Hot Springs HamFest 2026 Brings Amateur Radio Community Together

The Hot Springs Amateur Radio Club would like to thank everyone who helped make HamFest 2026 a success!

Held Saturday, September 19, at the Mueller Civic Center in Hot Springs, this year’s HamFest brought amateur radio operators, visitors, presenters, vendors and friends together for a day of radio, learning and fellowship.

Visitors traveled to Hot Springs from across the region, including South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado and Minnesota. More than 60 visitors signed our registration sheet, with additional attendees coming through other entrances throughout the day.

The HamFest floor gave visitors plenty of time to visit, swap stories, browse radio equipment and parts, meet fellow operators and put faces to some of the call signs they’ve heard on the air.

ARRL Forum

We were pleased to welcome Bill Lippert, AC0W, for our ARRL Forum. Bill shared information and answered questions from attendees while also representing ARRL at the HamFest.

His participation was greatly appreciated and gave area amateur radio operators an opportunity to connect directly with ARRL.

Parks on the Air & Summits on the Air

Chuck, K0ORK, presented our POTA/SOTA program, sharing his experience with portable amateur radio operations and getting on the air from the field.

The presentation generated plenty of interest—and we’re looking forward to putting some of that knowledge to use ourselves!

More Than Radios

One of the best parts of HamFest is simply bringing people together.

Throughout the day, experienced operators, new hams and people interested in getting started in amateur radio had an opportunity to talk, ask questions and learn from one another.

That’s what amateur radio is all about: communication, experimentation, preparedness, public service—and a community willing to help the next person get on the air.

🇺🇸 Convention of States Presentation

Shirlee J. Meier of Convention of States Action rounded out the afternoon presentations with an informative discussion about the Convention of States movement and Article V of the U.S. Constitution.

Shirlee explained how Article V provides a process through which the states can apply for a convention to propose constitutional amendments. She also discussed the goals of Convention of States Action, which advocates limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, imposing fiscal restraints, and establishing term limits for federal officials. Convention of States

The presentation generated plenty of interest from those in attendance. Shirlee took numerous questions from the audience and spent time explaining how the Article V process works, what role the individual states play, and what would be required before any proposed amendment could actually become part of the Constitution. Under Article V, amendments proposed through this process would still require ratification by three-fourths of the states—38 states. Congress.gov

It was an engaging presentation that gave attendees an opportunity to learn more about a part of the Constitution that many Americans may not encounter very often and to ask questions directly about the Convention of States effort.

Thank you to Shirlee J. Meier for joining us at the 2026 Hot Springs HamFest, setting up an informational booth, and taking the time to speak with our attendees and answer their questions.

For those interested in learning more about the organization and its position on Article V, visit Convention of States Action.

Shirlee J. Meier of Convention of States Action at her informational booth during the 2026 Hot Springs HamFest.

Thank You!

The Hot Springs Amateur Radio Club extends a sincere THANK YOU to our presenters, vendors, volunteers, visitors and everyone who helped set up, tear down and make the event possible.

And to everyone who traveled to Hot Springs to spend the day with us:

Thank you for making HamFest 2026 one to remember.

We hope to hear you on the air—and see you again at the next Hot Springs HamFest!

🎁 Thank You to Our HamFest 2026 Door Prize Contributors!

73,
Hot Springs Amateur Radio Club – K0HS