August Business Meeting
The August business meeting will be held on Thursday, August 6 at 7:30 p.m. It will be a VIRTUAL meeting. The short business meeting will be followed by our weekly informal meet up for those who stick around.
Please email social@mvarc.org to obtain the virtual meeting link.
August Club Breakfast
Join us for breakfast on Saturday, 29 August at 8 a.m. at IHOP (Mount Vernon Plaza) 7694 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306.
September Business Meeting
The September business meeting will be held on Thursday, September 10 at 7:30 p.m. It will be a VIRTUAL meeting. The short business meeting will be followed by our weekly informal meet up for those who stick around.
Please email social@mvarc.org to obtain the virtual meeting link.
July Club Breakfast
Join us for breakfast on Saturday, 25 July at 8 a.m. at IHOP (Mount Vernon Plaza) 7694 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306.
Field Day 2026
The Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club (MVARC) invites the public to join its annual participation in ARRL Field Day, the largest on-air amateur radio event in the U.S., from 2 p.m. Saturday, June 27 to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 28 at the field next to Inova Mount Vernon Hospital (2501 Parkers Ln, Alexandria, VA 22306).
Hosted nationwide by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Field Day is both a competitive exercise and a public demonstration of emergency communication capabilities. Each June, more than 40,000 amateur radio operators — or "hams" — set up temporary stations in parks, schools, and public spaces to showcase ham radio's ability to function without cellular networks or the internet.
“Field Day isn't just a practice run; it’s a vital rehearsal for when modern communications fail," says Corey Law, MVARC President. "The devastating flooding and hurricanes we've recently witnessed in North Carolina and Texas underscore exactly why amateur radio remains a critical lifeline. From national disasters to the historic emergencies we've weathered right here in the Mount Vernon area, our mission is to ensure our members — especially our newest hams — are trained, equipped, and ready to provide essential public service when our community needs us most.”
The public is encouraged to visit the field next to Inova Mt. Vernon Hospital at the corner of Hinson Farm Rd and Parkers Ln. between 2 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday to meet local operators, learn about amateur radio, and try the equipment firsthand. Club members will offer demonstrations, answer questions, and explain how ham radio plays a critical role in community emergency response.
Throughout the weekend, MVARC will post updates and photos on its Facebook page at facebook.com/MountVernonARC.
For over a century, amateur radio has empowered individuals to explore electronics and serve their communities by providing backup communication during emergencies. Today, more than 750,000 people in the U.S. hold active licenses. MVARC supports new operators with fellowship and mentorship in the Northern Virginia area.
Event At A Glance
What: ARRL Field Day, hosted by Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club
Public Welcome: Saturday, June 27, 2 p.m. – Sunday, June 28, 2 p.m.
Where: Field next to Inova Mount Vernon Hospital
2501 Parkers Ln., Alexandria VA 22306
June Club Breakfast
Join us for breakfast on Saturday, 27 June at 8 a.m. at IHOP (Mount Vernon Plaza) 7694 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306. We will head to the Field Day event immediately after.
June Business Meeting
The June business meeting will be held on Thursday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m. It will be a VIRTUAL meeting. The short business meeting will be followed by our weekly informal meet up for those who stick around.
Please email social@mvarc.org to obtain the virtual meeting link.
May Club Breakfast
Join us for breakfast on Saturday, 23 May at 8 a.m. at IHOP (Mount Vernon Plaza) 7694 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306.
May Business Meeting
The May business meeting will be held on Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. It will be a VIRTUAL meeting. The short business meeting will be followed by our weekly informal meet up for those who stick around.
Please email social@mvarc.org to obtain the virtual meeting link.
VIRTUAL MEET UP
Join MVARC for an informal virtual meet up. No Ham radio topics are off-limits.
Members, check the reflector for an email with the Google Meet link.
Not a member? Email social@mvarc.org to obtain the link to join us.
April In Person Hobby Meeting
This month’s in-person gathering is at the Gerry Hyland Government Center, 8350 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22309.
The topic of discussion is the MVARC repeater with a presentation by Nick, AJ4YB. We hope you can join us!
April Club Breakfast
Join us for breakfast on Saturday, 25 April at 8 a.m. at IHOP (Mount Vernon Plaza) 7694 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306.
VIRTUAL MEET UP
Join MVARC for an informal virtual meet up. No Ham radio topics are off-limits.
