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Working To Build A Stronger ARRL

AB1OC ARISS Ground Station — School Space Station Contact via Amateur Radio

Hello. I am Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, and I have been serving as your ARRL New England Division Director for the past 3 years. I have a long history of helping people to become licensed, learn new skills, and become active in the Amateur Radio Service. Like most Hams, I love Ham Radio and all that it enables. As your director, I have worked hard to protect and grow our hobby, and I will continue to work to create and promote activities and programs that maximize our ability to participate in and enjoy Amateur Radio.

Amateur Radio changes people’s lives for the better. It certainly has had a huge positive impact on my life, and I want to continue as your director so that I may work with the ARRL, clubs, and individual Hams across New England to help bring positive life experiences through Amateur Radio to more people in our division and across the ARRL.

Action-Oriented Leadership

It is not enough to just listen to members about their concerns. While doing this is an essential part of serving as director, we also need a director who works hard to ensure that effective action is taken to address member concerns. This requires a leader who can collaborate with people to create consensus around solutions to problems and create the will to act.

Through my work as part of numerous work efforts within the ARRL, we have enabled the ARRL board and HQ team to:

Bring forward multiple new ham development initiatives.
Provide clubs with resources to do important work to strengthen their future and the future of Amateur Radio and the ARRL.
Develop publications and programs to encourage increased utilization of our Amateur Radio bands and privileges.
Revitalize the National Traffic System
Create an ARRL strategy that includes an expanded focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) learning in schools.

We’ve also built teams here in New England to solve RFI problems and encourage the use of our bands above 1 GHz via Amateur Radio Emergency Data Networks (AREDN).

What I Want To Continue To Accomplish as New England Director

Much needs to continue to be done to create a strong future for Amateur Radio and the ARRL. The following are some of the major goals I will continue to focus on as Director:

Bringing new people into Amateur Radio by working collaboratively with clubs across New England and the ARRL. We have also created multiple new Ham Development initiatives within the ARRL that support bringing new people into Amateur Radio.
Expanding ARRL’s work to support STEM learning in schools through Amateur Radio
Creating positive public and agency awareness and support for Amateur Radio to protect our spectrum and our rights.
Continuing to work with our FCC counsel and the ARRL to expand member support for initiatives to protect our spectrum and modernize FCC Amateur Radio rules and licensing.
Ensuring effective, open, 2-way communications between the ARRL and its members and creating a culture within the ARRL to act on member concerns and feedback.
Continuing to establish the New England Division as a leader in developing world-class Amateur Radio programs that help our members enjoy Amateur Radio.

I believe that I bring the right Amateur Radio and professional experience, as well as the necessary collaborative leadership skills, to accomplish these goals and more. I hope you will support me as your choice to fulfill this important mission.

Walking Our Talk

As your Director, it is essential that I work to support the initiatives that I advocate for within the ARRL. This enables the creation of and member support for effective policy through credible leadership.

I serve as an ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) Mentor and Ground Station, helping schools worldwide to participate in STEM learning based on Amateur Radio. I also devote considerable time and energy to licensing hams and helping them get on the air. I’ve had the pleasure of leading a team of hams who teach classes for Tech, General, and Extra licenses, enabling over 480 people to earn a license or upgrade over the past seven years. We also created a popular program called Ham Bootcamp that helps new and experienced hams get on the air, build stations, and participate in operating activities. Ham Bootcamp has helped over 1,000 people across the United States to begin or expand their participation in Amateur Radio.

As New England Division director, I have continued to work with clubs and individuals in New England to help them expand their role as mentors and create a world-class environment for learning based on Amateur Radio.

Additional Information

I have been widely endorsed by members of the Amateur Radio community for my work. You can see what others are saying about their support for me as ARRL New England Division Director at re-elect.ab1oc.org/endorsements. You can learn more about me and my Amateur Radio activities at re-elect.ab1oc.org/about-ab1oc. I welcome everyone’s comments and questions. You can reach me at [email protected].

