Hello SBARC members,
If I haven't met you, my name is Mac. I am a student at Dos Pueblos High School, and I got my Tech ticket (which is now a general) about six months ago. The Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club has been exceptionally welcoming, and I've learned a great deal about how much I don't know from you all.
I write to you on behalf of the Dos Pueblos Radio Club–this is a club that I started this spring at Dos Pueblos related to radio and radio-adjacent topics.
So far, we've built the "head" for a dipole, talked about how propagation varies across frequencies, done some studying for the Technician exam, made simulated QSOs, and spoken with several of you via the linked repeater system. Thank you to all who answered with your stories and advice! Also, we've received a $150 grant from the Santa Barbara Education Foundation for radio equipment and to cover the cost of licensing fees from the FCC (combined with the Youth Grant program from the ARRL).
Right now, the school year is coming to an end: we have 1.5 meetings left. In August, when school starts, there is a "Club Day" where all the clubs have tables set up for the incoming freshmen, and I was thinking it could be good to have a portable HF station set up (maybe some of you would be able to be monitoring on a pre-agreed frequency in case the bands go downhill?) to generate interest. Sort of like a Field Day, but on a much smaller scale.
With that in mind, I was wondering if any of you would be interested in helping out the DPRC in any way. Anything is appreciated, e.g., wise words, time, cables you have lying around.
Some things that I've thought of: Wise words: What do you think we should spend the grant money on? How did you become a ham? What do you find interesting/exciting about the hobby? Why is radio relevant? Time: Do you have a focus that you want to share with the club–digital modes, foxhunting, emergency communications, etc.–and would be willing to talk a little about it to some high schoolers? Things lying around: Do you have cables that you don't need? An antenna (especially if it is portable–this could be very useful for our Club Day) that won't see the light of day? Some fun maps! Or masts/pole supports? All of these things and more could be useful and very much appreciated by students interested in amateur radio, especially as we try to figure out our antenna/station/radio situation.
Sorry for the long email, and thank you for reading if you got this far down!
With gratitude, Mac Cottrell – KO6HBP
P.S. My phone number is +1 (805) 895-3660 if you want to give me a call about any of this.