We had a great year this year and RST radio activity is getting even better.  The Radio Society of Tucson was founded on being a radio club which focused on special interest groups.  Right now, RST supports three official SIGs as described below:

1.) Volunteer Examiner SIG.  For years, our primary Special Interest Group (SIG) has been the volunteer exam test team, led by Diane Zimmerman, AA3OF.  Each month, the test team meets on the 2nd Monday and administers the FCC amateur radio exams.  In 2024, the Volunteer Examiner (VE) team administered exams to 134 candidates.

2.) Radio Days in The Park SIG.  Under the direction and efforts of Kirk W0PSN, Days in the Park has been very popular where even in June and July at 110-degrees, Kirk’s efforts were drawing 12 to 20-plus participants.  At every session someone is showing off a new gadget or new skill.  Many RST members have had their very first QSO at the RDP event.  Several RST members are regulars at the RDP events.  Kirk is now reserving the ramada into the future thus ensuring availability and cleanliness.   Thank you, Kirk.

3.)  Contesting and Special Event SIG. Another revived and enhanced SIG is our Contesting and Special Event SIG headed by Ken N7NBV, Lloyd K7NX, and Bill N7DX, all former IBMers I might add.  In 2024 the SIG operated in the March ARRL International DX Phone Competition, the October Arizona QSO Party, and the December Ten-Meter Contest.  This SIG also managed two presentations at RST club meetings.  

4.) Hamfest.  RST volunteers put on two very successful hamfests in 2024.  It is difficult for a radio club to even stage one hamfest, but RST does do two.  Both brought in about 50 tailgaters, several commercial vendors, and a couple of hundred operators and spectators looking for a bargain, or to just meet with old friends.  Thanks to Don KD7UIZ who found this location years ago, and Bruce WA1BZQ for reserving the site twice a year. 

RST still offers FREE admission.  Other clubs might study their admission practices!  Is it worth it?  It takes at least six day-of-the-event volunteers to operate the “enter and exit” gates.  RST does it with one volunteer, Bruce WA1BZQ, who does all the collections in one hour.  And as a bonus, he gets to meet and greet all the vendors and tailgaters.

Our other volunteers are Randy KE7KEQ, Marcia KF7DYW, David K7ACE, and W7DCM Dave, and others that I cannot recall who helped with the raffle ticket sales.  There he is again, Kirk W0PSN who reserves a space at 5 AM and sets up the sound system. 

5.) RST Website and Facebook.  Another WOW!  The radio club team is dedicated to keeping the website up to date and adding new items as soon as the info becomes available.  There is no doubt in my mind that the RST website contributes significantly to the success and growth of the club.  Many thanks to Ana Blum WV3RSE and Jason Ninneman KL3PD. 

Many thanks to Marcia Burcham KF7DYW and Kirk W0PSN for keeping our Facebook information up to date.

6.) ARRL June Field Day.  Each year RST participates in the ARRL Field Day as a joint venture with the Catalina Radio Club.  Thank you to Avery Davis WB4RTP for taking over as the chairman for this event.  The 2024 Field Day almost did not happen.

The USDA Forest Service blocked several parking and camping areas in our old site just off Mount Bigalow Road.  [The Forest Service did this for a good conservation reason.  The Forest Service did not want any new roads carved into the wooded areas.  Camping is still allowed in the area, but vehicles need to park in a lower parking lot.]

I, that’s me, Joe K3TYE, called the Catalina Council BSA and found out that the Boy Scout Camp known as Camp Lawton was available.  RST rented the cabins and Camp Lawton was reserved for us.  This was probably one of the best Field Days ever.  The operators had cabins, hot and cold running water, flush toilets, and clean showers.  Scout Troop 157 supported the event with food and the GOTA station.  We are hoping we can get the camp for 2025.

7.) Beginner’s Net.  We started a beginner’s net on Thursday evenings in 2023 with the purpose of getting new licenses on the air.  (147.000 MHz, CTCSS 110.9).  After a year the net continues with an average check-in of about 12 participants.  We have been as low as four and a high greater than 20.  All things amateur radio is discussed.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE – 2025

As we look to 2025, I would like to:

  • Add a special event with event call signs and QSL cards.  Perhaps commemorating an Arizona special event or holiday.  The special event stations could be something like K7S, K7N, K7A, K7K, and K7E.  Each QSL card would picture an Arizona snake.  The challenge is to collect all five.  How about commemorating the founding of the Sonoran Desert Museum or the Saguaro National Park? Let’s discuss!
  • Add another Special Interest Group. 
  • Expand in-person classes and instructor list.  Maybe it will turn amateur radio education into a special interest group.
  • Continue to increase our member participation and continue to be an active advocate and educational club for amateur radio.

It’s clear that 2024 has been a year of growth in numbers, growth in involvement, and growth in impact.  Thank you all for making 2024 a great year for RST.  Wishing you all a healthy 2025.

73 . . . Joe K3TYE

K7RST President Ex Officio

WN7BSA Trustee

Gallery 2024

Reported by Joe, K3TYE
Revised by Jason, KL3PD
Uploaded by Ana, WV3RSE