I Need Your Support

Voting information will be distributed to ARRL members by October 1^st via e-mail and postcards. Ballots are due by November 15^th. Your vote means a great deal to the future of Amateur Radio.

I am asking you for your support and your vote to enable me to continue working on your behalf to benefit Amateur Radio folks across New England and the ARRL.

Fred, AB1OC

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Accomplishments and Our Plans for a Second Term

Accomplishments During Our First Term

I have worked hard to make a difference for Clubs, Membership, New Hams, and more. The following are some of our accomplishments during the last 2 1/2 years as ARRL New England Division Director. My work has included –

Leading the review committee that designed the Club Grant Program (available funds totaling $1M)
Creating effective communications via Town Hall Meetings, Club Meetings, and Hamfests and taking action to address members’ concerns.
Authoring and building consensus for the passage of numerous Board Motions focused on new Ham Development and Youth Outreach.
Leading the Strategy Working Group, which created an expanded strategy for the ARRL, adding new advocacy that is focused on developing the next generation of radio amateurs
Revitalizing the National Traffic System through the NTS 2.0 Program
Working to create the New England RFI Assistance Program.
Promoting the use and protection of our bands by encouraging technical innovation via the deployment of Amateur Radio Emergency Data Networks (AREDN)
Raising public awareness and support for Amateur Radio via a Big-E Astronaut Contact
Leading the creation of a new Working Group chartered to assist Hams in restricted operating situations.

Moving the Board and the ARRL Forward

The following are some board-related and leadership roles I have taken on during the last 2 1/2 years as New England Division Director.

Member of the Administration and Finance Committee (3 Years) – which works closely with HQ on budget and operations issues
Twice elected to the Board Executive Committee – a Director group entrusted to act on behalf of the Board.
Appointed as sole Director board representative on the Investment Management Committee – overseeing the ARRL’s investments
Led the review committee that designed the Club Grant Program (available funds for clubs totaling $1M)
Leader of the NTS 2.0 initiative as part of the Emergency Communications and Field Service Committee – this initiative is working to revitalize and expand the ARRL’s support for the National Traffic System.
Led the Strategy Working Group, which created an updated ARRL strategy that the Board approved unanimously.
Continuing to lead the working group chartered to assist Hams in restricted Operating Situations.

Priorities for Our Next Three Years

Continuing Our Work

We have much to do to complete the work we have begun and continue supporting these important initiatives. It is essential not only to make sound policy within the ARRL Board but also to be an active, positive contributor to the initiatives are being brought forward.

Leading by example, or, as some say, “Walking the Talk,” is important not only to gain a clear understanding of what is needed to make good policy but also to inspire ARRL members to contribute positively to these initiatives.

Going forward as your Director, I pledge to –

Continue working within the ARRL to implement the Ham Development initiatives that we’ve led the creation of and passage by the Board –
- Expanded the ARRL Licensing and Training programs for New Hams, involving clubs in the process
- Publications and articles targeted at helping New Hams to become active
- Lowering barriers and providing incentives for New Hams to become ARRL members
Continue to support Clubs in creating the future of Amateur Radio including
- Providing Club grant program support, promotion, and expansion
- Acting as a Strong Advocate for Clubs within the ARRL; regular attendance at club meetings across NE
Keep the focus on protecting our spectrum and helping Hams in restricted situations. My plans include
- Working to expand the RFI Initiative beyond New England
- Protecting our UHF and higher bands by promoting their use via AREDN
- Continuing to mobilize our members and the ARRL to proactively defend against legislative and regulatory attacks at the National and State levels (SMC Initiative, 5G Bills, 900 MHz, and other band attacks, …)
Continue working to improve open, honest communications with our members through Town Halls, Expanded Cabinet Meetings, and regular participation in Hamfests and Club Meetings. I will continue to listen to members’ concerns and, most importantly, take positive action to address members’ concerns and ideas.
Continue expanding the ARRL’s Public Service and EmComm focus through the NTS 2.0 and other programs. I will also continue working to create additional opportunities to involve member volunteers in improving ARRL programs.
Continue to Walk our Talk and lead by example, including
- Providing ongoing support for the ARISS program as a mentor and station host for school contacts
- Continuing licensing and mentoring work. To date, I have served as an instructor as part of a team that has taught six or more license classes each year, resulting in over 450 Hams Licensed or Upgraded and over 1,000 Hams served via Bootcamps

