Come to our 4th Annual Tailgate Hamfest at the W0SV clubhouse parking lot (401 4th St N, Waite Park, MN 56387) on Saturday, July 25, from 8:30 AM – 12 PM. Shop for great deals – or bring your own equipment to sell!
Tailgate Hamfest at Clubhouse
Tour of Saints Biking Tour
Sunday, July 19, 7:30 AM – 2 PM
The Tour of Saints Biking tour will be held on July 19, 7:30 AM – 2 PM at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph (37 South College Avenue, St. Joseph, MN 56374). If you are interested in helping with radio communications this year, let Randy Welsand know as soon as possible!
For more information, contact Michael Doyle – Ride Director, phone: (320) 266-7579, email: info@tourofsaints.com
Amateur Radio License Testing
Saturday, July 18, 10 AM
The St. Cloud Amateur Radio Club will be hosting FREE Amateur Radio License Testing on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 10 AM at our Clubhouse administered via LAUREL VEC.
Pre-registration is preferred in order to reserve your spot. Walk-ins are permitted.
Click Here to Pre-register for the July 18, 2026 Test Session
Once you have completed pre-Registration, you will be contacted via phone for any additional information needed, and to confirm your spot.
2026 LAUREL TESTING DATES (dates subject to change)
Saturday, January 17, 10:00 AM
Saturday, February 28, 10:00 AM (at Hamfest location)
Saturday, March 21, 10:00 AM
Saturday, April 18, 10:00 AM
Saturday, May 16, 10:00 AM
Saturday, June 20, 10:00 AM
Saturday, July 18, 10:00 AM
Saturday, August 15, 10:00 AM
Saturday, September 5, 10:00 AM
Saturday, October 17, 10:00 AM
Saturday, November 21, 10:00 AM
Saturday, December 19, 10:00 AM
Now is the time to start studying, pass your License Test, and become a Ham! Or, maybe it’s time to upgrade to General or Extra class.
Where is the Clubhouse?
401 4th St North,
Waite Park, MN 56387
June 2026 Newsletter
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
NET Name and Time Changes
The Welfare Net – which started in March 2020 as a way to keep track of club members during COVID – has been given a new name: the NIGHTLY NET! It will still be held every evening at 7 pm.
We are going to try holding the ARES NET the first Wednesday of the month around 7:15 pm following the Nightly Net.
The Spark Net and 500 Club are not currently operating – but will likely restart in the future.