As part of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®’s 2026 Year of the Club spotlight, Affiliated Clubs were invited to show how they use two important communications tools — their websites and newsletters — to engage members, strengthen their organizations, and promote amateur radio. The response was enthusiastic, with more than 80 entries submitted in each contest from clubs across the country.
The contests were designed not simply to identify the “best-looking” website or newsletter, but to recognize radio clubs that are using these tools effectively to serve their members. A good club website can make it easy for prospective and current members to find information, learn about activities, and get involved. A good newsletter can keep members connected between meetings, share technical knowledge and operating opportunities, celebrate club accomplishments, and give members another reason to stay engaged.
“The goal was to highlight the many creative ways radio clubs communicate with their members,” said ARRL Director of Publications and Editorial Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY. “We hope these winning websites and newsletters will give other clubs ideas they can adapt to their own organizations. There’s no single formula for an effective club communication — what matters is understanding your audience and giving them useful, interesting reasons to connect and keep connected with the club.”
Outstanding Club Newsletters
Newsletter entries were judged in three membership categories: Large Clubs (more than 120 members), Medium Clubs (60–120 members), and Small Clubs (fewer than 60 members). Judges considered the navigability and attractiveness of the publications, as well as the variety and quality of their content. Two entries also earned special commendations for doing an outstanding job serving specialized audiences.
The winners are:
Large Clubs
First Place: Gloucester County Amateur Radio Club, W2MMD, Pitman, New Jersey — CrossTalk, edited by Jeffrey Garth, WB2ZBN
Second Place: Long Island CW Club, W2LCW, Global — Long Island CW Club Newsletter, edited by Richard Spohn, WB2GXM
Medium Clubs
First Place: Ozaukee Radio Club, W9CQO, Grafton, Wisconsin — The Ozaukee Radio Club Newsletter, edited by William Shadid, W9MXQ
Second Place: East Greenbush Amateur Radio Association, W2EGB, East Greenbush, New York — Sidebands, edited by Bryan Jackson, W2RBJ
Honorable Mention: Providence Radio Association, W1OP, Johnston, Rhode Island — The Old Professor, edited by Thomas Greenwood, W1ER
Small Clubs
First Place: Peekskill/Cortlandt Amateur Radio Association, W2NYW, Greater Peekskill/Cortlandt Area, New York — PCARA Update, edited by Malcolm G. Pritchard, NM9J
Second Place: Morongo Basin Amateur Radio Club, W6BA, Morongo Basin, California — MBARC Beacon, edited by Aaron Chesney, KM6IAU
Special Commendations
Best Newsletter for a Specialized Audience: Families and Youth: Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society, W1STR, Natick, Massachusetts — Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society News, edited by Robert F. Phinney, K5TEC
Best Newsletter for a Specialized Audience: Global Audience: Young Ladies’ Radio League, K4LMB, Global — YL Harmonics, edited by Kathleen Houlihan, WA5DUC
Newsletter contest judges were:
· ARRL Director of Publications and Editorial Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY
· ARRL Senior Director of Marketing and Innovation Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R
· NCJ Editor and PVRC Newsletter Editor John Pescatore, K3TN
ARRL News Editor, past Ohio Section PIC, and past coordinator of the Ohio Section Newsletter Contest John Ross, KD8IDJ
Outstanding Club Websites
The website contest focused on three key areas: layout, content, and accessibility. Judges with extensive experience in website development, systems administration, and web infrastructure evaluated the entries to identify sites that effectively serve their clubs and their audiences.
The winners are:
First Place: Cumberland Valley Amateur Radio Club, W3ACH, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania — www.w3ach.com, webmaster Caleb C. Jacobs, KC3VPB
Second Place: Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club, W6EK, Auburn, California — www.w6ek.org, webmaster Mike “Smitty” Smith, WB1G
Third Place: Ventura County Amateur Radio Club, K6MEP, Ventura, California — k6mep.org, webmaster David Schmidt, AI6VX
Website contest judges were:
· ARRL New England Division Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI
· ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Technical Coordinator Dan Brown, W1DAN
· ARRL member Erica Zavaleta, W7WXR. Erica is currently a DevOps Engineer managing web infrastructure for a regional ISP.
The winning websites and newsletters are worth a visit — not only to congratulate the clubs, but also to see how they organize information, promote activities, welcome newcomers, and communicate what makes their clubs active and relevant. They offer examples of different approaches to content, design, and audience — demonstrating that success doesn’t have to follow a particular template.
The contests are part of ARRL’s broader Year of the Club effort to celebrate the vital role that amateur radio clubs play in building and sustaining the amateur radio community. Clubs are where many radio amateurs first find a mentor, learn a new skill, participate in an event, or make the connections that keep them active in the hobby.
“Club leaders, newsletter editors, and webmasters: take a look at what these clubs are doing and borrow an idea or two for your own club,” said ARRL Emergency Communications and Field Services Director Josh Johnston, KE5MHV. “Year of the Club is a celebration of what clubs accomplish — and an invitation to keep building on that success.”
ARRL and the contest judges are grateful for the enthusiastic response to the call for contest entries, and commend all entrants on the talent and time they devote to the creation of these important club communication tools.
The contest winners will be honored at the 2026 ARRL National Convention, hosted by the Huntsville Hamfest, August 21–23 in Huntsville, Alabama, and will also be featured in a 2026 issue of QST.