The Columbia Amateur Radio Club is now a Weather-Ready Nation (WRN) Ambassador.
The Columbia Amateur Radio Club is excited to collaborate with NOAA/NWS to help strengthen our nation’s readiness against extreme weather, water, and climate events. If you would like more information, please visit the Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador Frequently Asked Questions. And if you need any additional information, email WRN anytime at wrn.feedback@noaa.gov. You can also find WRN on X (previously Twitter) @WRNAmbassadors.
Amateur radio operators, enthusiasts, and tech lovers, it’s time to mark your calendars for the ARRL Digital Contest, an exciting event hosted by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). Whether you’re a seasoned digital mode operator or a newcomer eager to dive into digital communications, this contest offers a unique opportunity to showcase your skills, connect with operators worldwide, and earn recognition in the ham radio community.
What Is the ARRL Digital Contest?
The ARRL Digital Contest is an annual competition designed to encourage the use of digital modes in amateur radio. Digital communication methods, including popular modes like FT8, PSK31, RTTY, and more, have become vital in ham radio. They allow operators to make contacts with minimal power, even under challenging propagation conditions, and the contest provides a platform for enthusiasts to challenge themselves and improve their digital mode proficiency.
Participants in the contest are tasked with making as many valid contacts as possible with other operators using digital modes, which can include short-range local exchanges and long-distance contacts across continents. The event is a great way to engage with a global community, exchange QSO information, and compete for awards and recognition.
Whether you’re reporting severe weather in real time or keeping your community safe, the WeatherWise app is built to support SKYWARN members and weather-savvy users who need fast, reliable, hyper-local weather data anytime, anywhere.
It’s that wonderful time of year again! The Columbia Amateur Radio Club invites you to join us for our annual Christmas Party — a fun evening of food, fellowship, and radio camaraderie!
📍 Location: Little Pigs BBQ, 4937 Alpine Rd, Columbia, SC 29223 🕕 Time: 6:00 PM 💲 Cost: $10 per person or $25 for a family of three or more
Enjoy a delicious BBQ dinner and take part in the festivities! We’ll have awesome prizes, great company, and plenty of holiday cheer.
🍰 Bring your favorite dessert to share with everyone — homemade or store-bought, it’s always a treat to sample everyone’s favorites!
Thank you to those who voted in person or by mail in ballot at the November 2025 club meeting. Below is a list of who was elected for the 2026 calendar year.
President- Jim Lathan W4JLP
Vice President- Paul Finan N4PRF
Treasurer- Amanda McKinnis K4ASM
Secretary- Wes Munn KJ4FIG
Director- Steve Ross W4LED, Noah Bergervin W7RPX (Two Year Term)
Trustee- Robert Bogan N2RB
73, CARC
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/carc-2026-board-of-directors-election-results/
Join us for the November meeting of the Columbia Amateur Radio Club (CARC) on Monday, November 3, 2025, at our usual location — ETV Headquarters — and on Zoom for those who can’t attend in person.
This month’s meeting will feature club officer elections for the upcoming year. Your participation is important — come cast your vote and help shape the future direction of our club! See the website post below for more details on voting and absentee ballot requirements.
Following the elections, we’re excited to welcome a special Zoom presentation from the Long Island CW Club (LICW). The LICW is well-known for promoting Morse code training and camaraderie among hams worldwide. Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn more about CW operations, training programs, and how you can get involved.
Please note the zoom meeting will not start till 7:30pm. Voting will take place in person from 7pm-7:30pm and then the LICW club will start to present at 7:30pm.
Meeting Details:
Date: Monday, November 3, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: ETV Headquarters (and via Zoom)
Topics: Club Officer Elections & Long Island CW Club Presentation
All members and guests are welcome. Whether you’re a seasoned operator or newly licensed, this is a meeting you won’t want to miss!
The Columbia Amateur Radio Club will hold its annual Club Officer Elections on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 7pm during our regular club meeting at ETV, 1101 George Rogers Blvd, Columbia, SC 29201. All members are encouraged to attend, participate, and help shape the future of our club.
If you’re unable to attend in person, mail-in ballots are accepted. Click HERE to download the pdf mail in ballot. Please follow these important steps to ensure your vote counts:
Place your completed ballot in a sealed envelope.
Sign your name across the glued flap on the back of the envelope.
Mail it to the Club P.O. Box before the election date. CARC PO Box 595 Columbia SC 29202
Mailed ballots must be postmarked by 10/29/25.
🗳️ Voting Eligibility Reminder: To cast a ballot—whether in person or by mail—you must have your dues paid and be a member in good standing with the Columbia Amateur Radio Club.
Below is the current ballot. You are welcome to write in someone on the absentee ballot or in person during voting at the November 3 club meeting.
