Leadership (Page)

August 30, 2026 Smitty (WB1G)

ELECTED OFFICERS

	Mark Koehler (W2MWK) President
	Jim Jupin (WA8MPA) Gregory Dolkas (KO6TH) Vice Presidents
	Ron Holland (KA6UAI) Laurie Holland Treasurer (Year 2)
	Bob Patton (N6EMS) Secretary
	Greydon Hicks (KC6SLE) Director (Year 2 of 2)
	Steven Foley (KO6EBQ) Director (Year 1 of 2)
	Frank Calvillo (KG9M) Director

CONTACT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Please tell us the reason you're reaching out. *In most cases, the value below will already be populated. Please select all that apply.

You’ve taken the first step in joining one of the most active ham clubs in Northern California. Please take a moment to fill out the form below. Once complete, hit the SUBMIT/SEND at the bottom.

NEED HELP WITH YOUR GROUPS.IO ACCOUNT?

Apply

Thank you for your interest in the Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club (SFARC) Scholarship Program. Our scholarships offer financial assistance to high school seniors to support their pursuit of higher education. Please take a moment to fill out the application below. Once complete, hit the SUBMIT/SEND at the bottom of the application.

Club Reimbursement

Before filling out this form, make sure you have clear photos of the receipts, as you’ll need to attach them to the form. When complete, click the “SUBMIT/SEND” button below. Once approved by the SFARC president, you’ll receive an email from the treasurer to confirm.

We’re sorry to see you go.

Please provide us with your name and email address and we’ll confirm your removal by email.

CONTACT THE CLUB

We'd love to connect with you. Fill out the form below and we'll back in touch ASAP.

HAVE A QUESTION OR NEED TO REPORT A REPEATER ISSUE?

CONTACT THE ADVANCEMENT TEAM

If you’d like more information about our upcoming class or would like to be added to our interest list, please let us know by using the form below.

CHECK OUT SFARC ON THE FIVE MAJORS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Do you have something you’d like to promote on the SFARC website, social media, or the club’s Monthly Newsletter? Send us the information below about your event, and we’ll be in touch.

** Submissions are for sponsored club events and to help neighboring clubs promote their events. **

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ADD THE SFARC CLUB CALENDAR

CONTACT THE VE TEAM

If you have any questions, need to reschedule or request an accommodation, please contact the SFARC VE Team Coordinator using the form below.

WE NEED YOUR HELP AT HAMFEST 2026!

Send us your information and area of interest, and we’ll be in touch.

GOT QUESTIONS AND NEED AN ELMER?

WANT TO BECOME AN ELMER?

Have a question about a Fox Hunt or are you Ready to sign up to be a “fox tender”, send us a message below.

Got a question about SFARC’s Field Day?

Volunteer Support

CONTACT OUR VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Name *

Phone Number *

Are You Currently Licensed? *YESNO

Email Address *An email confirmation will be sent.

Confirm Email Address *Please confirm that your email is correct.

Do You Have A HamClubOnline (HCOL) Account?YESNO

What Class Are You Inquiring About?EXTRA License Class (Winter)TECHNICIAN License Class (Spring)GENERAL License Class (Fall)TECHNICIAN License Class (Fall)

Elmer / Mentor (Please Select)I Need An ElmerI'd Like To Become An Elmer

VE / Ham Exam (Please Select)Take A TestBecome A VE

Fox Hunt (Please Select)Question About An Upcoming Fox HuntBecoming A Fox Tender

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The Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club takes CCPA and your security seriously and does not sell or share your personal information (ie: name, call sign, or email) with anyone. Your information is used for the sole purpose of communicating club activities and events.

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List any family members by name and/or call sign:

List any significant high school activities you took part in while in High School:Examples: Projects, Activities, Club Organizations, Leadership Roles, Awards, Honors, etc...

List any significant community activities (or internships) you've participated in while in High School:

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Explain how/why you've selected your chosen vocation:

Provide any additional information about yourself to assist the Scholarship Committee with its decision:

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Please attach your receipt photo(s) below. Please note that you will not be able to submit this form until your receipt(s) are fully uploaded.

