Operating

Clubs / Ham Outreach / Innovation / Operating / RI Section Manager Newsletter / STEM

Nearby World Amateur Radio Open House Events, April 16-21+, 2025

- by Nancy Austin

https://www.arrl.org/open-house

Saturday April 19, 2025 

The Providence Radio Association (W1OP) invites you to an ARRL World Amateur Radio Open House at the PRA this Saturday April 19th, 2025 – 10am to 2pm.

This will be another open house where members and the public will see what the Providence Radio Association is all about.  Come see the clubhouse, our rooftop log-periodic antenna and get on the air.  Hope to see you there! https://w1op.com/

Clubhouse GPS location: 30 Ludlow Street, Johnston RI 02919 – on top of historic Neutaconkanut Hill

 

Friday April 18, 2025

https://www.arrl.org/exam_sessions/

W1AQ is  offering another in-person licensing exam Friday evening,  April 18, 2025. Interested to learn more? Reach out. Or just visit them at their clubhouse in the Rumford section of East Providence, RI. 

Contact: Martin Dean Chapman, Email: [email protected]

Remember: there is no Morse Code requirement for getting an  Amateur Radio license.

 

Wednesday April 16, 2025 (Zoom)

The Virtual National Traffic Training Net (VNTN)

https://nts2.arrl.org/2025/03/15/virtual-nts-training-net/

Get started on Radiograms – all levels and license classes welcome. Structured communication basics + practice for Field Day bonus points

VNTN Virtual NTS Training Net: 7pm in April; moving to 8pm in May

The RI Section is SHORT on traffic handlers! Learn the basics and help out once a week or month as you are able. 

More on Radiograms and the National Traffic System: 

  • https://nts2.arrl.org
  • https://nts2.arrl.org/radiogram/

 

Friday April 18, 2025 1-3pm

Nearby Bridgewater State University in the Eastern MA Section is holding an Open House on World Amateur Radio Day, April 18, 2025.  Paul Fredette, K1YBE  from the Newport County Radio Club (NCRC) shared the following invitation. For more information and to RSVP,  please contact him at [email protected]

“Every April 18, radio amateurs worldwide take to the airwaves in celebration of World Amateur Radio Day.  

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU, https://www.iaru.org/) is celebrating its centenary in 2025 so a special focus year for us. 

Since its founding on April 18 in Paris, France, IARU has worked to promote innovation in amateur radio and to encourage the growth of the service in communities throughout the world.

We invite you to come on Friday April 18 and experience an Amateur Radio shack on the Bridgewater State (MA) campus in DMF room 290 from 1 pm to 3 pm. In addition to getting on the radio, you can compose a Radiogram for delivery to anyone worldwide and find out how to get your Amateur Radio License.

 

Saturday – Monday April 19-21, 2025

630 meter expedition for planned first RI activation 

Historic 630m (472–479 kHz) RI activation planned for this Saturday to Monday by Eric NO3M, traveling from Pennsylvania  to Burlingame Campground in Rhode Island. The goal is to complete “Worked All States – and help everyone that wants that coveted QSO from little Rhode Island. https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?attachments/630m-was-list-19aug24-pdf.1223859/

He will be operating “FST4 – a 4-GFSK extreme weak-signal amateur radio communications mode, designed especially for the MF and LF bands.” https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/FST4

Eric NO3M previously earned a distance award for 630m: New 630-Meter Distance Record Claimed

That 2019 contact “represented the culmination of 2 years of effort: “Hopes were wearing thin as we were moving away from the recent equinox on September 23,” he said. “Even when the path may have been open over the past 3 weeks, either end would be plagued with QRN.” He said that while the opening that facilitated the record-breaking contact was not comparably as strong as past openings, “something special was obviously at play.” The contact covered 9,307.5 miles (14,979 kilometers), topping the previous record of 8,351.9 miles set by Roger Crofts, VK4YB, and Kenneth Roberson, K5DNL, by nearly 1,000 miles. 

Tichansky said his transmit antenna is a 67-foot top-loaded vertical, and the receive antenna is a full-sized eight-circle array comprised of short verticals. The transmit/receive at VK4YB is a linear-loaded vertical.”

