Welcome to this edition of our newsletter. As our membership continues to grow, it is the perfect time to reflect on our core mission. Our club constitution reminds us that we exist to further the exchange of information, promote radio knowledge and fraternalism, and advance Amateur Radio in our community. Looking at our recent achievements, we are living up to those words every single day.
     We have many incredible successes to celebrate. Our Field Day, and Ensorfest26 at Ensor Park and Museum, and Tallgrass Prairie National Presever POTA were fantastic successes, among our other events. Our monthly business meetings and weekly breakfasts see excellent attendance, and our active website and emails keep us all connected. Behind the scenes, our Repeater Committee is making steady progress with local authorities to get our repeaters operational, while our highly praised Education Committee is already planning our upcoming winter classes.
     To keep this momentum going, I want to inspire more club innovation. We have immense technical knowledge within our ranks, but we need to share it more widely across the entire club—not just in small groups at breakfast. I encourage you to support Tech Nights with your latest builds, volunteer as a class instructor, or bring forward new ideas for indoor and outdoor radio operations.
     Looking ahead, our future is incredibly bright, especially if members step up into leadership roles and committee positions. I want to extend my deepest appreciation to everyone whose quiet hard work makes this club possible, from our website administrator and article contributors, to our event organizers. Please go out of your way to thank these individuals who make our club work - become one of them. Thank you for making the Santa Fe Trail Amateur Radio Club such a vibrant club.

SECRETARY-TREASURER REPORT:

      Marty provided an update on the club finances and the monthly financial report. Jason provided a Secretary's report including membership updates. There was no official club correspondence to report on.  

 AGENDA ITEMS:

Update: Equipment from Dave Cochran, KBØVRA [Ben – KC9MBC Jim – KØNK]

     September 19th from 9:30 am to 12 noon club members can gather at Rob Rude's house to test and buy equipment donated by Dave Cochran. See the club calendar for Rob's address and additional information.

Annual Business Meeting November 14th [George - WBØCNK]

     The club is planning to hold elections on November 14, 2026 during the monthly business meeting. If anyone is interested in being an officer (President, Vice President, Treasurer or Secretary) or for the two Board Members at Large, please contact George.  If there is anyone you would like to nominate, please talk with that person first to assure they are willing to serve. Nominations can occurr up to the day of the election.  

Kansas QSO Party, Aug 29th - 30th [Jeff KSØJD]

      Jeff gave a report on the results from the Kansas QSO Party on August 29th - 30th. There were 361 voice contacts and 170 FT8 contacts. There is another W1AW/0 event scheduled for the second week of November, Jeff is organizing this for the state of Kansas.    

Hollenberg Pony Express Festival, Aug 30th, Hanover, KS. KØASA [Jim-KØNK]  

     The club did not attend the Hollenberg Pony Express Festival this year. 

Volunteering Opportunities AT Ensor Park & Museum & Old Settlers [Rick Nichols]  

     There are two volunteer opportunities for Ensor Park and Museum. The museum needs people to help with tours in September. Also Ensor Park & Museum would like help with a booth at the Old Settlers event. The last day of the event was September 12th.   

Education and Public Relations Committee Report [Jim – KØNK]  

     There was a proposal to have two classes in 2027:  one Tech class and one CW class.  Each class would be for eight weeks in January and February.  The classes are contingent on confirming the location and sufficient signups. The motion passed.  Once the location is confirmed, the classes could be advertised starting in October.   

TECH NIGHT [George - WBØCNK]

      There is an ARRL meeting scheduled the same night as the September Tech Night.  A motion was proposed to cancel Tech Night for September so that club members could attend the ARRL meeting.  The motion was approved.  See calendar for details on the ARRL meeting.   

Conventions/Hamfests [George - WBØCNK]

      Upcoming events include the list below. Provide your name to George if you are interested in attending any of these events. Sign up can be done either on the list circulated at breakfasts/meetings or by viewing the event on the club's website calendar.

• Wichita Area Hamfest  & KS ARRL Convention Oct. 3rd, Wichita, KS.
• SPARKCON -  Oct. 9th &10th, Sedalia, MO
• Nixa, MO. Hamfest - Nov 14th 

      Howard reported on the Huntsvile Hamfest. The hamfest was well attended.  Tom presented a kit building workshop at Huntsville.

REPEATER UPDATE [Jim – KØNK]

     Jim provided a repeater update. 

Life Membership - Discussion & Ideas For Possible New Category [Trig – KCØRPY]

     George received feedback on the idea of a life membership for the club.  There was not support to offer this as an option and George recommended that this not be considered right now. There was no disagreement from those attending.  

SFTARC WEBSITE UPDATES / Clothing & Badges orders: [Greg – KIØKK]

     The online ordering for shirts, hats, and name badges, Club Store Menu, is now active for anyone interested in placing orders.  It is required that you log in to the club website when placing an order.  Greg was thanked for all his work on getting this setup. 

Members Who Would Enjoy a Card or a Visit: 

• Mike Lane -KEØCIS at: Good Samaritan Olathe Medical Campus

ADJOURN:

      The meeting was adjourned around 9:00 am. 

     Nine members of the Santa Fe Trail Amateur Radio Club and a good friend from the Lone Star State participated in this year's Kansas QSO Party, combining their efforts at multiple locations to record more than 500 contacts over a two-day period.

     Roughly 44% of the 532 contacts the operators made Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30 took place at what is fondly referred to as the "antenna farm" in Edgerton owned by Del Sawyer, KØDDS. There, Del, Bob Shaumeyer, KCØTZX, Eric Dziadosz, KFØQIS, Jeff Darby, KSØJD, and Byron Kroeger of Texas, KI5GNH, racked up 166 contacts on the single-sideband mode while Marty Peters, KEØPEZ, the treasurer of the club, and Andrew Kaberline, AEØZL, were connecting with 69 hams using the CW (Morse code) mode.

     In the photograph that accompanies this story, Byron, left, and Del are pictured in the foreground at the SSB station inside Del's vintage trailer the morning of the 29th. Andrew is visible in the background at the CW station, but Marty, who was seated to Andrew's left, is not.

     Marty was also responsible for 124 contacts from the CW station at his residence in Olathe, and Jeff chipped in with 2 more SSB contacts at his home in Olathe, bringing the total number of SSB and CW contacts to 361. Those contacts were worth 43,920 points.

     In addition to the SSB and CW contacts, club members operating from their homes registered 171 contacts on the FT8 mode.

     Greg Wolfe, KIØKK, led the way with 102 and was followed by Jeff with 46, Howard Cripe, NØAZ, with 22, and Fred Warren, KFØIKQ, with 1.