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Digital SignatureBy checking this box, I agree and understand that by signing the Electronic Signature Acknowledgment and Consent Form, that all electronic signatures are the legal equivalent of my manual/handwritten signature and I consent to be legally bound to this agreement.I ACCEPT

To submit this request, press the SUBMIT/SEND button below. You will receive a confirmation window and an email if your reimbursement has been sent.

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What Worked Well?

What Didn't Work Well?

If you were the event chair for next year, what would you do differently?

Any Other Feedback OR Comments You Have About The Event:

APPOINTED POSITIONS

Advancement/Training (Chair) Advancement/Training (Instructor) Advancement/Training (Instructor)	Orion Endres (AI6JB) Anders Rehnvall (NR6H) James Goldtene (AE6JG)
Bylaws Committee Chair	Gerry Brentnall (WA6E)
*Christmas Party Chairs*	*RECRUITING FOR 2026*
Contest Chair	Orion Endres (AI6JB)
Fall Campout Chair	Smitty (WB1G)
Fall Picnic Chair	Mark Koehler (W2MWK)
Field Day Chair Field Day Co-Chair	Mark Koehler (W2MWK) Smitty (WB1G)
Greeter/Sunshine	Pam Bautista (KN6GTK)
Groups.io Moderators	Dennis Gregory (WU6X) Aaron Bond (W1ATB)
Hamfest (Hamswap) Chair	Frank Calvillo (KG9M)
Membership Chair	Dudley McFadden (KO6DRM)
Nomination Committee Chair	Brian Gohl (AI6US)
Newsletter Editor	Jim Zheng (W6JCZ)
Placer County ARES EC / SFARC Liasion	Scott Read (KM6RFB)
Public Relations & Social Media	Smitty (WB1G)
Refreshment Chairs	Bob Shuman (WB6MUZ) Kerry Shuman (KI6PAL)
Repeater Committee Chair	Brian Gohl (AI6US)
Scholarship Chair	Earl Wilson (K6GPB)
Station Trustee	Clyde Campbell (AB4CC)
VE Coordinator VE Coordinator (Assistant)	Brian Gohl (AI6US) Anders Rehnvall (NR6H)
Volunteer Event Chair	Chip Bautista (KM6MDF)
Webmaster Dropbox Administrator Calendar Administrator	Smitty (WB1G)
YouTube Content Creator	Greg Dolkas (KO6TH)

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Elmer’s Corner (Page)

August 30, 2026 Smitty (WB1G)

WHAT IS AN “ELMER”?

Image of Greg helping out at the Technician Class Lab.

Posted by OnAllBands on May 1, 2019, at 8:33 pm @ Read More

Say the word “Elmer” to a non-Ham and two thoughts spring to mind: glue for elementary craft projects and a bald-headed rabbit hunter who has trouble pronouncing his Rs (see Barber of Seville). In the Amateur Radio realm, Elmers hold a high place of esteem. The word means an experienced operator who takes a novice under his or her wing, providing personal guidance and answers to the thousands of questions that confront the newbie. It can also be used as a verb, as in, “Elmering an aspiring operator is a cherished tradition that goes back to the early days of the hobby.”

The word has relatively recent origins. It first appeared in a 1971 QST article by Rod Newkirk, W9BRD, in which he bemoans the all-too-familiar story of an eager student who falls off the Amateur Radio wagon once his mentor moves away. He wrote, “Too frequently one hears a sad story in this little nutshell: ‘Oh, I almost got a ticket, too, but Elmer, W9XYZ, moved away and I kind of lost interest.’”

ASK AN ELMER!

If you are a new ham and looking for an Elmer, fill out the form below. Once we get your info, we’ll match you with an Elmer from our club. Want to be an Elmer to an upcoming ham? Send us your information.