Additional Initiatives

We cannot and will not stand still. The following are some additions to the ARRL’s initiatives that I plan to focus on as part of a second term as Director –

Developing the next generation of Amateur Radio Leaders
- Through advocacy with Clubs and other Groups
- Within the ARRL Leadership Structure
- Starting at Home in New England and within our team
Working with HQ and the Board to successfully implement the ARRL’s updated Strategy, which includes
- Inspiring and Educating Youth – “A new advocacy is being created, committing the ARRL to develop the next generation of radio amateurs through the expansion of existing programs and the creation of curriculum-based initiatives targeted at middle and high school STEM education programs.”
Expanding my Advocacy for improved, straightforward, and frequent communications with ARRL members.
- I’ve helped initiate the immediate ARRL Member Bulletins, which are now published right after board meetings. I’ve also advocated for the motion requiring Board Roll-Call votes. We need to do more to foster confidence and trust in the ARRL through continuous, effective, and straightforward communications with members.
- The ARRL needs to engage our members to better help with legislative and regulatory defense.
- I will continue to lead the way by using modern online communications that can be leveraged across the ARRL member base.
We need to more fully engage member volunteers to help us develop new and updated programs and services.

Programs Helping Hams and Young People to Develop Skills and Get on The Air

Featured

I have had the pleasure to work and collaborate with my club and others to create programs to get new people and young people started in Amateur Radio. I’ve been sharing information about these programs with clubs across New England and around the US to provide ideas and inspiration for Amateur Radio clubs to add similar mentoring and Ham Development programs to their activities.

Teaching License Classes is a passion of mine. Along with the Nashua Area Radio Society, we’ve provided 7-8 License Training Classes to help folks earn Technician, General, and Extra class licenses each year. Our classes include 1 or 2 classes each year devoted solely to school students who want to earn their Technician License. We do this so that we can teach the Technician Class material in a format suitable for middle school and high school students.

Ham Bootcamp - Getting New Hams On The Air — Ham Bootcamp – Getting New Hams On The Air

I have led the creation of programs such as Ham Bootcamp and Tech Night to provide training and skills development to enable Hams to get on the air and develop new skills.

Students Launch a High-Altitude Balloon carrying Amateur Radio — Students Launch a High-Altitude Balloon Carrying Amateur Radio

I believe that work to support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) learning in schools through Amateur is an important way to help the next generation of young people to join the Amateur Radio Service and enhance their lives. Kits Builds, High-Altitude Balloons, and other Amateur Radio activities can provide practical applications and support for STEM learning programs that many schools are working to deliver.

Fred, AB1OC Helping a School Make Contact with an Astronaut on the ISS via Amateur Radio

Through my work as a mentor and ground station in the ARISS program, I’ve been able to help schools and other youth groups around the world to experience and learn about Amateur Radio and use it to communicate with astronauts on the International Space Station.

ARRL Rookie Roundup – Introducing contesting to young people and new Hams

I believe that it’s also very important to introduce new hams and young hams to the Amateur Radio activities that many of us enjoy. We routinely make our station here available to new Hams and young people so they can participate in on-air activities. A favorite activity is the ARRL Rookie Roundup – a contest experience that the ARRL sponsors for new Hams to try out and learn about Radiosport.

I’ve been sharing a presentation with clubs and other groups about these and other programs to encourage folks to provide mentoring and new Ham development opportunities.

