Of course you remember your Semaphore
Code, right? You mean you haven't kept up your practicing?
Shame!
Nowadays, Scouts can communicate with
each other over Amateur Radio. Indeed, some of them have earned their licenses.
However, most have yet to do that. All they need is a kindly ham to invite a
couple of them over to the shack to watch over his shoulder and see how it's
done. When the time is right, the OM can invite them to come speak into his
microphone and feel the magic. Imagine, talking with someone hundreds or even
thousands of miles away and all with no wires -- no phone lines or cell
phones!
This is what we will be doing again
this year as we invite a whole bunch of Scouts (Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts) to
join us as we put on yet another Jamboree-on-the-Air from that neat spot just
over the hill -- Rancho Alegre, the Scout Ranch of the Los Padres Council of the
Boy Scouts of America. This event is held internationally each year on the third
weekend of October. This year it will be on October 16 and 17. Some of us will
even go the evening before that and get things set up. Camping out is really fun
in the brisk autumn air. As you see, last year's patch for the boys' shirts was
very handsome. You can bet that this year's patch will be
also.
This is just a heads-up to let you know
that you are all wanted and needed as there are hundreds of Scouts in the
council who will be wanting to attend this event. We will need to give the boys
guidance and counseling as they will be involved with activities they have never
heard of before. There will be HF communications, Amateur Television, Morse Code
oscillator construction, Morse Code key construction, AMSAT communications
and, of course, Transmitter Hunting. Some of us will find ourselves in the Radio
Merit Badge Counselor position. What a wonderful weekend we will all have
together.
Please put the date on your calendar
and plan on participating in a very gratifying activity. Helping our youth to
discover new things and open their minds to help prepare them for their futures
will make you feel nice and warm all over. It happens every year. Those who
helped in previous years know what I am talking about.
Please contact me by any means and tell
me that you want to help and I will put your name on my list of good
guys.
Thank you,
Darryl Widman,
KF6DI
JOTA Chairman
2010
805-969-2326