MEET THE SFARC ELMERS

Search: Rows per page:

Name	Preferred Name	Callsign	License Class
Thomas S Bautista	Chip	KM6MDF	EXTRA
Theta Y Brentnall		WA6EWF	GENERAL
Gerald J Brentnall Jr	Gerry	WA6E	EXTRA
Frank Calvillo		KG9M	EXTRA
Clyde D Campbell		AB4CC	EXTRA
Douglas S Chandler	Doug	W2VX	EXTRA
Gary L Cunningham		KQ6RT	EXTRA
Gregory D Dolkas	Greg	KO6TH	EXTRA
Steven M Foley		KO6EBQ	EXTRA
Brian R Gohl		AI6US	EXTRA
Dennis H Gregory		WU6X	EXTRA
Donald L Hay	Don	WB6LPJ	EXTRA
Greydon H Hicks		KC6SLE	EXTRA
James R Jupin	Jim	WA8MPA	EXTRA
Jonathan Kim	Jon	KI6RT	EXTRA
Mark W Koehler		W2MWK	EXTRA
James A Leighton		KK6USM	EXTRA
Jeffrey A Morgan	Jeff	KW6U	EXTRA
Thomas J Newman	Tom	NN6H	EXTRA
Evan M Phillips		AJ6OR	EXTRA
Anders H Rehnvall		NR6H	EXTRA
Mike Smith	Smitty	WB1G	EXTRA
Jim Zheng		W6JCZ	EXTRA

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Contact Us (Page)

August 30, 2026 Smitty (WB1G)

Need to get ahold of the Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club?

OR
If you’re old school, you can mail a check to our PO Box.
Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club
P.O. Box 6421, Auburn, CA 95604

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Communications Plan (Page)

August 30, 2026 Smitty (WB1G)

SFARC Communications Plan

The following is the current published communications plan for the Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club (SFARC). If you’re volunteering to help at an event, make sure you have these programmed on your radio.

*Before an event, an officer from SFARC (W6EK) will notify the repeater owner of its use.

CH	DESIGNATION	Frequency (Offset) CTCSS
1	W6EK (Repeater) Auburn and Surrounding Communities	145.430 (-0.6) CTCSS 162.2
2*	W6SAR (Repeater) Western Placer County Low-level repeater with excellent HT Coverage in Rocklin, Roseville, and Loomis up to Auburn.	146.640 (-0.6) CTCSS 156.7
3*	K6IOK (Repeater) Greater Sacramento Valley	145.130 (-0.6) CTCSS 114.8
4	TAC 01 (Simplex)	146.430
5	TAC 02 (Simplex)	146.490
6	TAC 03 (Simplex)	146.535
7	TAC 04 (Simplex)	146.550
8	TAC 05 (Simplex)	146.565
9	TAC 06 (Simplex)	441.000
10	TAC 07 (Simplex)	446.500
11	SPECIAL EVENT (Simplex) Example: Campout / Meal Announcements, Local Simplex, High-Power ASL connected to W6EK 2M-Repeater	147.555 CTCSS 100

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About SFARC (Page)

August 30, 2026 Smitty (WB1G)

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

The Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club of Auburn, California was founded to support and promote the Amateur Radio Service. We are a voluntary, non-profit association of FCC licensed amateur radio operators and others who share interests in developing and promoting the knowledge and advancement of operating techniques and the technical skills related to radio communications.

We accomplish these goals through training and practical experience in the Amateur Radio Service, participating in public safety exercises, and through emergency preparedness and international goodwill. We are recognized by the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) as a special service club for our commitment to the local community and emergency

SFARC is a non-profit 501(c) organization serving Auburn CA, containing 372 active members from all over Placer County and beyond including Meadow Vista, Foresthill, Grass Valley, Georgetown, Nevada City, Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Loomis, Newcastle, Antelope, Carmichael, Colfax, Fair Oaks, Orangevale, Citrus Heights, Sacramento, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Placerville, Rancho Cordova, and several communities in between.

If you’d like more information about the Sierra Foothills Amateur Club, send us a message using the form below.

MAKE A DONATION AND HELP SFARC

	Donate To The General Fund
	Donate To The Repeater Fund

OR
If you’re old school, you can mail a check to our PO Box.
Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club
P.O. Box 6421
Auburn, CA 95604

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Hamtrak (Page)

August 30, 2026 Smitty (WB1G)

WHAT IS HAMTRAK?
NOW BOARDING …

“Hamtrak” is a biennial (every two years) optional trip for members to ride the rails together on Amtrak’s California Zephyr. It’s a beautiful, scenic five-hour journey through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, ending in Reno. If we’re lucky, we might even get snowed in.

Along the way, we sightsee, chat with each other on the radio, and do everything we can to make the folks not on the train wish they were. Once we reach Reno, we check in, make dinner plans, and enjoy each other’s company.