I met with the K1USN Radio Club in Braintree, MA, a while ago to share this information. The folks there recorded my presentation and have permitted me to share it here so that others might benefit from the information that it contains. The K1USN Radio Club is a great example of a group of Hams that are working to provide mentoring and new Ham development programs. Here’s where you can find more about them:

K1USN Radio Club: http://www.k1usn.com/
K1USN weekly Slow Speed CW Sessions (K1USN SST): http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html
K1USN YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeqnvJP92umejHhmAiUFW5g

Also, you can download a copy of the presentation in PDF form here.

I hope that our readers will consider creating programs to help bring new people into the Amateur Radio Service and mentor all Hams to help them to develop new skills and enjoy Amateur Radio.

Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC

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Creating a Strong Future for Amateur Radio as ARRL New England Division Director

Hello. I am Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, and I have been serving as your ARRL New England Division Director. I have a long history of helping people to become licensed, learn new skills, and become active in the Amateur Radio Service. I have also served in several roles in support of the Nashua Area Radio Society, a club that has provided many hams licensing and development programs over the past six years.

Like most Hams, I love Ham Radio and all that it enables. As your director, I have worked hard to protect and grow our hobby. I will continue to work hard to create and promote activities and programs that will maximize our ability to participate in and enjoy Amateur Radio.

Amateur Radio changes people’s lives for the better. It certainly has had a huge positive impact on my life, and I want to continue as your director so that I may work with clubs and individual Hams across New England to help them bring positive life experiences through Amateur Radio to more people in our division and across the ARRL.

What I Want To Continue To Accomplish as New England Director

There is much that needs to continue to be done to create a strong future for Amateur Radio and the ARRL. The following are some of the major goals that I plan to focus on as Director:

Bring new people into Amateur Radio by working collaboratively with clubs across New England and the ARRL. We have created a strong focus within the ARRL on new Ham Development and I will continue to work diligently to help the ARRL realize this mission.
Creating a strong ARRL focus on STEM learning in schools and colleges through Amateur Radio
Creating positive public and agency awareness and support for Amateur Radio to protect our spectrum and our rights. The ARRL has important work to do to expand member support of initiatives to protect our spectrum.
Ensuring effective, open, 2-way communications between the ARRL and its members
Continuing to establish the New England Division as a leader in providing world-class Amateur Radio programs

We need a director who is Collaborative, Innovative, and Action-Oriented to accomplish these and other important goals. I believe that I bring the right Amateur Radio professional experience and collaborative leadership skills to accomplish these goals and more. I hope that you will support me as your choice to fulfill this important mission.

Action-Oriented Leadership

It is not enough to talk with members to understand concerns and problems. While doing this is an essential part of serving as director, we also need a director who with work hard to ensure that effective action is taken to address the issues and solve problems. This requires a leader who can collaborate with people both inside and outside the ARRL to align around creative solutions to problems and create the will to act to realize solutions.

Through my work on numerous committees and workgroups within the ARRL, we have enabled the ARRL board and HQ team to:

Bring forward new Ham development initiatives
Provide clubs with resources to do important work to strengthen their future and the future of Amateur Radio and the ARRL
Develop publications and articles to encourage increased utilization of our Amateur Radio bands and privileges
Revitalize the National Traffic System
Create an updated strategy that includes an increased focus on STEM learning in schools.

We’ve also built teams here in New England to solve RFI problems and encourage using our bands above 1 GHz via AREDN. This work needs to continue as well.

Walking the Talk

I believe that Amateur Radio clubs play an essential role in bringing new hams into the Amateur Radio Service and in helping hams to develop new skills.

I serve as an ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) Mentor and Ground Station, helping schools around the world participate in STEM learning based on Amateur Radio. I will help groups and individuals in New England to create projects and programs to bring Amateur Radio to young people across the division. Amateur Radio provides a tremendous opportunity for young people to learn about technical topics and to develop valuable skills that they can use throughout their lives.