Members, check the reflector for an email with the Google Meet link.
Not a member? Email social@mvarc.org to obtain the link to join us.
VIRTUAL MEET UP
Join MVARC for an informal virtual meet up. No Ham radio topics are off-limits.
Members, check the reflector for an email with the Google Meet link.
Not a member? Email social@mvarc.org to obtain the link to join us.
April Business Meeting
The April business meeting will be held on Thursday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. It will be a VIRTUAL meeting. The short business meeting will be followed by our weekly informal meet up for those who stick around.
Please email social@mvarc.org to obtain the virtual meeting link.
VIRTUAL MEET UP
Join MVARC for an informal virtual meet up. No Ham radio topics are off-limits.
Members, check the reflector for an email with the Google Meet link.
Not a member? Email social@mvarc.org to obtain the link to join us.
March Club Breakfast
Join us for breakfast on Saturday, 28 March at 8 a.m. at IHOP (Mount Vernon Plaza) 7694 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306.
VIRTUAL MEET UP
Join MVARC for an informal virtual meet up. No Ham radio topics are off-limits.
Members, check the reflector for an email with the Google Meet link.
Not a member? Email social@mvarc.org to obtain the link to join us.
March Business Meeting
The March business meeting will be held on Thursday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. It will be a VIRTUAL meeting. The short business meeting will be followed by our weekly informal meet up for those who stick around.
Please email social@mvarc.org to obtain the virtual meeting link.
George Washington's Birthday Special Event Station
Help us celebrate our first president's birthday. Our annual George Washington Special Event will take place on Feb. 14 (Sat) & 15 (Sun), 2026. The event will be in the greenhouse of the Mount Vernon Estate.
This free event is open to the public, especially those interested in the art of Ham radio! Stop by if you want to learn more about radios and we'll even let you get on the air and talk to people from around the world!
Email social@mvarc.org if you're interested in coming so we can provide details.
Details:
On Saturday: MVARC members will first arrive about 8:30AM to set up stations. The stations will likely be operational by 10AM. Anyone and everyone will be permitted to get on the air, as we will use the club’s call, K4US. We would love to put little kids on the air too! On Saturday, we will operate until about 3PM (as we must be off grounds by 4PM). For a variety of reasons, Saturday is the BEST day for newbies and guests to sample ham radio! The club will leave the antennas up overnight for the next day.
On Sunday: A few members will straggle in about 8:30AM to make a few more contacts. Likely, members will start to take down stations about 11AM.
Looking for a QSL card?
Send a SASE to: K4US, PO BOX 7234, Alexandria, VA 22307.
February Business Meeting
The February business meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. It will be a VIRTUAL meeting. The short business meeting will be followed by our weekly informal meet up for those who stick around.
Please email social@mvarc.org to obtain the virtual meeting link.
Winter Field Day
Winter Field Day is more than just a contest; it’s an essential emergency communications exercise. Our aim is to sharpen our skills by operating under "less-than-optimal" conditions—demonstrating we can keep communications going despite freezing temperatures, snow, or ice. It’s about preparedness, technical skill, and, most importantly, community.
The Meet-Up Event: Winter Field Day
After breakfast, join us at our president Corey, KN4YZY’s home to operate, observe, or just enjoy some "eyeball QSOs." We will be reaching out to several emergency preparedness groups to join us, but if you can’t make it to our location, we encourage you to check out the great setups hosted by our friends at the Alexandria, Woodbridge, or Vienna clubs. More than anything, we just love to get you on the air!
When:
Saturday, Jan 24th & Sunday, Jan 25th at 10:30 AM (Post-breakfast)
Duration: As long as the coffee is hot and the company is good!
Where:
8619 Lea Lane, Alexandria, VA 22309
Parking: Feel free to park in the driveway or along the curb.
What to Expect:
Cozy Warming Shelter: Provided by Ed (N2EC)! We’ll have a heated area to stay warm while working the bands in my backyard.
Tasty Snacks: Hot drinks and snacks are available all day. If there's something you'd like to bring, feel free.
Hands-on Learning: We’ll be practicing portable/temporary setups. Our main goal is to help you get on the air and feel confident!
Whether you want to hunt for QSOs, test out winter gear, or just relax and enjoy the company, you are more than welcome. No pressure to bring equipment, though feel free to bring a favorite handheld.
