850)/Echolink /Allstar
Apr 14, NWS Weather Spotter Training, Bartonville American Legion, 6:30 – 9:00 PM
Apr 15, 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
3/1
N9KRZ W8NWG W9WGN KE9DFF KD9IBC K9HJZ NP2WJ N9CS K9TNT K9LE N9PIE KD9WVP N9NDF KC9SYO KB9OMS W9JDP KD9STL WF9E KD9PXZ KD9RYH W9YES W9KIR N9PZ KD9QQU W9WAS KD5CT KI5SQP A BUD Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
3/8
N9KRZ W9WGN NP2WJ KC9IH KD9WVP K9TNT W9WTF N9NDF NM0O KD9VAN KC9TCM W8NWG KD9RYH N9PIE N9PZ W9YES KE9EYE KD9STL KE9AOJ KE9DCS KD9AER KE9DFF W9WAS KD5CT KI5SQP KD9IBC KC9YTT KB9ATO K9CEW KD9YER KE9CFK W9KIR Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
3/15
N9KRZ K9LE KD9ANU W9WGN KD3AMF KC3VJQ NP2WJ N9PIE N9NDF W8NWG KD9VAN KD9IBC N9PSU KD9WVP W9YES KD9STL KD9RYH N9PZ KB9OMS KE9BPB KD9YER KE9EYE K9CEW KD5CT KE9DFF KF8EVQ KI5SQP W9WAS KJ5MNV KC9IH KD9VHI KE9CLC KB9ATO K9RCS W9KIR Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
3/22
N9KRKZ KD9ANU W9WGN KE9DFF KC9VJQ W9JDP KD9TEG KC9IH KC9VEW KD9VAN N9NDF KB9OMS KD9WVP K9STL K9LE KD9PXZ KADFCB KA9FCB KD9AER W9KIR N9PIE KD5CT KI5SQP W9WAS KE9BPB KB9ATO KD9RYH WW9DLM KB9IBC Submitted by W8NWG 73
3/29
N9KRZ K9LE KD9ANU KE9DFF K9HJZ KD9IBC KC3VJQ KD9IBC KD3AMF KD9WVP N9NDF W9WTF KE9ENP W8NWG K9RCS KC9TCM KE9DCS W9KIR KD9STL KD5CT KA9FCB N9WFT N9PIE KB9ATO W9YES N9PZ KC9YTT KB9YYD KD9RYH W9WGN KE9CZI KC9IH WW9DLM KD9PXZ Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
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Newcomer Net Logs
3/5
KD5CT K9LE KD9WVP KD9DBQ K9RCS KD9RYH KJ5MLZ W9YES KB9RAO Submitted by N9KRZ 73
3/12
N9PIE KE9DFF W9WAS KD5CT W9KTN KD9WVP KC9VEW KD9NYN KD9RYH W9JDP KD9DBQ Submitted by N9KRZ 73
3/19
N9PIE KE9DFF KE9CZI KE9ENV K4LSW KD5CT KI5SQP KD9NYN KB9OMS N9NDF KD9DBQ W9YES Submitted by N9KRZ 73
3/26
N9PIE KE9DFF KE9EYE KE9CZI KD5CT W9WAS W9WGN N9WFT KD9DBQ KC9VEW KD9QQU K9LE W9YES Submitted by N9KRZ 73
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April Club Events
April 7 – 7:00 p.m. – Board of Directors meeting – Zoom
April 14 – 6:30 p.m. NOTE THE EARLIER START TIME – Membership Meeting: NWS Weather Spotter Training: Bartonville American Legion Hall, 4501 S Airport Rd, Bartonville.
April 15 – 7:30 p.m. – ARES Meeting – Zoom
April 18 – 12:00 Noon – License Testing: Morton Knights of Columbus, 616 W. David Street, Morton, IL. FRN Required. Bring two forms of identification and a copy of your license (if upgrading). No Testing Fee.
April 28 – 7:00 p.m. – Midwest Superfest Meeting – Zoom
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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