Fred, AB1OC with Students at Bishop-Guertin H.S. as they prepare to Launch a High-Altitude Balloon — Working with students at Bishop-Guertin H.S. to Launch a High-Altitude Balloon Carrying Amateur Radio

I continue to spend time in local schools teaching classes and providing activities that bring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) learning opportunities to students through Amateur Radio. In addition to inspiring young people to pursue STEM careers by becoming Hams, this work also serves to improve the public’s understanding of the importance and value that Amateur Radio provides.

I am devoting considerable time and energy to licensing new hams and helping all hams to upgrade their licenses and get on the air. I’ve had the pleasure of leading a team of hams who have taught license classes, enabling over 400 people to earn a license or upgrade over the past seven years. I have worked with a team of folks to create some innovative approaches to new ham development and getting hams on the air. We created a very popular program called Ham Bootcamp. Ham Bootcamp is designed to help both new and experienced hams get on the air, build their stations, and participate in new operating activities. In total, Ham Bootcamp has helped over 1,000 participants across the United States to begin or expand their participation in Amateur Radio.

I Need Your Support

I am asking you for your help and your vote to enable me to continue working on your behalf to benefit Amateur Radio folks across New England and the ARRL.

If you are not already an ARRL Member, please consider joining the ARRL and participating in the upcoming New England Director election. You can become an ARRL member here.

Your vote means a great deal to the future of Amateur Radio.

Additional Information

I welcome everyone’s comments and questions. You can reach me at [email protected].

About Me

I am an active amateur with a broad range of Amateur Radio interests. I enjoy many aspects of the hobby, including DXing, contesting, EmCom activities and Field Day, satellites, station building, and weak signal operating on the VHF and higher bands. One of Amateur Radio’s most important strengths is its tremendous diversity and range of interests and activities.

I am an electrical engineer by training and I hold bachelor’s and master’s degrees in EE. I have served in many business leadership roles, including VP and General Manager of a large data networking and communication business, VP of Strategy and Business Development for a large telecommunication equipment company, Chief Technology Officer, and Project Leader at Bell Laboratories in the development of wireless and wired data communications technologies.

I have also served on the FCC’s Technical Advisory Council, where I assisted the FCC in developing public policy related to wireless and broadband communications. I hold an Amateur Extra license and have been quite active on the air, logging over 100,000 contacts on the HF and higher bands. You can read more about my professional background on LinkedIn here.

Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC

An Important Choice – Please Cast Your Vote for ARRL New England Division Director

I believe that Amateur Radio and the ARRL are at a crossroads. Issues such as the need to bring new people of all ages into Amateur Radio and get them active have become urgent.

We need a director who can take on a broad range of issues. Doing this requires a team approach and a director who can collaborate with ARRL members, leaders, staff, and Board Members to create sound solutions and get things done.

I have assembled a team of leaders across the New England Division who are actively helping me to develop well-thought-out positions and plans for action on important issues facing the ARRL and Amateurs across New England.

I believe that a dual approach that includes working both within the ARRL to solve problems and with clubs and ARRL members in the New England Division to create effective Amateur Radio programs is the best way to address many issues that the ARRL and Amateur Radio are facing. My work to implement this approach includes a combination of improved communications with New England ARRL Members, outreach to ARRL Directors and Leaders, and the appointment of Assistant Directors.

It is simply not enough to acknowledge the problems we face and suggest ideas on how we might address them. We need a director that has a demonstrated track record of solving problems and getting results.

If you have any questions or thoughts on what the ARRL needs to focus on, I can be reached at [email protected].

Ballots for ARRL New England Division Director will be mailed to ARRL New England members by October 1st. Ballots are due back to ARRL HQ by November 15th. Please take the time to return your ballot so your vote counts in this important election. The last director election was decided by only a few votes so your vote is very important.

Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC

Why Am I Running for ARRL New England Division Director?

Folks have been asking me why I want to serve as ARRL New England Division Director. For me, this is about giving back and helping people to enrich their lives through Amateur Radio and all that it can offer. You can watch the video above to learn more.