For more on the 630 meter Amateur Band privileges that opened in 2017, see:

“It’s a big win for the Amateur community and the ARRL,” ARRL CEO Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, said. “We are excited by the FCC’s action to authorize Amateur Radio access for the first time on the MF and LF spectrum. As amateurs begin using these new allocations in the next few weeks, we encourage the entire Amateur Radio community, as secondary users, to be especially attentive to the rules.”

It has not been an easy win, however. ARRL has been trying since the 1970s to convince the FCC to allow amateur access to parts of the spectrum below the Standard Broadcast Band. Through the Utilities Telecoms Council (UTC), electric power utilities have opposed Amateur Radio use of the MF and LF spectrum, raising unsubstantiated fears of interference to unlicensed Part 15 power line carrier (PLC) systems used to manage the power grid. The FCC said the Amateur Radio service rules it has adopted for 630 meters and 2,200 meters allow for co-existence with PLC systems that use the two bands.

April is Citizen Science Month – Contribute to One Million Acts of Science

https://scistarter.org/citizensciencemonth-report

ARRL has teamed up with HamSCI — Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation — and the science community organization SciStarter to invite the public to participate in One Million Acts of Science during April, which is Citizen Science Month. By hosting a Ham Radio Open House at your group’s station in April, you’ll introduce individuals who might never otherwise find out about today’s amateur radio where science and technology intersect with fun and learning. Clubs are encouraged to showcase the latest weak-signal modes, such as FT8 using WSJT-X or other digital modes. This could be a great opportunity to explore new areas of amateur radio and demonstrate how the service is at the cutting edge of electrical engineering.

HamSCI and SciStarter Collaborations

HamSCI (hamsci.org) has built a community by connecting radio amateurs and citizen scientists in ionospheric research. The Solar Eclipse QSO Parties held during the 2023 annular eclipse and the 2024 total solar eclipse provided significant data for researchers studying the ionosphere’s response to the eclipses, wrapped into fun operating events.   SciStarter is working to engage people from all walks of life in one million acts of science during Citizen Science Month in April (scistarter.org/citizensciencemonth), to promote public participation in scientific research. ARRL’s Ham Radio Open House provides a unique opportunity to help achieve that goal.

 

Clubs / Contesting / Operating / RI History

September 2024 VHF Contest Underway

- by Nancy Austin

VHF Contest Underway on famous Chopmist Hill

Curious to learn more about a club operating up to 1.2GHz voice, digital and CW on the famous Chopmist Hill? Check out Fidelity Amateur Radio Club, operating as W1MB, until Sunday afternoon September 15, 2024 at 985 Chopmist Hill Rd, Scituate, RI 02857. Say hello to Jason, AA1VV; Nick, KC1DWH ; Mike, KC1UHZ; Bernie, WI1I; Ken, K1KT; Jeremy, K1JST; and more. https://contests.arrl.org/sepvhf/

Setting up earlier Saturday 14 September 2024
Site set-up team included Jason, AA1VV; Nick, KC1DWH ; Mike, KC1UHZ

Chopmist Hill Listening Post History

More on the history of Rhode Island’s Chopmist Hill as a famous listening post in WWII linked again here:

https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/chopmist-hill-rhode-islands-secret-listening-post-in-wwii/

https://youtu.be/JkTW–EFY8Y

June 2024 VHF Contest – Raw Scores posted

  • Fidelity Amateur Radio Club (W1MB) 
  • WB2VVV, John C. ‘Chris’ Fagas, Foster, RI 
  • Providence Radio Association (W1OP)
  • K1NPT, Mike Cullen, Newport, RI
  • WA1LAD for WA1USA

  • https://contests.arrl.org/rawscores.php
  • https://contests.arrl.org/
BVARC / Consortium / Licensing, Education & Training / Operating

Monday May 6th Consortium training on IC-7300

- by Nancy Austin

Long-time RI Section Manager Bob Beaudet, W1YRC  wrote:

Greetings:

The next Consortium is Monday at 7:00 PM. Jim will present a summary of the function controls on an IC-7300 and how to use them.

They are fairly representative of controls on other radios and Jim’s comments should be widely helpful.
As always, the Consortium will be held at the Manville Sportsmen’s Club, 250 High St., Manville, RI.
See you there.

