HVARC YEAR IN REVIEW
President - Doug Mitchell
Vice President - Sean Pyne
Board - Mark Farmer - W4MFV
Secretary & PIO - TJ Jennings
Treasurer - Bob Harris
Celebrating an incredible first year of the Hanover Virginia Amateur Radio Club,
a community built on connection, learning, and the spirit of ham radio.
Our Story Begins
From Postponement to Powerhouse
January 8, 2025
Our first scheduled meeting was cancelled due to the Richmond water crisis. Despite the setback, 37 enthusiastic members had already signed up, eager to launch this new chapter.
February 12, 2025
Our actual first meeting defied poor weather with a 30+ person turnout. Members shared goals, met officers, brainstormed ideas, and voted in 15 new members. Total: 52 active members.
Spring Momentum Builds
1
March 12
Sean Pyne presented on Parks on the Air (POTA). Bob Harris announced MRA's need for fundraising help. 4 new members joined.
56 members
2
April 9
PJ Calhoun & TJ Jennings introduced digital voice modes. Bob shared photos from a POTA trip to Reddish Knob Mountain. 2 new members joined.
58 members
3
May 14
Santiago KQ1O gave an engaging presentation on Continuous Waveform (CW)—how to get started and why it's fun.
58 members
Summer Heats Up
June Meeting - Preparing for Field Day
Bob Harris discussed the club callsign, it's use, and unveiled plans for our first ever Summer Field Day on June 29th. Members built community and excitement for the upcoming event.
June 29 - Summer Field Day Success!
Despite challenging weather—intense heat, unexpected rain, then more heat—members gathered at Hanover Wayside Park for a memorable experience. Aside from food & radios, Hanover Fire-EMS brought their Mobile Command Center for tours & air conditioning! The post-event survey revealed overwhelmingly positive reviews from all attendees.
July: Learning & Community Outreach
July 9 Meeting
Henry Boze (N4HB) delivered a fascinating presentation on Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) "moonbounce" communications, covering equipment, methods, and the incredible distances you can reach. 6 new members joined!
64 members
Hanover Tomato Festival
HVARC members partnered with Hanover ARES & Fire-EMS on July 11th & 12th, spreading the good word of ham radio to festival attendees across two wonderful (but hot) days.
July Launches
HVARC Shop opened with 25+ custom shirt & hoodie designs—from Bigfoot using a radio to popular radio schematics. Plus, our codeplug repository at HVARC.org helps members share programming files!
hvarc.org/shop
Licensing Class Launch
Sean Pyne began teaching a Technician licensing class in July, successfully helping several students earn their licenses and bringing new members into the HVARC community.
August: Infrastructure & Service
August 13 Meeting
Paul Benenati & Bubba Phillips presented on VHF & UHF repeaters at Richmond's James Monroe Building. The presentation featured history, photos, and a hands-on demonstration of repeater technology. 6 new members joined, bringing us to 70 members.
August 23 - Ashland Half Marathon
HVARC members, alongside Hanover ARES and other regional clubs, provided critical communications support. Despite multiple repeater failures, the operation succeeded brilliantly. County officials noted amateur radio passed information minutes faster than even public safety—solidifying our role as a vital community resource.
Fall Excellence
1
September 10
Members voted on bylaw amendments for new member acceptance. TJ Jennings presented on public safety radio systems—conventional, trunked, encryption, and interoperability. 8 new members joined.
78 members
2
October 8
Eric W4MC delivered a detailed presentation on remote radio operation, including software packages and a live demonstration. Officers announced Fall Field Day for November 8th. 3 new members joined.
81 members
3
November 12
Sean Pyne presented on APRS—its history, technology, and practical uses, with detailed photos and examples. 3 new members joined.
84 members
Fall Field Day
November 8, 2025
40+ members and guests gathered at Hanover Wayside Park for an awesome day of radios, food, and community.
After the heat challenges of Summer Field Day, everyone appreciated the fantastic fall weather. The event earned an impressive 4.5/5 star average from post-event survey participants.
Tonight: A Milestone
December 10, 2025
Our final meeting of 2025 welcomes 23 new members—the largest single-meeting addition of the year!
107
Active Members
From 37 hopeful sign-ups to a thriving community of 106—a 184% increase in one year!
By the Numbers: Our Impact
184%
Member Growth from January 1st to Tonight
Major jumps came from licensing classes, social media initiatives, and club events
130,000
YTD Social Media Content Views
Combined views across all social platforms—incredible for a community of our size!
Members should be proud! Folks see our sense of community and fun spirit—that's why they apply to join HVARC.
2026 Officer Election Results
We are pleased to announce the results of the 2026 officer elections, reflecting the active engagement of our members. A total of 36 votes were cast, representing 42% of eligible voters at the time of election.
All sitting board members have been re-elected, ensuring continuity in leadership as we move forward. We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who participated in the nomination process and cast their vote, contributing to the democratic spirit of HVARC.
Our 2026 Vision
Member Experience & Program Development
The board hears you! We're launching the Activities Committee to host 1 or more non-meeting events per quarter—fox hunts, antenna building, codeplug classes, and more hands-on activities.
Professional Recruitment
Procuring business cards with QR codes, display boards, branded tablecloths, and tri-fold brochures to effectively represent HVARC at community events and meetings.
Expanded Social Media
Continuing to promote, recruit, and educate online. Our growing engagement and membership applications during campaigns prove social media works exceptionally well for our mission.
HVARC will remain dues-free in 2026! We're proud to keep money out of the fun to maintain our focus on community and limit potential pain points. Any activities requiring materials will provide lists in advance.
Thank You, HVARC!
Our club would not be in the position it's in today if it weren't for our awesome members.
Thank you for making HVARC an incredible community. Here's to an even more exciting 2026 filled with learning, connection, and the joy of amateur radio!
73 from the HVARC Board!