Fred, AB1OC

Importance of Amateur Radio in Schools

It is vitally important that we make efforts to bring Amateur Radio to young people in schools and other venues. When we spend time bringing Amateur Radio to young people, we accomplish two important things. First, we have the potential to change a young person’s life for the better by involving them in Amateur Radio, a hobby and a service that inspires a lifetime of STEM learning and often leads to lifelong careers in Science or Engineering.

Secondly, our work in schools is one of the very best ways that we can make the general public aware of the positive benefits that Amateur Radio provides to their kids and to the general public.

Supporting STEM Learning At Sussex County Charter School for Technology

In my role as an ARISS Program Mentor, I had the pleasure of spending a week with Sussex County Charter School for Technology (a charter school in NJ) students and teachers to help teachers there to deliver their summer Radio Camp.

The summer Radio Camp was a STEM education program that the school developed in support of their upcoming contact with an astronaut on the International Space Station (ISS). Members of the local Sussex County Amateur Radio Club teamed with the teachers at the school to deliver a 5-day program grounded in STEM learning through Amateur Radio.

Radio camp activities included many hands-on Amateur Radio activities such as making DX contacts on the HF radio bands, building electrical circuits, practicing morse code, a Fox hunt, building and operating a portable HF station, flying a radio-controlled drone, and more.

The students and their teachers also learned about how they can make contacts with other Amateur Radio operators through satellites in space.

The student’s parents joined them on the last day of Radio Camp to learn about Amateur Radio and the activities that their kids had done with the school during the week.

Building Public Awareness and Support for Amateur Radio

Helping Hudson Memorial School students to talk to an astronaut on the ISS

The photo above was taken during an event that I had the great pleasure to help a local school with a little while back. As President of the Nashua Area Radio Society, I led efforts to help Hudson Memorial School, a public middle school here in New Hampshire, to prepare for and make contact with an astronaut on the International Space Station using Amateur Radio. The photo was taken just before the school’s contact began. The school’s principal is explaining Amateur Radio and the positive impact that it has had in his school to hundreds of parents, teachers, school board members, and public visitors. Imagine the impact on public support that we had as part of this project.

These are the sorts of activities that I want to work on and encourage with Clubs and Hams here in New England as director. I also believe that the ARRL can do much more to promote and encourage projects like this to create public awareness and support for Amateur Radio.

Hams, Clubs, and the ARRL have a much greater potential to generate positive public support for Amateur Radio including for legislation to protect our rights and our spectrum through work with young people in schools than we have by lobbying alone.

Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC

YOTA 2021 ISS Contact

I had the pleasure of serving as the ARISS contact moderator for the Youth On The Air (YOTA) 2021 Camp’s contact with the International Space Station (ISS) using Amateur Radio today. Young Hams spent the week at the Voice of America Bethany Relay Station in West Chester, OH engaging in a variety of Amateur Radio Activities. Ruth Willet, KM4LAO was the host for YOTA 2021 and provided an excellent pre-contact program. The West Chester Amateur Radio Association partnered with YOTA 2021 Camp group to help them with YOTA 2021 activities and their ISS contact. You can view a video of the YOTA 2021 Camp’s contact with astronaut Aki Hoshide, KE5DNI on the International Space Station (ISS) by clicking on the video above.

Working with a school or group to help young people make contact with an astronaut on the ISS using Amateur Radio is a great way to build a lasting relationship around Amateur Radio with young people and their teachers and mentors. In my role as an ARISS Mentor and Ground Station, I have had the pleasure to help with nine of these contacts around the world over the last several years. In every case, local Ham Radio clubs partnered with the school or group to provide STEM learning experiences based on Amateur Radio. Helping a school or group make contact with the astronaut on the ISS provides a memorable experience for everyone involved.

You can learn more about the ARISS contact program here or contact me at [email protected].