Departing: February 24, 2027 @ 10:41 AM
Returning: February 25, 2027 @ 9:32 AM

HOW DOES THE EVENT WORK?

You book your train ticket directly with Amtrak from Roseville to Reno on the California Zephyr. Train number, departure and return times, and an Amtrak link are all listed below.
You book a room in Reno for the night of February 24th, 2027. Folks usually stay at the Silver Legacy, Circus Circus, or the El Dorado — all connected and part of the same complex.
No RSVP Needed.
Book refundable train tickets now, no risk.
We’ll be doing a group dinner together (informal) at the Silver Legacy.
And That’s It!

Train Schedule

AMTRAK TRAIN #6 — SACRAMENTO/ROSEVILLE → RENO

According to the Amtrak schedules in effect as of the date of this email, Amtrak #6 leaves Roseville at 10:51 AM and arrives in Reno at 3:27 PM. If it’s more convenient, you can board the same train at Colfax, Sacramento, Davis, or other stations, although the departure times will be different. This train is usually on time or close to on time since it originates in Emeryville.

AMTRAK TRAIN #5 — RENO → SACRAMENTO/ROSEVILLE

Amtrak #5 is scheduled to leave Reno at 9:24 AM and arrive in Roseville at 2:14 PM. If you’ve never ridden Amtrak, the return train will likely be delayed since it originates in Chicago, IL.

TICKETS

Tickets for this trip from Roseville are $62 each way if purchased in advance. You will want to reserve your tickets on the Amtrak website.

PHOTOS

Hamtrak II, Back On Track 2025

Roseville CA to Reno, NV - Ridding the Rails

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Fox Hunt (Page)

August 30, 2026 Smitty (WB1G)

WHAT IS A FOX HUNT?

Fox Hunts are a fun outdoor activity. Regional hunts may involve driving around and taking bearings with a Yagi to triangulate on a hidden transmitter. Low-power hunts may involve walking through parks & neighborhoods to find one or more hidden transmitters. Fox hunt equipment ranges from simple TOA (time of arrival) devices, Yagi antennas, and or Doppler techniques.

SFARC runs monthly Fox Hunts where members hone skills in locating hidden transmitters. Fox Hunting skills are not only fun but may be useful in situations where a transmitter needs to be located (e.g. search & rescue or tracking down interference).

DON’T HAVE EQUIPMENT?
SFARC has equipment for anyone to borrow > CLICK HERE

DON’T HAVE A LICENSE?
An amateur radio license is not required to participate in a Fox Hunt.

For more information, contact Fox Hunt coordinators Greydon (KC6SLE) or Doug (W2VX) using the form below. Guidelines and Fox Hunt Files are available below.

Fox Hunt Guidelines	Fox Hunt Files

I’M READY — WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE?

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Fall Picnic in the Park (Page)

August 30, 2026 Smitty (WB1G)

The Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club invites you to our annual Fall Potluck in the Park, where the only thing better than a clear signal is good food and even better company. Bring a dish to share, pull up a chair, and swap your best stories from the airwaves. Maybe it’s that impossible DX contact, the antenna project that almost worked, or the field day that turned into legend. It’s a chance to put faces to callsigns, catch up with old radio friends, and make a few new ones under the crisp early-October sky with no propagation forecast required. Just show up, dig in, and enjoy an afternoon of fellowship, laughter, and the kind of ragchewing that never needs a repeater. 73 and good eats await.

CHECK OUT WHAT OTHERS ARE BRINGING AND SCROLL DOWN TO TELL US WHAT YOU’RE BRINGING!

The 2026 picnic is in the rearview mirror, but check back in 2027 for more information.

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Hot RF Nights (Page)

August 30, 2026 Smitty (WB1G)

WHAT IS HOT RF NIGHTS?

Hot RF Nights is an annual SFARC event that promotes the use of Amateur Radio on the go and in emergencies. It’s a chance to show off mobile rig installs and go-kits, and to build fellowship among Northern California amateur radio operators and groups.

WHAT HAPPENED TO HOT RF NIGHTS?

