Our weather is rapidly changing to colder temperatures, and you'll likely soon be doing more indoor operating, so I encourage you to get those needed outdoor antenna changes or improvements completed before winter sets in. If you're needing antenna help or just need ideas for your particular QTH, several club members enjoy tackling antenna challenges and can help with ideas or assist with installation. Contact an officer at the club website "Contact Us" page: ( https://sftarc.org/index.php/about-us-main-menu/contact-us-main-menu).
     Elections of our Board of Officers will be held at the regular business meeting in November. Please consider who you'd like to see in those positions, or if you're interested in running, let Marty Peters or another Officer know.
     Our club's Extra Class License class sessions will be held during January and February of 2026. The Education Committee has released a registration form and flyers for the sessions that will be held at the Salvation Army in Olathe during January and February 2026. If you are looking to upgrade your license to Extra Class, or if you already hold the Extra Class License and want to have a refresher, these classes are a great opportunity for you. Our club website has a Registration Form and Ham Class Flyer available.
     It is with sorrow that club members Gil Ludwig, Larrry Woodword and Mike Lane's wife, Mary Lou Lane recently passed away. Gil was always involved with events at Del's Antenna Facility, such as Kansas Day and the Kansas QSO Party. Larry many years ago stepped in to provide critical support for the Ensor Park and Museum, and Mary Lou was a joy to talk with at breakfasts. A Silent Key (SK) article for Larry has been published on our website.
     The Spark-Con ARRL Midwest Division Convention was a tremendous success and was attended by more than half a dozen of our club members, who had a great time both selling and buying equipment, as well as attending the Friday night banquet with keynote speaker Amelia Rose Earhart.

Be sure to join the Tech Night Zoom session on October 30th to hear the discussions and see all the photos and videos about it.
Be sure to mark your calendar for our Christmas Party on Friday night, December 19, from 5PM to 9PM.
     I encourage you to help the club look good by wearing your official club shirts, hats, and badges. You may still be able to order them by contacting club Secretary Jason, KFØISL, at jasonhamradio@yahoo.com.

     When the name Amelia Earhart is mentioned to anyone familiar with aviation, the name conjures up the story of the historic Amelia Mary Earhart (1897-1937*) who went missing in July of 1937 someplace in the South Pacific Ocean as she attempted to fly around the world.

     But there is another Amelia Earhart, this time Amelia Rose Earhart, who also has a story to tell about flying around the world.  That story was heard by those who attended the ARRL Midwest Convention Banquet in Sedelia, MO, on Friday evening, Oct 10.  The meal at the Banquet was good, the company of fellow hams was great, however it was the keynote speaker that made the banquet special.

Ameila Rose Earhart addressed a full house at the ARRL Midwest Convention Banquet.  KSØJD photo.

     The modern-day Amelia Earhart told her story of some the challenges and trials she faced in her life, well before her flight around the world—turbulence as she called it.

  Just having the name Amelia Earhart caused people to question her if she planned to become a female pilot.  Balancing college and multiple part-time jobs, she was able to save up enough to take flying lessons and was licensed as a private pilot in 2004.  She related how she struggled with trying to understand if she was family-related to the earlier Amelia Earhart, first being told that she was related, then callously learning she was not related.  

     Overcoming these periods of turbulence, she was somehow able to convince Pilatus, a Swiss airframe manufacturer, to loan her a brand new, $4,000,000 airplane to fly around the world in.  The PC-12 aircraft, a single-engine low-wing turboprop renowned for its efficiency, was outfitted with an extra 200-gallon fuel tank to support long hops on the 24,300 nautical-mile journey.  From June 26 to July 11, 2014, with co-pilot Shane Jordan, she flew for 108 hours, becoming the second youngest female pilot to fly around the world.

     Having experience as a TV journalist, Amelia’s keynote delivery was smooth and captivating.  Her presentations are intended to be inspirational, sending the message that in our lives we will encounter turbulence that we have to be able to navigate around or through.  She also indicated she is planning on getting an amateur radio license.

     At the convention itself, she had a table set up where attendees could visit with her.  Amelia also participated in a forum on Saturday, hosted by former ARRL Midwest Division Director, Rod Blocksome, KØDAS.  The forum recapped the history of the search for Amelia’s lost aircraft though the under-sea-exploration organization Nauticos, who Rob has been associated with.  More recently, Amelia has also joined the Nauticos team, https://nauticos.com/ .  

     Assuming that the SPARK club out of Sedilia hosts the convention again next year, Amelia's presentation will be a tough act for the next keynote speaker follow. 

*1937 is the assumed year-of-death

See all the pictures of the Banquet and Hamfest in the Club Picture Album.