73,

Bob Beaudet, W1YRC
Innovation / Operating

History Matters: Samuel B. Morse statue unveiled April 1871

- by Nancy Austin

Scott Tillotson, WX1X wrote about his recent visit to see the Samuel F.B. Morse statue in New York City’s Central Park East: 5th Ave and E. 72nd St.

Scott, WX1X wrote:

This statue was unveiled in April 1871 in celebration of his 80th birthday. Samuel Morse was there at the time and took the occasion to “broadcast” a telegraph message across the country and to thank all the telegraph operators who gave their donations for this statue for this occasion.

His left hand is on a morse code-tape printing machine and his right is holding a portion of the tape output.

Samuel B. Morse statue in NYC. Photos courtesy of Scott Tillotson, WX1X (longtime RI-ARES Net Manager).
Careers / Clubs / Operating / STEM / Youth

ARRL School Roundup Updates

- by Nancy Austin

Despite Tuesday’s blizzard,  Rhode Island stations got on the air to participate daily, Monday to Wednesday February 12-14, 2024.  Here are updates and what to expect before this Roundup wraps on Friday 7pm February 16, 2024.

W1KMV – University of Rhode Island

Special thanks to URI amateur radio club call sign trustee, Brian Maynard, K1NW for operating as W1KMV during Tuesday’s storm and then again Wednesday to make QSOs with dozens of schools and individuals. Highlights included contact with the Cornell Club station, W2CXM, where he was station master for several years in the 1980s.  Brian, K1NW reported having a great time contacting young operators at several school stations, mostly  on 20m with excellant band conditions. (W1KMV may be back on the air Th/Fri to bring this ARRL School Roundup to the finish line. Standby! Keep an eye on https://www.dxwatch.com/)

URI Faculty Brian Maynard, K1NW operated the URI call sign during Tuesday’s heavy snowstorm.

Interested in helping revitalize the URI student Amateur Radio Club? Reach out to Brian Maynard here: https://web.uri.edu/pse/meet/brian-maynard/

N1ASA – RI STEM Middle School

All Saints STEAM Academy (Middletown, RI) M to Th 3-4:30pm
  • After-School Club Lead: Mike Cullen, K1NPT operating as N1ASA

Thanks to its lively Middle School amateur radio club enthusiastically led for a decade by Newport’s Mike Cullen, K1NPT, the All Saints STEAM Academy in Middletown, Rhode Island is a long-time ARRL Club Roundup participant. This year was no exception. Mike, K1NPT really understands how to match the exuberant curiosity of middle school students to radio hands-on learning puzzles.

Many thanks to the RI hams who reached out to make an “Individual” Roundup QSO with these eager students on Monday and Wednesday.  (School was canceled Tuesday due to snow.)

TODAY is Thursday Feb 15th, and it’s not too late to listen for their N1ASA CQ at 4pm on 2m SIMPLEX 146.550. Or look for N1ASA on a dx spotting site on 20m or 40m SSB today between 3-4:30pm.  Huge thanks to the RI hams who took time to chat with these confident, cheerful young operators who sounded like they were having SO much fun!

Interested in helping Mike K1NPT mentor youth in radio across the state? Reach out to Mike Cullen here: [email protected]

Individual Roundup Operator Experience

This was my first time participating in any ARRL School Club Roundup, and it’s easy to see why this is such a beloved opportunity to encourage youth and college clubs.  Operating from my home QTH for about an hour each day (mostly between 3pm to 6pm on 20m, 40, 15m SSB and 2M FM Simplex) it was great fun to talk with experienced student operators at college clubs including University of Wisconsin, W9YT and Michigan State, W8SH.  And also the many Middle and High School new operators across the country (CO, SC, TX, IN, OK, GA, RI). A surpise to me was the opportunity to log a QSO with the almost 40% of Middle or High student operators I contacted who were young women.

K1D -Brown University Radio Amateur

The snowstorm, sickness and technical difficulties contributed to the challenges getting this call sign on the air before the expected Brown University, K1D ARRL School Roundup activation push planned for Thursday 3pm to Friday 7pm.  Keep an eye on https://www.dxwatch.com/

As a Brown alum, my plan is to be out there offering QSOs on 20m and 40m SSB to support this initiative. So don’t be surprised to hear Nancy, KC1NEK operating briefly today and tomorrow as K1D as we plan forward revitalizing the Brown Amateur Radio Club.