SFARC decided this year to take a hard look at future Hot RF Nights (HRFN) events. Based on feedback from both the organizers and the participants last year, it was decided that the event had strayed far from its original objective, was not serving well the emergency services groups who attended, and had become, frankly, very volunteer-intensive and costly to plan and implement.

We took on the task of creating a new vision for Hot RF Nights and presented it to the SFARC Board earlier this month. I am pleased to announce that the Board accepted and embraced the new vision for HRFN. The Board also discussed whether there was time, under this new vision, to squeeze in an HRFN 2026 within the very busy remaining SFARC 2026 Calendar of Events. It was decided that there was not a viable opportunity to schedule, plan, and host HRFN 2026. Therefore, we are taking a break from HRFN this year, but it will be back in 2027.

So, what does this new vision for HRFN include?

Get back to the roots (original purpose) of HRFN.
Keep HRFN simple and solely focused on Amateur Radio.
The main participant focus for HRFN will be SFARC membership, but we will invite and welcome our neighboring amateur radio clubs.
HRFN is a celebration of ham mobile and field-based equipment creativity, design, and implementation.
HRFN will be scheduled in conjunction with a regularly scheduled SFARC second-Friday-of-the-month General Membership meeting, at the regular General Membership meeting location.
HRFN should be simple to plan and implement at a minimal cost, and exciting and fun to attend and participate in.
HRFN should be a no-cost event for participants to attend and participate in.

The next step is to get Hot RF Nights 2027 on the SFARC calendar for 2027. I am looking forward to it, and I have agreed to head up this event for the Club next year. There will not be a large need for volunteers, as in the past, but there will be a need for a few. If you are interested in joining the HRFN 2027 Team, please drop me a note. Your service will be most valued and appreciated.

73,
Greydon (KC6SLE)
Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club

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Parks on the Air (Page)

August 30, 2026 Smitty (WB1G)

WHAT IS A POTA?

Parks on the Air® (POTA) started in early 2017 when the ARRL’s National Parks on the Air special event ended. A group of volunteers wanted to continue the fun beyond the one-year event, and thus, POTA was born.

The golden rules of POTA are to have fun and keep it simple.

General information about the program is available at parksontheair.com, so we highly recommend checking out the information there. You may also want to join the POTA Slack Channel or the POTA Facebook group, where you can easily interact with the POTA community online. POTA also maintains accounts on Twitter and Mastodon if you prefer to interact on those social media platforms.

Got an idea of a cool park we should consider?
Chime In and let us know!

More information about Parks on the Air can be found @ https://parksontheair.com/. While you’re there, create an account (It’s free) and get started.

ELECTED OFFICERS

CONTACT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NEED HELP WITH YOUR GROUPS.IO ACCOUNT?

Apply

Club Reimbursement

We’re sorry to see you go.

CONTACT THE CLUB

HAVE A QUESTION OR NEED TO REPORT A REPEATER ISSUE?

CONTACT THE ADVANCEMENT TEAM

CHECK OUT SFARC ON THE FIVE MAJORS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

WE’RE HERE TO HELP

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ADD THE SFARC CLUB CALENDAR

CONTACT THE VE TEAM

WE NEED YOUR HELP AT HAMFEST 2026!

GOT QUESTIONS AND NEED AN ELMER?

WANT TO BECOME AN ELMER?

Have a question about a Fox Hunt or are you Ready to sign up to be a “fox tender”, send us a message below.

Got a question about SFARC’s Field Day?

Volunteer Support

CONTACT OUR VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

APPOINTED POSITIONS

WHAT IS AN “ELMER”?

ASK AN ELMER!

MEET THE SFARC ELMERS

Need to get ahold of the Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club?

SFARC Communications Plan

*Before an event, an officer from SFARC (W6EK) will notify the repeater owner of its use.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

MAKE A DONATION AND HELP SFARC

WHAT IS HAMTRAK? NOW BOARDING …

HOW DOES THE EVENT WORK?

Train Schedule

PHOTOS

WHAT IS A FOX HUNT?

I’M READY — WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE?

CHECK OUT WHAT OTHERS ARE BRINGING AND SCROLL DOWN TO TELL US WHAT YOU’RE BRINGING!

WHAT IS A POTA?

WHAT IS HAMTRAK?
NOW BOARDING …