I'd like to note that Darryl Widman, KF6DI, was the person who got this started initially with a talk to Art Goddard, W6XD, up at the Santa Maria Swapfest. It is nice to see this taking off!!!
Marvin
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New Mentor Logo
Follow this link to view the new logo that will be used on the ARRL Mentor page. This page will have links to many tools and resources that the League will have for clubs to use in their mentor programs.
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/mentor/
ARRL has always supported the Affiliated Clubs and the fine job that they do helping new hams. ________________________________________________________________________________________
OJT
On the Job Training. Nobody that comes out of school knows anything, let alone everything. And like a lot of things in life Amateur Radio is a lot of OJT. We read a book, memorize some formulas, study some questions and get a license. Now what? Now we need someone to show us the ropes. This someone is going to take us under their wing and provide us with some guidance and inspiration and allow us to grow and enjoy the hobby. That person is our mentor.
The biggest reason that most new hams never become active is because they didnt get any support from a local club or help from a mentor. Take a few minutes to think about when you were first licensed and who the person was that helped you. It may have been your dad or a family friend or a neighbor, but one thing is for sure and that is you did not get smart by yourself. Now take another moment and think of the last person that you offered help to. Hopefully that person came to mind quickly.
We have been highlighting some of the great things that the clubs have been doing with new hams. I have to tell you that there really are some super programs working out there. We want to share this information with all of the clubs in the hope that they will be able to take a piece of a successful program and make it work for their members. Sharing ideas makes us better.
If you have any successes from your club that you would like to share, please send the information to: clubs@arrl.org
Time For Class
Ham radio class, that is. Now is the time that your club should be organizing and advertising Amateur radio licensing classes for this fall season. Vacations are winding down and people will be looking for things to keep themselves busy. With all of the publicity about ham radio during the recent disasters people have seen the importance that the Amateur Radio Service has in their community. Now you can let them know that they too can obtain an FCC license and be trained to help their neighbor should an emergency occur.
For more information on organizing a ham radio class, visit the ARRL Volunteer Instructor Primer on the web at: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/instructor/oip/
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501(c)(3)
Clubs interested in 501(c)(3) status may check out the IRS website:
http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=96109,00.html
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On September 11, 2004 the Pentagon Amateur Radio Club (PARC) will be operating a special event station commemorating the attacks that occurred on the Pentagon, the World Trade Center and over Pennsylvania in 2001.
The club will be using the callsign K4AF and intends a 24 hour operation on 20m, 40m & 80m. There will be a special QSL available for stations that work K4AF.
Members of PARC include civilian employees of the Pentagon as well as personnel from all branches of the military. The club has a website at: WWW.K4AF.ORG
More information, as well as QSL information, will be available as we get closer to the event.
73,
Norm Fusaro, W3IZ
ARRL Affiliated Club/Mentor Program Manager
225 Main St.
Newington, CT 06011