I just received this email that was forwarded by Fried.
--------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Fried Heyn(ARRL SW Director) [mailto:lucky@surfpage.com] Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2001 7:55 PMSubject: The Big Project - Introductions
FYI...73/Fried(ô¿ô)UNITY=STRENGTH(ô¿ô)
----------------------------------------------------------- Dear Educators,
Many of you have contacted the ARRL with questions pertaining to the new Amateur Radio Education Project (aka The Big Project) within the last year. Rosalie White, K1STO, Manager of the F&ES division, received your inquiries and cataloged them in anticipation of hiring a Coordinator for The Big Project. It took longer than expected to find someone to fill the position but on September 4th I began work at ARRL headquarters.
Some of you have a history of working with the League through the National Educational Workshops, writing articles on building project and lessons you have had success with, or participated in SAREX or ARISS. Others are interested in getting involved in a project on the national scale. What ever you reasons, I want to encourage you to share your creative talents with the youth of America. Share your love for Amateur Radio and your love for education by helping develop a first-class curriculum that we all can be proud of.
Like many of you I have used Amateur Radio to enhance my teaching. I have used it as part of my curriculum, as an enrichment tool and at other times, just as a school club activity. I have had fund raisers for equipment and spent weekends with my students working contests. I know what it is to spend money out of pocket to buy materials, books, and have donated equipment to "The Club" in hopes of increasing student interest in my classes and Amateur Radio. These are things teachers do, without fanfare, that the public doesn't see. Weather you are a classroom teacher or an instructor for your club, the reward comes with seeing the light in young peoples eyes when they "get it." When they see the connections and a new part of the world opens up to them, and they grow.
It is in this context I have made my commitment to ARRL President, Jim Haynie, W5JPB, and Vice President Kay Craigie, WT3P, to coordinate "The Big Project." I say coordinate, because this is not any one persons project. It cannot be done by just sitting down and developing a group of lesson plans. I envision a large scale, on going, continuous improvement, educational endeavor, driven by those in the field using the materials and equipment, and working with students.
Are you a licensed Amateur Radio Operator working in the teaching field, interested in participating in a group forum for the purpose of developing a curriculum for "The Big Project?" Are you a licensed Amateur Radio Operator teaching classes with your local club? Are you an unlicensed teacher, interested in the possibilities Amateur Radio can offer your students? It's time to get on board. E-Mail me at the ARRL headquarters kh6hu@arrl.net mailto:kh6hu@arrl.net and I'll put you on "The List." Many of you are "Registered Teachers" already on "The List" but, as you know, teachers don't always stay at one school and don't always let us know, so there is a need to update "The List." So drop me an E-Mail and we'll start "The Big Project" train down the track.
Jerry Hill, KH6HU Coordinator for the Amateur Radio Education Project 225 Main St. Newington, CT 06111-1494 (860) 594-0369 kh6hu@arrl.net