Interested in helping revitalize the Brown University student Amateur Radio Club? Reach out to Jose Sandoval, KC1TWM, a Brown student and the club revitalization contact: [email protected]

Fall ARRL School Roundup & JOTA synergy?

The next ARRL School Roundup is scheduled for M-F October 21-25, 2024 (The third full school week of October2024.) This would seem like a synergistic  follow-up to the weekend of amateur radio upskilling planned for the annual Scouting Jamoboree on the Air (JOTA), taking place “the third full weekend in October” – or Sat/Sun October 19-20, 2024.

Meanwhile, hope to see the Brown and URI Collegiate Clubs doing well, with hams stepping up to help. Hope to hear you on the air, even today, as we mentor and offer encouragement to others.

73, Nancy Austin, KC1NEK – RI Section Manager ([email protected])

Careers / Clubs / Operating / STEM / Youth

Support URI, Brown, & Steam Academy during ARRL School Roundup QSO Week

- by Nancy Austin

ARRL School Roundup Feb 12-15, 2024

Momentum is underway revitalizing Rhode Island’s collegiate clubs and K-12 after school amateur radio clubs. Please hunt these ARRL School Roundup call signs this week and spread the word. Let’s put RI innovators on the map. Help hunt all schools participating. Check for “School Club Roundup” on DX spotting websites, like https://www.dxwatch.com/

RI Best Dates/Times – possible frequencies- but check https://www.dxwatch.com/ 

  • Tues Feb 13, 2024 3:30-4:30pm + Wed 3-6pm
  • 20m (14.250-280 MHz) & 40m (7.225-255 MHz) – per ARRL
    Phone (MHz): 1.855-1.865; 3.850-3.880; 7.225-7.255; 14.250-14.280; 21.300-21.330; 28.440-28.460  [check https://www.dxwatch.com/ ]
  • Monday update: Lots of schools participating, especially on 20m.

Exchange: (Plan is to use “S” for School) So expect this exchange: N1ASA or W1KMV or K1D,  Signal report, Class (“School”), U.S. State = RI (Multi-operator group stations must choose one call sign to use for the whole operating period.)

Scoring: Stations may be contacted once per band and mode | Multiplier: [Number of U.S. States plus Canadian Provinces/Territories plus DX countries/entities] plus 2× [Number of Clubs contacted] plus 5× [Number of Schools contacted].

N1ASA

All Saints STEAM Academy (Middletown, RI) M*,T*,W,Th 3-4:30pm –  N1ASA
  • Team Lead: Mike Cullen, K1NPT operating as N1ASA
  • Confirmed 12-15 Feb (Mon*, Tues*, Wed, Thurs) each day in the 3PM to 430PM window., SSB on 40M and 20M.  (* Possible only elementary school students students Monday; * likely no ops on Tues due to expected snow closure)
    Can you please get the word out to RI hams that each day Feb 12, 13, 14, 15  at 4PM,   the students will call CQ on 146.55 simplex and I’ll have students track the RI towns contacted.
  • Other:  Send us a small (10Kb or less) picture of your  operations via Winlink  and we’ll send one in return.  Use Winlink address of K1NPT.
  • Monday Feb 12th update: Day #1 a success on 20/40m and calling CQ at 4pm on Simplex across the state/region to map this form of resilient radio communicaton. Tuesday ops canceled due to the snowday and storm. Will be back Wed!

W1KMV

UNIVERSITY of RHODE ISLAND (URI), Confirmed T Feb 13, 2024 3:30-4:30pm + Wed 4:30-6pm / 20m (14.250-280 MHz) & 40m (7.225-255 MHz) – W1KMV
  • Team Lead: Brian Maynard, K1NW operating as W1KMV – URI Faculty & Call Sign Trustee
  • Asa McQueen, KE0HFF operating as W1KMV – former & future URI Physics Dept student and ongoing member of the 102nd Cyber Ops Squadron at Quonset
  • Chris Lirakis, AA9AL operating as W1KMV – Adjunct Faculty, Physics Dept (Quantum)

