Western Tidewater Radio Association – 2025 Activities Report

Meetings:  The WTRA holds 5 meetings each year.  Meetings are normally held at Isle of Wight County Volunteer Rescue Squad building. Great Springs Road, Smithfirld

o  September 19, 2026- 8:00 A.M. until 12-Noon Display at Smithfield       Farmers Market 

o  November 9, 2026 - Business Meeting and Program

o  December 5, 2026- Christmas Party at the Villa Clubhouse 6:00 P. m.

o   January 11, 2027 – Annual Business Meeting

o   February 8, 2027 – Program Meeting

o   May 10, 2027 – Program Meeting and Field Day Planning

o   August, 9, 2027 – Program Meeting

o   November 8, 2027 – Program Meeting

Eye Ball Breakfast QSO’s:  These are held at the Dairy Queen in Windsor, VA, whenever a holiday falls on a Monday.  2027 dates are as follows:

o   January 18, 2027 – MLK Day

o   February 15, 2027 – President’s Day

o   March 20, 2027 Junk in the Trunk 1577 Wilroy Road- Suffolk VA

     8;00 A. M. to 12 Noon 

 o   March 29, 2027 – Easter Monday

 o   May 31, 2027 – Memorial Day

o   June 18, 2027- June Teenth 

o   July 4, 2027- 4th of July

 o   September 6, 2027 – Labor Day

 o   September 11, 2027 – Patriot Day

 o   October 11, 2027 – Columbus Day

  o  November 11, 2027 - Veterans Day

ARRL Annual Field Day:  The WTRA will continue its support for the annual Field Day on June 26 and 27, 2027.

ARES/RACES Support:  The WTRA supports Virginia ARES/RACES District 5 as follows:

o   Provide manning in EOC’s and Shelters during drills and activations

o   Operate repeaters on 147.195 MHz and 442.825 MHz in Isle of Wight County, and 147.630 MHz and 443.825 MHz in Surry County to support communications within Virginis ARES District 5 communications between Eastern Virginia and the Virginia State EOC in Richmond.  A weekly ARES Net is held on the Isle of Wight VHF repeater each Thursday evening at 7:30 PM  

o   Support the Virginia Operational Planned Exercise (VOPEX) in late July which simulates an emergency situation at the Surry Nuclear Power Plant with amateur radio stations operating in the Isle of Wight and Surry EOC’s, a station at the Isle of Wight Staging Area, and a station riding with the Field Radiation Survey Team.  Out of Sequence demonstrations and a dress rehearsal are supported in Late June and the actual drill is supported in late July.