Position
Name
Call
Incumbent
President
Jim Lathan
W4JLP
Yes
Vice President
Paul Finan
N4PRF
Yes
Treasurer
Amanda McKinnis
K4ASM
Yes
Michael Blackburn
KQ4DNM
Secretary
Wes Munn
KJ4FIG
Yes
Director (2 year term)
Steve Ross
W4LED
Yes
2 slots to be filled
Michael Blackburn
KQ4DNM
Yes
Noah Bergervin
W7RPX
Trustee
Robert Bogan
N2RB
Yes
Let’s make this year’s election a strong showing of member participation and club spirit. See you at ETV on November 3rd!
73, CARC
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/%f0%9f%93%a1-columbia-amateur-radio-club-elections-november-3-2025/
📅 Date: Saturday, October 18 🕗 Time: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM 📍 Location: Sesquicentennial State Park, Columbia, SC at Shelter 2 by the Ball Field
Join the Columbia Amateur Radio Club (CARC) for a fun and relaxing day in the park at our Ham & Eggs outside gathering this Saturday!
We’ll kick off the day with a lite breakfast provided by the club, so come hungry and ready to enjoy food and great company.
Bring your ham radio gear, set up your portable station, and spend the day operating and experimenting in the field. Whether you’re a seasoned operator or new to the hobby, this is a fantastic opportunity to:
Test your portable setup
Participate in a Parks on the Air (POTA) activation
Get hands-on help and advice from friendly Elmers
Meet fellow hams and share ideas
Demonstrations:
MMDVM Hotspots Featuring DMR, D-Star, Fusion, and more
Allstar Nodes featuring Radioless, UHF, and VHF nodes
SSTV
Digital Modes featuring FT8, Keyboard to Keyboard Chatting/QSOs with JSCall, and VaraAC
QRP Radios and QSOs around the world
Alternative OPs featuring Meshtastic, Rattlegram, Zello, and Signal
Foxhunting – Getting Started
This is a casual, family-friendly event — come and go as you please throughout the day. Please watch this post for weather updates or new info as we get closer to Saturday.
Reminder also that if you have a SC State Park pass bring it with you. You will be responsible for the entry fee into the park. More info on the cost can be found here at-https://southcarolinaparks.com/sesqui
Please bring your own chairs and any other equipment you made need to operate.
Have questions? Join our CARC planning call Wednesday 10/15/25 at 7pm via google meet. Video call link: https://meet.google.com/tsa-wgvn-hwv
We will be monitoring the CARC Simplex frequency (146.400) if you need directions for parking and finding the shelter.
📻 Let’s fill the airwaves from Sesqui and make some contacts!
73, Columbia Amateur Radio Club
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/%f0%9f%a5%93%f0%9f%a5%9a-carc-ham-eggs-at-sesqui-state-park-this-saturday/
The Columbia Amateur Radio Club invites all members and guests to join us for our October Monthly Meeting! This is an important meeting you won’t want to miss as we prepare for the upcoming months of amateur radio fun and service.
📅 Date: 10/6/2025 🕖 Time: 7pm 📍 Location: ETV Building, 1101 George Rogers Blvd, Columbia, SC 29201
Can’t come to the meeting in person? Join us via google meet by the link below. Video call link: https://meet.google.com/jzb-zctq-iee
📋 Club Officer Elections
It’s election time! The November club meeting is when we hold club officer elections, and your participation matters. This is your opportunity to help shape the direction of our club for the upcoming year. Please be present and cast your vote! Please send any nominations for elected positions to John W4SFX or Clay K3VCR by 10/17/25.
🍳 Ham & Eggs – October Location Change!
This month’s Ham & Eggs breakfast social will have a special location: ➡️ Sesquicentennial State Park. Come enjoy a great breakfast, fellowship, and the chance to enjoy the outdoors with your fellow hams. We will be meeting at shelter 2 by the ball field.
🏃 Harbison 50K Volunteers Needed
The Harbison 50K trail race is coming up, and the Columbia Amateur Radio Club is proud to support the event once again by providing communication and safety support. We need volunteers to help make this event a success! If you can assist, please let us know at the meeting or reach out to a club officer.
❄️ Winter Field Day 2026 is Coming Soon
Yes, it may be a few months away, but Winter Field Day 2026 will be here before we know it! Planning is already underway, and this is always a highlight of our operating year. Start thinking about your gear, antennas, and how you’d like to participate. Stay tuned for details at upcoming meetings.
🎄 Columbia Amateur Radio Club Christmas Party
Mark your calendars! Our Christmas Party will be held on: 📅 Monday, December 1, 2025 📍 Little Pigs BBQ
Come enjoy a festive evening of food, fun, and fellowship as we celebrate the holiday season together. More info to come on this wonderful event.
We look forward to seeing everyone at the October meeting and at our upcoming activities. Amateur radio is all about community, service, and fun—and there’s no better time to get involved!
📻 73, Columbia Amateur Radio Club
Permanent link to this article: https://w4cae.com/columbia-amateur-radio-club-october-meeting/
