From the Vice President — Jeff Dickerson, N0JFY:

June is shaping up to be an exciting month for the St. Cloud Amateur Radio Club. With Field Day, VE testing, and ongoing technical activities, there are plenty of opportunities for members to get involved, learn, and enjoy the hobby. Thank you for your continued support and participation.

ARRL Field Day — Saturday, June 27, 2026

Location: Crow Wing State Park
POTA Activation: Begins around 8:00 AM
Official Field Day Start: 1:00 PM

We will begin the day with a Parks on the Air activation starting around 8 AM. This is a great opportunity to warm up the radios, test equipment, and enjoy portable operating in the park.

At 1 PM, we transition into ARRL Field Day. Planned stations include HF SSB, HF CW, digital modes, VHF/UHF, and a GOTA station for new licensees and visitors.

Meals and Potluck: The club will provide lunch and dinner for all Field Day participants. All attendees are asked to bring something to share for the potluck.

Please bring a chair, sunscreen, bug spray, and any personal equipment you wish to use.

VE License Testing — Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10 AM at Clubhouse

The Laurel VE team will host a free testing session for all license classes. Walk-ins are welcome, but preregistration is appreciated.  Please bring:  A valid photo ID, Your FRN, Any CSCEs you wish to apply.

General Membership Meeting — Thursday, June 18, 2026, 7 PM at Clubhouse

Topics include club updates, Field Day planning, technical discussions, and member input. All members and guests are welcome.

Technical Corner: Antenna Build of the Month

2-Meter/70-Centimeter Copper Cactus J-Pole Antenna

This month’s featured project is the classic Copper Cactus J-Pole antenna — a rugged, dual-band antenna made from ½-inch copper pipe. It is inexpensive, durable, and performs extremely well for both home and portable use.

Why Build One?

• Excellent gain and low noise
• No ground radials required
• Handles high power
• Nearly indestructible
• Great for base stations, emergency kits, or Field Day

Materials

• 10 ft of ½” copper pipe
• ½” copper T-fitting
• ½” copper elbow

Club Leadership:

President: Randy Welsand – WJ0L                          Vice President: Jeff Dickerson – N0JFY
Secretary: Kristin Greenwald – KF0RYZ                          Treasurer: Kay Welsand – KB0CEF
Director at Large: Tom Madigan – N0WH    Director at Large: Chris Greenwald – KF0RGH