Fred, AB1OC

Growing Amateur Radio through Mentoring

Radio Clubs as Mentors - GOTAs at Schools

Amateur Radio clubs and individual hams have always played an important role as Mentors for new and less experienced hams. There is probably no better time in our history to redouble our efforts in this area than now. I wanted to share a few thoughts and successful programs that I’ve been involved in to bring new people into Amateur Radio through mentoring.

Programs in Schools

Getting students on the air at Hudson Memorial School

Middle and High School faculty members are looking for practical STEM learning opportunities for their students. Amateur Radio can be the basis for many learning programs of this type. Wireless communications, satellites, electronics, computers, and many other STEM topics can be taught in a way that is grounded in Amateur Radio.

A great way to begin is to support career days or STEM learning events at local schools. Providing a hands-on opportunity at a school STEM club or Electronics club can also be a good way to develop a relationship with a local school.

Karen, KC1KBW - Facalty Member and STEM Education Leader at Bishop-Guertin H.S. — Karen, KC1KBW – Faculty Member and STEM Education Leader at Bishop-Guertin H.S.

It’s important to find a faculty member to work with to develop these programs. An interested teacher is an essential partner in developing and delivering quality educational experiences through Amateur Radio.

Teachers serve as important role models for their students. It’s a good idea to provide opportunities through classes and mentoring to teachers who are interested in earning their Amateur Radio licenses.

You might consider developing a STEM learning program around a hands-on Amateur Radio related activity. As an example, we’ve created a program around High-Altitude Balloons that carry Amateur Radio telemetry transmitters. We’ve worked with local teachers to develop 12 hours of classroom material covering the physics, weather science, wireless communications, and flight prediction modeling associated with weather balloons. We’ve delivered this program in 4 local schools and reached several hundred students. These programs have led to many students and their teachers becoming licensed hams.

Similar programs can be created around kit-building and related electronics activities, space and wireless communications, modern digital communications technology, and more.

Consider Supporting a Contact with an Astronaut on the ISS

Student Q&A with an Astronaut on the ISS via Amateur Radio

One of the most effective ways to develop a relationship with a school is to work with a school to make a contact with an Astronaut on the ISS. The ARISS organization provides tools and support for arranging and holding these contacts. Schools work with a sponsoring Amateur Radio Club or group and are required to make a significant commitment to STEM learning related to Amateur Radio and Space Science in order to secure a Contact with an astronaut on the ISS. Working closely with a school provides a great opportunity to work with young people to develop an interest in Amateur Radio.

Treat Your Field Day as a Mentoring Opportunity

Field Day presents many opportunities for mentoring new and less experienced Hams. In addition to a Get On The Air (GOTA) station, it affords many opportunities to invite folks to learn about and participate in a broad range of station building and operating activities. You can read more about such opportunities here.

Help a Ham to Get On The Air

ARRL Rookie Roundup Ops – New Hams getting On The Air

Many new Hams earn a license and then find it difficult to find someone to Mentor them and help them to get started on the air. Barriers include Mic fright, difficulties getting an antenna up and gaining access to a radio that they can use, concerns that they don’t know how to make contacts on the air, etc. This is an area where clubs and individual hams can contribute a great deal. Invite a new ham to your station for an operating session. Sponsor an entry in the ARRL Rookie Roundup or a DX contest to introduce contesting.

Sponsoring an on-the-air event around ARRL Kids Day and similar events are also great ways to introduce young people to Amateur Radio.

Young People Experience Amatuer Radio at AB1OC-AB1QB — Young People Experience Amateur Radio at AB1OC-AB1QB

All it takes to create opportunities like these is for a club member or an individual ham to open their station for a day and secure the help and support of a few other friends to help put on an event. These activities are great fun and produce many cherished memories of the participant’s first experiences on the air.

Events like these often form the basis of strong mentoring relationships with new hams. This then leads to opportunities to help folks put their first station together and get on the air.

Summing it all up

The video above shares more about activities that Clubs and individual hams might consider to bring new people into Amateur Radio and help them develop and grow their skills. Amateur Radio can change lives for the better by providing lifelong learning opportunities, helping to develop valuable skills, and creating great friendships. I hope that you’ll consider how you can help.

