Another great year and RST radioactivity continues to get even better. In fact I think our radioactivity is hitting an 8 on the Richter scale (not sure what that is in rads or becquerels).
The Radio Society of Tucson was founded on being a radio club which focused on Special Interest Groups (SIG). RST supported three SIGs at the beginning of 2025. During 2025 we added two more. Right now RST supports five official SIGs. Which SIG is the most active? Hard to tell!
But the big story this year is in the Contesting and Special Event SIG. For the first time ever, RST operated a radio Special Event, complete with a special event callsign, K7T, supporting qrz.com information, and paper QSL cards. Sorry LOTW, paper QSLs are still popular.
1.) Contesting and Special Event SIG.
Revived in 2024 and enhanced in 2025 is our Contesting and Special Event (CASE) SIG headed by Ken N7NBV and Bill N7DZ. Added this year to the active SIG member list were John AI7AZ, Laura W7VIX, and Charlie N7OMI, and others.
The CASE SIG took a major step on March 15 and operated their first sanctioned special event as K7T from the Titan Missile Museum. Approximately 215 contacts were made and about 45 paper QSL cards were mailed. The event was repeated on November 1st when about 120 contacts were made.
In 2025 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.
The CACTUS Special Event conducted between 20 November and 30 November was a huge success with eight stations on the air, many on the air simultaneously . . . 7203 individual QSOs from 4225 unique stations to only 25 mostly RST operators. There were 38 VHF/UHF contacts. The BIG DISAPPOINTMENT was that there were only two CW operators, and no RTTY operators.
More information on www.k7rst.club or the website archives.
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 F, Kirk’s efforts were drawing 12 to 20-plus participants. At every session someone is showing off a new gadget, a new skill, or answering questions. Many RST members have had their very first QSO at the RDP event. Several RST members are regulars. Kirk is now reserving the ramada into the future thus ensuring availability and cleanliness.
At the last 2025 Days in the Park, sixteen members showed up in spite of it being a cool, rainy day. Thank you Kirk.
3.) Volunteer Examiner SIG. For years our primary Special Interest Group (SIG) was the volunteer exam test team under the direction of Diane Zimmerman AA3OF. Each month the test team meets on the 2nd Monday and administers the FCC amateur radio exams. In 2025 the VE team administered exams to 84 candidates.
4.) Hamfest. RST volunteers put on two very successful hamfests in 2025. It is difficult for a radio club to even stage one hamfest, but RST conducts two hamfests. 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 to our hamfest. Other clubs should study their admission practices! Is it worth it? For most clubs 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 Marcia KF7DYW, David K7ACE, W7DCM Dave, Doug KC7LIN, Rosie KI7VPT, 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. Thank you to Avery Davis WB4RTP for taking over as the chairman for this event.
We reserved Camp Lawton as we did in 2024. 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 2026.
It’s clear that 2025 has been a year of growth in numbers, growth in involvement, and growth in impact. Thank you all for making 2025 a great year for RST. Wishing you all a healthy 2026.
Don’t forget to dip the plate, peak the grid, and keep those filaments glowing!
73 . . . Joe K3TYE
K7RST President Ex Officio
WN7BSA Trustee