Important Note: Please dress appropriately for the weather, as we will be outside!
Please RSVP to president@mvarc.org if you’re planning to come so we can make sure we have enough refreshments for everyone.
We’re excited to see you there!
Maintenance
Here is the website with the rules for Winterfield Day for you to review. https://winterfieldday.org/sop.php
January Club Breakfast
Join us for breakfast on Saturday, 24 January at 8 a.m. at IHOP (Mount Vernon Plaza) 7694 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306.
January Business Meeting
The January business meeting will be held on Thursday, January 8 at 7:30 p.m. It will be a VIRTUAL meeting. The short business meeting will be followed by our weekly informal meet up for those who stick around.
Please email social@mvarc.org to obtain the virtual meeting link.
MVARC Holiday Party
Please join us next Thursday (Dec. 11) at 5:30 p.m. at Denny's in Hybla Valley (7214 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306) for the annual MVARC Holiday Party.
Logistics:
We will gather at 5:30 p.m. and plan on eating around 6 p.m. Working late? Come when you can! We'll be there for awhile socializing.
Yes, you can bring family/friends/spouses! The more the merrier!
Each member will be responsible for paying for their own food/drinks. This is not a MVARC-paid event.
For those who have been to our holiday parties before, please note NO GIFT EXCHANGE.
November In Person Hobby Meeting
This month’s in-person gathering is at the Mount Vernon Government Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria, VA 22309. Our speaker this month is club member Ed N2EC who will be talking about the 3D printed antenna he designed, the N2EC VersaHex. It is a portable antenna designed for versatility and experimentation and supports use as a v-dipole as well as a vertical with the ability to add loading coils, extensions, tripods, and ground plane systems for resonant operation from 40 meters to 6 meters.
If you’ve joined us for our recent POTA activations, ARRL Field Day, the George Washington’s Birthday Special Event Station, or the Masonic Lodges on the Air event this year, you’ve seen it in action. Now learn how it was designed and tested and how you can 3D print and build your own for a modest investment in parts. More information about the VersaHex Antenna can be found on Ed’s blog at https://n2ec.us/project/the-n2ec-versahex-antenna/. We look forward to seeing you in-person or online at tomorrow’s meeting. Email social@mvarc.org for the link.
November Club Breakfast
Join us for breakfast on Saturday, 22 November at 8 a.m. at IHOP (Mount Vernon Plaza) 7694 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306.
November Business Meeting
The November business meeting will be held on Thursday, November 13 at 7:30 p.m. It will be a VIRTUAL meeting. The short business meeting will be followed by our weekly informal meet up for those who stick around.
Please email social@mvarc.org to obtain the virtual meeting link.
October Business Meeting
The October business meeting will be held on Thursday, October 9 at 7:30 p.m. It will be a VIRTUAL meeting. The short business meeting will be followed by our weekly informal meet up for those who stick around.
Please email social@mvarc.org to obtain the virtual meeting link.
Masonic Lodges on the Air
Purpose
To promote public awareness of ham radio and Freemasonry; to promote fraternal bonds within the ranks of Free & Accepted Masonic Lodges and its many Amateur Radio operators who are also brothers in the fraternity; and to encourage contact with other Amateur Radio Operators around the state, country, and world. You do not need to be a Mason to participate.
Join us at the Mount Vernon Lodge No 219, 8717 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22308.
In the event we get weathered out of this event, we have confirmed reservations at the FFX County South Building located, 8350 Richmond Hwy. Our confirmed reservations at the South Building are for 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. A presentation will be made at this location. Starting time will be 10:30 AM.
September Club Breakfast
Join us for breakfast on Saturday, 27 September at 8 a.m. at IHOP (Mount Vernon Plaza) 7694 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306.
VIRTUAL MEET UP
Join MVARC for an informal virtual meet up. No Ham radio topics are off-limits.
Members, check the reflector for an email with the Google Meet link.
Not a member? Email social@mvarc.org to obtain the link to join us.
September Business Meeting
The September business meeting will be held on Thursday, September 11 at 7:30 p.m. It will be a VIRTUAL meeting. The short business meeting will be followed by our weekly informal meet up for those who stick around.
Please email social@mvarc.org to obtain the virtual meeting link.