Fred, AB1OC

Field Day as a Mentoring Opportunity

I want to share some thoughts about the mentoring and learning opportunities that Field Day can provide.

I’d like to encourage hams planning Field Day operations to consider opportunities to mentor new and experienced hams alike as part of their Field Day operations. Field Day provides us with a unique opportunity to provide mentoring and on-the-air amateur radio experiences for folks who are new to our hobby as well as those looking to learn and develop their skills.

Mentoring Through Field Day Station Building

One good way to mentor is to involve new and less experienced folks in the building of your Field Day station. This is a major draw for many new and less experienced hams as it affords them the opportunity to work alongside more experienced folks and gain hands-on experience with equipment that they may not have access to on their own.

Connor, KC1GGX Building a Field Day Network

Young people and many new hams have unique skills that they can contribute to your Field Day operation. One example that we have included here is to network our logging computers so we can execute passes and share log data among all of our stations as we operate. This involves setting up a Data Network at our Field Day operation. Setting up a network is a great opportunity for young hams at Field Day to utilize their unique skills to contribute to your operation.

Mentoring through Top-Notch Operating Experiences

It is especially important to reward new folks who help you build your Field Day stations with some premium operating time on the stations that they contributed to building. This combination will likely result in a new ham coming back to your group to participate in other activities as they continue to learn.

Setting up digital stations at Field Day is another excellent way to provide quality operating experiences for new hams and especially for young people. Many folks who come to your Field Day operation will likely have excellent computer skills and the energy they bring will produce some impressive additions to your score. We have seen our digital teams at our Field Days match the score of some of the best CW operators in the world and demonstrate some advanced operating abilities during Field Day such as operating multiple stations at the same time.

Ryan, KC1KJS Operating 20m SSB at Field Day

There is almost nothing that we can do during Field Day that is more important than to provide a young ham or a less experienced ham with a top-notch on-air experience. It’s a good idea to reserve some operating time on your best stations and modes for new folks. Spending some time with someone less experienced to help them operate on 20m SSB on Saturday afternoon will create an interest level for a new ham that is hard to match any other way. More importantly, you will send the message that you and your group are committed to helping young people and new folks become accomplished hams through mentoring.

Your GOTA Station as a Skill Builder

Get On The Air Stations are the classic way that many Field Day groups provide on-the-air mentoring. It’s important to have an effective and patient mentor who is dedicated to your GOTA station and to creating a great on-air experience for the folks who operate your GOTA station. Also, consider involving your enthusiastic GOTA ops in additional activities along with your experienced operators on your other Field Day stations.

Mentoring While Passing Message Traffic

Message Passing at Field Day — Sterling, AK1K Mentoring folks on Message Traffic Handing at Field Day

Do you do handle Message Traffic at Field Day? This can be a great way to involve new hams with a Tech License in Field Day operations. An experienced mentor can easily help a group of new hams have a great time during a message traffic handling activity at Field Day. Encourage folks to bring their HTs and use them during this part of your operation.

Mentoring while Operating at Home

What if you are planning to operate from your home station for Field Day? You can invite a new ham or a family member or friend who is curious about amateur radio to operate your station during Field Day with you. Just be sure to practice good COVID-19 safety when doing this.

You may also find that working with new folks will enhance your enjoyment of Field Day as well as contribute to your operating contacts. A team operating experience with one person operating and another logging can be great fun. You can also take turns operating your home stations to create a memorable Field Day experience.

The Mentoring Centric Field Day Experience

Media Coverage of a mentoring-centric Field Day (click to play)

The video above shows an example of a mentoring-centric Field Day. We thank WMUR Channel 9 for covering Field Day. This puts Amateur Radio in a very positive light and lets hams around your group know that you are committed to helping new hams to learn and develop their skills through mentoring.

73,

Fred, AB1OC