NCRC Officers for 2025

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At Monday’s election meeting, 36 members cast ballots and the following officers were elected to manage the club during 2025:

President – Jim Sammons, KA1ZOU
Vice President – Jim Sendrak, KC1LYG
Treasurer – John Jackman, N1SMX
Secretary – Arnaldy Medina, KP4AMC
Immediate Past President – Paul Fredette, K1YBE
Executive Committee – Bob Beatty, WB4SON
Executive Committee – Evan Bowen, K1GEA
Executive Committee – Nolan Byrne, K1PRU
Executive Committee – Willy Maclean, W1LY
Executive Committee – David Neal, W1DAN

Thanks to everyone who ran for office and best of luck to the new team next year!

Business Meeting Nov 18th at 7 PM

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Our next business meeting will be held on November 18th at St Barnabas Church (1697 E Main Rd Portsmouth, RI).  Doors will open around 6 pm, and the meeting will begin at 7 pm.

The primary purpose of the meeting will be to hold elections.  During our October meeting, nominations were put forth.  The office of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer were accepted without additions,  The bylaws provide for up to five additional members of the Executive Committee, and we have nominations for eight, so an election ballot will be required.

All currently paid licensed members are eligible to vote in person at the meeting, or via zoom remotely.

Revised Slate of Officers After October Meeting

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The slate of officers (uncontested) for 2025 are as follows:

  • President – Jim Sammons, KA1ZOU
  • Vice President – Jim Sendrak, KC1LYG
  • Treasurer – John Jackman, N1SMX
  • Secretary – Arnaldy Medina, KP4AMC

The Bylaws allow FIVE elected EC members, so members will make their selection in November from the below list of eight candidates:

  • Nancy Austin, KC1NEK
  • Sean Baker, K1SDB
  • Bob Beatty, WB4SON
  • Evan Bowen, K1GEA
  • Nolan Byrne, K1PRU
  • Stephen Crawford, AI1IA
  • Willy Maclean, W1LY
  • David Neal, W1DAN

Spectacular Auroral Activity Oct 10

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Solar Cycle 25 has been an exciting one for sure, with many X-level solar flares and a few excellent opportunities for those of us who live around 41 degrees latitude to see auroral activity.

This past week several notable flares corresponded with large Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) that were Earth effective. One of those flares impacted earth and produced a Major G4 Geomagnetic storm (in fact, it was just a tick below the level of Extreme G5). The CME impacted earth after 1500z Oct 10, causing the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF/Bz) to point south, creating perfect conditions for aurora.

Here in RI, last light was around 6:45 PM local time and by 7:15 we were in a remote area with good views to the North, East, and West.  The display was stunningly bright to the naked eye.  At one point the red/pink color in the sky was so intense that I noticed the ground was reflecting the color.  The photos below were taken between 23:20 and 23:30 UTC.

The Geomagnetic storm continued for almost 12 hours as shown in the Space Weather Prediction Center graph below.

As always two wonderful sources for Amateur Radio operators interested in solar condition are:

Club member Bruce NJ3K, who lives in PA commented that 6-meter propagation was quite enhanced during this disturbed condition, likely caused by auroral propagation.

Space Weather Prediction Center record of K Index showing severe conditions around October 10

Photo by WB4SON taken around 23:25 UTC in Exeter Rhode Island

Photo by WB4SON taken around 23:20 UTC in Exeter RI