Favorite Sound Byte : “Quantum is just engineered RF (radio frequency) pulses and ham radio is an enabling way to learn … just so much!”  Chris Lirakis, AA9AL 

“Ham Radio is a Gateway to Technology”

K1D

BROWN University, Providence RI –  T Feb 13, 2024 3:30-4:30pm + Wed 4:30-6pm / 20m (14.250-280 MHz) & 40m (7.225-255 MHz) – K1D
  • Team Lead: Jose Sandoval, KC1TWM, operating as K1D – Brown student and club revitalization contact 
  • Adam Paul, KC1KCC, operating as K1D – Linux Admin, Brown staff
  • Jeremy Taylor, K1JST,  operating as K1D – ARRL RI Section Team SEC and mentor
  • Don Stanford KV4DN, operating as K1D – Brown Faculty and Brown Alum 


New Technician-class licensed radio amateur Jose Sandoval, KC1TWM operating during Winter Field Day January 2024. Brown University double major in Computer Science and Portuguese & Brazilian Studies.  Please reach out to Jose, KC1TWM if you want to get involved revitalizing the Brown Amateur Radio Club now!

STANDBY!

Rhode Island and Regional collaborative inspiration underway.  It’s not too late to see if your school can act quickly to participate and join the fun! Do you know who among students, faculty, staff, and alum are the licensed amateur radio operators – always ready to get on the air and help with communications? 
NEW – Bridgewater State (MA) Physics and Optical Engineering Dept – [K1YBE]
  • Team Lead: Paul Fredette, K1YBE (NCRC VP & BSU Adjunct Physics Faculty) 
  • Confirmed Wed Feb14 from  3-5pm on likely 20m (14.250-280MHz) & 40m (7.225-255) – CHECK  https://www.dxwatch.com/ ]
ARES / Emergency Communications / Operating / Public Service

2024 Boston Marathon Still In Need of Amateur Radio Volunteers – Volunteer Registration Extended Until End of Day Sunday 2/11/24

- by Nancy Austin

Rob Macedo, KD1CY & the BAA Amateur Radio Communications Committee write:

The 2024 Boston Marathon is still in need of Amateur Radio Volunteers. Therefore, Amateur Radio volunteer registration for the 2024 Boston Marathon has been extended until end-of-day Sunday 2/11/2024. Register now at register.hamradioboston.org! If you are unsure if you can volunteer but are interested in volunteering, please register now and just let us know within a reasonable amount of time if you ultimately can’t volunteer! Thanks to all for their support!

73,  Rob Macedo, KD1CY and the BAA Amateur Radio Communications Committee

Exercise / Operating / RI ARES

RI ARES and FEMA Winlink exercises in January

- by Nancy Austin
[updated, including comments/photo at end, 25Jan2024]
RI ARES Winlink Exercise

The RI ARES weekly net for January 23, 2024 was a Winlink challenge prompt exercise. Who could respond quickly to a request to provide situational awareness information within a five hour window? Unannounced exercises like this help demonstrate an ARES member’s self-initiative and readiness to take follow-through action despite short notice, and capably provide the desired structured communication.  We have the shared goal of building a community of prepared RI ARES radio amateurs.

Jeremy Taylor, K1JST – the RI ARES Section Emergency Coordinator – offered the Winlink challenge exercise net as a further opportunity for RI hams to develop their Winlink skills and ask for futher mentoring if needed.  Here is the request K1JST sent out yesterday to the RI ARES mailing list:

“Send a WINLINK message to K1JST [@winlink.org] with the following information:

  • Subject: RI ARES Digital Net Check-in
    Body: Exercise – Exercise – Exercise
    Call Sign
    Current Location (City)
    Current Outdoor Temperature
    Source of your Current Outdoor Temperature
    How you are sending this message. Include Application, Radio and Band/Mode or specify Telnet (that’s ok too).

I’ll also announce this net on the repeater Network at 7:30pm tonight. … Check-ins received after midnight tonight will be considered late check-ins.”

The successful check-ins included two from Newport County – including Mike Cullen K1NPT from his reinstalled VARA-FM node at All Saints Academy. (Maybe a follow-up tour? See Post update at end). Two stations were from Kent County, and two from neighboring Massachusetts.

