Welcome from the Section Manager

We would like to invite you to browse through the information listed here and take advantage of the services offered to you as a member of the American Radio Relay League. The ARRL Field Organization is here to serve you. If you have a problem, question or simply need more information, please feel free to contact anyone on the IL section staff. They will be happy to hear from you and will either answer you directly or steer you to the right person.

ARRL Club Liability Insurance Information

ARRL is aware that some amateur radio clubs who had been insured by Marsh/AIG, a previous provider of the ARRL Club Liability Insurance Program, are receiving notices that their club liability insurance is not being renewed. ARRL discontinued its relationship with Marsh/AIG in 2011, but some clubs who had previously enrolled in the policies were still renewing with the old provider -- and not in the current ARRL program.

 

The current program administrator (since 2015) for the ARRL-sponsored Club Liability Insurance Program is Risk Strategies. ARRL has a strong relationship with the current administrator who understands the importance of local amateur radio clubs and will help clubs seek new policies. Risk Strategies also administers the ARRL Equipment Insurance Plan for members.

 

Clubs that are affected by the loss of coverage from the previous provider are encouraged to contact Risk Strategies. Please visit Risk Strategies online at arrlinsurance.com or by phone at 1-866-819-0209 (please leave a message and your call will be returned).

 

 

ARRL is not able to help them with questions on insurance and all questions should be directed to Risk Strategies.

 

Sunday, May 5, 2024
The DeKalb Hamfest
Sandwich Fairgrounds
1401 Suydam Road
Sandwich, IL 60548
More Information
Sunday, June 2, 2024
Starved Rock Radio Club Hamfest
Mendota Tri-County Fairgrounds
503 1st Ave.
Mendota, IL 61342
More Information
Sunday, June 9, 2024
EgyptianFest
Holy Family Church Community Center

2600 Washington Ave.
Granite City, IL 62040
More Information
Sunday, July 21, 2024
KARSFEST
Will County Fairgrounds

710 S West St
Peotone, IL 60468
More Information
Saturday August 3, 2024
West Central Illinois Hamfest
Macoupin County, IL Fairgrounds
21368 State Route 4
Carlinville, IL 62626
More Information
Saturday August 3, 2024
Elkhart East Hamfest,
ARRL Central Division Convention
Northern Indiana Event Center
21565 Executive Parkway
Elkhart, IN 46514
More Information
Sunday, August 4, 2024
Hamfesters 89th Hamfest
Will County Fairgrounds

710 S West St
Peotone, IL 60468
More Information
September 21 & 22, 2024
Midwest Superfest
Three Sisters Park

17189 IL-29
Chillicothe, IL 61523
More Information
January 27, 2024
Winterfest
ARRL Midwest Division Convention
Gateway Center

1 Gateway Dr.
Collinsville, IL 62234
More Information
The awaited updates for the Club Commission Program have been posted to the ARRL website at Affiliated Club Benefits (arrl.org) under Club Commission Program.
MOUNT VERNON — Emergency response agencies in Mount Vernon and Jefferson County will hold a special exercise on March 16 to test local communications capabilities in the event of a major system outage.
During the week of Feb. 22, AT&T users saw sporadic system outages. However, what would happen if all communications failed and emergency messages had to get through? This exact scenario is what officials will be testing on March 16.
According to an event news release, the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) and the Amateur Radio Club of Mt. Vernon (ARCOM) will come together for a joint emergency communications exercise from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 16 at the Jefferson County Historical Village in Mount Vernon.
The public is invited to attend the exercise. Specifically, the event is targeted toward anyone interested in learning about emergency radio capabilities, ham radio or in getting licensed as a ham operator, the release states.
The exercise will test emergency radio procedures prior to the April 8 solar eclipse that will affect southern Illinois and surrounding states. The primary goal of the exercise is to pass a message from Massac County in far southern Illinois to West Chicago, Illinois, using amateur radio relays with no other infrastructure needed, the release states.
“Radio communication can provide a vital link to resources during natural disasters, terrorist events or communication infrastructure failure,” said ARCOM President and ARES Emergency Coordinator Steve Warner.
Jefferson County EMA Assistant Director Keith Hertenstein, club secretary for ARCOM, also remarked on the significance of the upcoming exercise.
“It is important for the fact (that) we are testing our emergency capabilities to make sure (that) the high frequency and simplex radio capabilities we have in the county work the way (that) they’re supposed to and that we don’t have to modify any of our existing procedures,” Hertenstein said.
The Jefferson County Historical Village is located at 1411 N. 27th St. in Mount Vernon.