ARRL’S NEW ON THE AIR MAGAZINE ON ITS WAY TO MEMBERS! – The premiere issue of ARRL’s On the Air magazine has left the printer and is on its way to member subscribers!  The magazine should be in mailboxes within the next 10 days.  On the Air is the newest ARRL member benefit to help new licensees and beginner-to-intermediate radio communicators navigate the world of amateur radio.  For further information, see http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-s-new-on-the-air-magazine-on-its-way-to-members and http://www.arrl.org/on-the-air-magazine (source: ARRL website)

UPCOMING HAMFESTS IN NORTH CAROLINA –

January 11: W4NC First-Fest, sponsored by Forsyth Amateur Radio Club, Robinhood Road Baptist Church, 5422 Robin Hood Road, Winston-Salem, NC.  http://W4NC.com  Talk-In: 145.47 MHz (PL 100), Public contact: David Shoaf KC4X, via phone at 336-930-9462 or email at info@w4nc.com.

March 13-14: Charlotte Hamfest / ARRL North Carolina Section Convention 2020, sponsored by Mecklenburg Amateur Radio Society, Cabarrus Arena and Events Center, 4751 NC Highway 49 North, Concord, NC 28025.  http://www.charlottehamfest.org  Talk-In: 146.655 MHz (-600, no tone).  Public contact: Tim Slay N4IB, via phone at 704-948-7373 or email at info@charlottehamfest.org

April 11: 48^th Annual RARSfest 2020 / ARRL Roanoke Division Convention, sponsored by Raleigh Amateur Radio Society, Jim Graham Building, State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607.  http://rarsfest.org  Talk-In: 146.640 MHz (no tone).  Public contact: Charles Littlewood, K4HF, via phone at 919-818-8171 or email at k4hf@arrl.net

April 25: 23^rd Annual Catawba Valley Hamfest, sponsored by McDowell Amateur Radio Association, Burke County Fairgrounds, 145 Bost Road, Morganton, NC 28655.  http://cvhamfest.com  Talk-In: 147.150 MHz (PL 94.8).  Public contact: Michael Fox, KF4MWX, via phone at 828-437-2787 or email at kf4mwx@gmail.com

July 11: 35^th Annual 2020 Firecracker Ham-Fest, sponsored by Rowan Amateur Radio Society, Salisbury Civic Center, 315 Martin Luther King Avenue S, Salisbury, NC 28144.  http://www.rowanars.com  Talk-In: 145.41 MHz (PL 136.5).  Public contact: Ralph Mowery, KU4PT, via phone at 704-279-4737 or email at ku4pt@arrl.net

July 18: 47th Annual Cary Mid-Summer SWAPFEST, sponsored by Cary Amateur Radio Club, Harold D. Ritter Park, 301 W Lochmere Drive, Cary, NC 27511.  http://caryarc.org  Talk-In: 146.88 MHz, (-600, no tone).  Public contact: Jim Williams, W4VCF, via phone at 919-552-1980 or email at w4vcf@arrl.net

July 25: WCARS Hamfest, sponsored by Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society, Haywood County Fairgrounds, 758 Crabtree Road, Waynesville, NC 28785.  http://www.wcars.org/wcarshamfest.htm  Talk-In: none.  Public contact: Ruth Berner, WA4VT, via phone at 828-216-2510 or email at ruthberner@gmail.com

August 8: 22nd Annual Ole Fashioned CFARS SwapFest, sponsored by Cape Fear Amateur Radio Society, Cumberland County Shrine Club, 7040 Ramsey Street (US Hwy 401 N), Fayetteville, NC 28301.  http://www.cfarsnc.org  Talk-In: 146.910 MHz (PL 100).  Public contact: David Cowart, KR4OE, via phone at 910-624-1394 or email at kr4oe@nc.rr.com

(sources: ARRL and hamfest websites)

LICENSE CLASSES –

Granite Falls (NC): Technician license class, January 11-25, sponsored by Foothills Community Workshop and Lenoir Amateur Radio Club, contact Gary Schwartz, K3OS by phone at 828-270-8173 or by email at K3OS@arrl.net for further information.

Wake Forest (NC): Technician license class, January 11-25, sponsored by The American Legion Amateur Radio Club, contact Chris Cancilla, W4CEC by phone at 678-371-5031 or by email at chriscancilla@gmail.com for further information.

Kannapolis (NC): Technician license class, January 21 to February 6, sponsored by Cabarrus Amateur Radio Society, contact Dave Whiteley, W4DPW by phone at 704-909-1121 or by email at hospiceforcars@windstream.net for further information (this license class is not listed on the ARRL website)

Goldsboro (NC): General license class, January 21 to March 10, sponsored by Wayne County Amateur Radio Association, contact Peter Wene, WA5T by phone at 919-440-2973 or by email at pete@wene.net for further information.

Gastonia (NC): Technician license class, February 8, sponsored by Gaston Radio Club, contact Tony Jones, N4ATJ by phone at 704-827-2138 or by email at N4ATJ@twc.com for further information.

Kannapolis (NC): General and Amateur Extra license upgrade sessions, February 18 to March 5, sponsored by Cabarrus Amateur Radio Society, contact Dave Whiteley, W4DPW by phone at 704-909-1121 or by email at hospiceforcars@windstream.net for further information (this license class is not listed on the ARRL website)

High Point (NC): Technician license class, February 27 to March 12, sponsored by Tri-County Amateur Radio Club, contact Richard Weinbaum, KK4RR by phone at 336-687-8001 or by email at KK4RR@mac.com for further information.

Gastonia (NC): Technician license class, April 4, sponsored by Gaston Radio Club, contact Tony Jones, N4ATJ by phone at 704-827-2138 or by email at N4ATJ@twc.com for further information.

Gastonia (NC): Technician license class, June 6, sponsored by Gaston Radio Club, contact Tony Jones, N4ATJ by phone at 704-827-2138 or by email at N4ATJ@twc.com for further information.

Gastonia (NC): Technician license class, August 8, sponsored by Gaston Radio Club, contact Tony Jones, N4ATJ by phone at 704-827-2138 or by email at N4ATJ@twc.com for further information.

Gastonia (NC): Technician license class, October 3, sponsored by Gaston Radio Club, contact Tony Jones, N4ATJ by phone at 704-827-2138 or by email at N4ATJ@twc.com for further information.

To find upcoming classes, go to www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-class  Please note that a license class sponsored by your club or organization will not be listed on the ARRL website unless you register your class.  ARRL Registered Instructors may list upcoming classes on the ARRL website.  For further information, see http://www.arrl.org/License-instructor-registration  (sources: ARRL website, W4DPW ) 

Best wishes for the new year and be safe!  Karl W4CHX, ARRL NC Section Manager (2014-2020), 919-669-6068 (mobile)