Visit: Granite State Amateur Radio Clubs in NH
My visit with the Granite State Amateur Radio Association [gsara.org]
Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting several ham radio clubs across the New Hampshire section to introduce myself as your new ARRL Section Coordinator for NH. It was a full schedule of meetings, coffee, station tours, and lots of good on-air stories—and it left me more energized than ever about where we can go together as a section.
What stood out to me in every club I visited was the same theme: people want to be heard, supported, and connected. One of my key messages during these visits was simple but important: **New Hampshire now has a stronger voice within ARRL**, and my role is to make sure that voice is clear, consistent, and focused on what matters to you at the club and member level.
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“Year of the Club”
One of the initiatives I discussed is what I’m calling the **“Year of the Club.”**
The idea is to put local clubs at the center of everything we do:
Highlighting club activities, nets, and events across the section
Encouraging collaboration between clubs on training, outreach, and operating events
Looking at ways to support club leadership with resources and guidance
Clubs are where most hams actually experience the hobby—learn, grow, and stay active. This initiative aims to ensure that ARRL section leadership is aligned with that reality.
Exploring a New ARRL Contest Around POTA
I also shared that we’re looking at the possibility of working with ARRL to develop **another contest or operating event focused around POTA (Parks On The Air)**.
POTA has already proven to be a fantastic way to:
Get operators on the air
Encourage portable operations
Combine radio with the outdoors
A structured contest or event around POTA could provide operators and clubs with another fun reason to plan activations, mentor newer hams, and showcase the public what amateur radio can accomplish in the field.
Here to Help Clubs and Members
Beyond new ideas and events, I want to make it clear that **support is a core part of my role**:
Helping clubs navigate ARRL resources
Connecting members with the right people for technical, operating, or regulatory questions
Listening to concerns and making sure they are carried upstream within ARRL
If your club has questions, challenges, or ideas, I want to hear them. If you’re an individual ARRL member with something on your mind about the hobby or the League’s direction, I want to hear that too.
Moving Forward Together
These visits were just the beginning. I left each meeting with notes, suggestions, and some excellent ideas that I plan to follow up on. Over the coming months, my goals are to:
Visit more clubs across the section
Communicate more regularly about what’s happening at the section and ARRL levels
Turn these early conversations into concrete projects and support for you
Thank you to the clubs that welcomed me and took the time to share your thoughts. I’m looking forward to working with all of you to make this a strong, active, and connected year for amateur radio in New Hampshire.
73,
Dennis Markell, N1IMW
NH Section Coordinator