The genesis of a national club QSO party dates back to nearly a year ago during a South Jersey Radio Association Board meeting. The Board was brain storming how best to celebrate the club’s 110th anniversary coming up in June of 2026. Ten years earlier then President Ken Botterbrodt, K2WB spearheaded the club’s QSO party to celebrate its 100th anniversary. This anniversary was no small accomplishment for any club, but an especially proud moment for SJRA that has continuously met for over one hundred years, suggesting that it is the oldest continuously meeting amateur radio club in North America.

The idea of another QSO party to celebrate our 110th anniversary gained some traction as the board followed Ken’s explanation of a plan to repeat what had been done ten years earlier, but with some new twists. Some of us asked ‘What if we could engage more clubs in sponsoring a QSO Party’? And, in the spirit of the ARRL’s Year of the Club theme for 2026, why not market our idea to ARRL clubs across the entire US?

A series of online meetings with the presidents of the Phil-Mont Mobil Radio Club in Pennsylvania and the Kent Amateur Radio Society in Maryland generated more enthusiasm for the idea. The objective, we decided, would be simple – work as many Amateur Radio Club members and registered Amateur Radio Club Stations as possible in a 48 hour period from 00:00 UTC June 20th, 2026 to June 21st 23:59 UTC. This coincides closely with the founding of SJRA on June 16th 110 years ago and would be a good warm up for Field Day just a week away.

Contest operations will be valid on all amateur radio bands with the exception of 60m, 30m, 17, and 12m, and all modes will qualify including repeater contacts, satellite and EME QSOs. The objective is to make as many clubs Radio Active across the US as possible!

Members of clubs would sign their call/age of their affiliated club, and the exchange should also include their club’s acronym. For example, as a member of the South Jersey Radio Association my exchange would be W2JAZ/100 + SJRA. Club stations are encouraged to contact other club stations (increasing their multiplier) as well their own club members and members of other clubs. It is not necessary for club stations to be in a permanent location. Member of the club can use the club call from any station as long as they have permission from the trustee. For example co-sponsor Kent Amateur Radio Society’s club station K3ARS/40 might contact the SJRA club station K2AA/110. Non-club members who participate will use their call + their name. Stations outside the US should give their affiliated club acronym if they are a club member.

The exchange is designed to encourage club activity, reinforce club history and build nationwide relationships between amateur radio clubs. Clubs should register in advance, though this is not required. They must also activate their club station for a minimum of 2 hours during the 48 hour period.

Logging and Log Submission

Logs are required to be kept but it is only necessary to submit summaries. The summary submission form is available as a PDF download from the Club QSO Party website. Logs should include the following:

• Date of QSO
• UTC time of QSO
• Call sign/## of station contacted
• Club acronym exchanged if given
• Operator’s name
• Frequency/Band of operation
• Mode

While no logging program currently offers a template for this event work is under way to create a Club QSO Party template for N1MM Logger+. It may also be possible to use other popular logging applications.

Why Participate in a Club QSO Party?

Participating in a club QSO party offers a blend of camaraderie, skill development, and networking, making it a valuable activity for new and experienced amateur radio operators alike.

Community & Social Aspects: QSO parties, which are organized by local radio clubs, provide an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow club members and the broader ham radio community, both over the air and at in-person operating events.

Club Engagement: Participation contributes to your club's overall score in the club competition category, fostering a sense of teamwork and collective achievement.

Mentorship: Clubs often use these events as a way to welcome and mentor newcomers, providing a supportive environment for new operators to gain experience with HF operations, logging software, and contesting strategies.

Operating Practice: QSO parties are a great, low-stress way to practice operating techniques, get comfortable with radio equipment, and test new antennas or station setups in a friendly environment.

Contesting Skills: Shorter duration events have a more relaxed pace compared to major international contests making them an ideal entry point for learning the tactics and strategies of competitive operating.

Technical Knowledge: Setting up portable stations, dealing with varying propagation conditions, and optimizing your station for performance all helps hone technical skills.

Getting the Word Out

The most challenging aspect of this Club QSO party is getting the word out to other clubs across the US. Fortunately the ARRL is a source for a data base of affiliated clubs who will receive notification about this ambitious program. Hopefully, our enthusiasm will be contagious and they will help to promote the event in their own regions and locales.

A website has been created to provide detailed information about logging, how to register a club, scoring and prizes for the highest scores in various entry categories. The website is found at www.clubqsoparty.org. Rules and regulations along with club registration forms can be easily downloaded from the site. After reading through the rules and Frequently Asked Questions section on the website, additional questions about the Club QSO Party should be sent to clubQSO@SJRA.org. Get Radio Active and join us June 20-21, 2026 in celebrating your club’s history and get acquainted with the many ARRL clubs across the country! --Richard Lawn, W2JAZ