If you would like to join the RI ARES mailing list for future net exercise “heads-up” announcements, please send an email to: https://riares.org/membership 

FEMA Region One 2024 Winlink Exercise Underway

Gaining awareness of Winlink capabilites in Rhode Island (and across FEMA Region One) was the motivation behind a new 2024 series of monthly unannounced “thunderbolt” Winlink exercises that FEMA Region One began earlier this month for the amateur radio community.

During the initial January exercise, 47 stations signed up and almost 90% responded to the unannounced request for secific situational awareness information. Rhode Island amateurs represented almost 20% of those stepping up in the time window assigned.

Shout out to: Jason AA1VV;  Mike K1NPT;  Mike KC1NEJ; Nancy KC1NEK; Corry KE1AK; John N1SXB; Teri W1UP; Michael KB5RWX.

For those interested in joining this training opportunity now before the February exercise, here is a repost of the original:

“FEMA Region 1 will begin conducting monthly Winlink tests starting January 2024. The purpose of this test is to exercise the Regional PACE plan, Winlink is part of the “Emergency” category of the plan. We would like to include Amateur Radio and SHARES stations in New England in this test. Here are the details:

Testing Procedure: Each month FEMA Region 1 Disaster Emergency Communications Branch will generate a Winlink message to participating stations. The message will be sent via Winlink through an Amateur Radio or SHARES gateway. The message will contain simple instructions on how to reply – which form to use, information requested, response time, etc. The receiving stations will reply to FEMA Region 1 via Winlink with the requested information within a set timeframe. The date and time of the monthly test will vary.

Participating Stations – Open to Amateur Radio or SHARES stations in New England. Stations must have Winlink capability and a valid Winlink email address. Participating operators should be aware that this test is conducted without announcement, so it is important that Winlink messages are checked regularly.

How to Sign Up – Stations wishing to participate can sign up online at https://forms.gle/sTibzJjZhftHXR4J9

Please feel free to share the above information with those who may be interested in participating. Any questions, let me know.

Thanks, Mike

Mike Corey – Emergency Management Specialist | Disaster Emergency Communications, Response Division | FEMA Region I

[email protected]

Federal Emergency Management Agency
fema.gov

Blog Post Update Thursday January 25, 2024

Mike Cullen, K1NPT shared this additional information about Winlink Stations in RI:

Important architecture “factoids” for more RI hams to understand:

  • three VHF gateways continue to operate 24 hrs/day on 145.050
  • they’ve been running since early 2021
  • they use VARA-FM, not Packet, and can be selected by Winlink clients as VARA FM digipeaters
  • WB4SON-10 North Kingstown
  • N1ASA-10 Middletown (photo attached) – solar-powered
  • K1NPT-10 Newport

Drones / Operating / Youth

Racing FPV micro drones in a Classroom

- by Nancy Austin

What’s motivating younger generations to get licensed and learn more about the Amateur Radio Technician-class bands? There is a whole community out there passionate about DIY building and flying First Person View (FPV) tiny drones (whoops) with streaming analog video. For more, keep an eye on https://ri-arrl.org/drones/

Today, Andrew Staub, KC1OKI shared this:

“This is a great fpv pilot flying tiny whoops in a classroom environment for fun.  I believe they are using analog video based on the Orca goggle and antennas.”

Operating / POTA / PRA

PRA & POTA’s Support Your Parks weekend

- by Nancy Austin
Intrepid Dave Steussie, W3DRE mentoring during last weekend’s POTA Support Your Parks.

The Providence Radio Association’s Dave Steussie, W3DRE is hooked on POTA and last weekend’s bitter cold didn’t stop him from offering his monthly Providence Radio Association POTA (Parks on the Air) Meet-Up. Indeed, when I joined the group near the RI-CT border at Pulaski State Park (K-7508), he and Dom Mallozzi,  N1DM were toasty in their heated tent and almost sweating as they racked up QSOs. As we look ahead to Winter Field Day, it was impressive to see the care Dave had taken to make portable operating enjoyable – in a park, or on a summit.  I’d be interested to hear more about a talk Dave, W3DRE gave on this topic to his club, the Providence Radio Association (PRA). Meanwhile, he shared stories about how visitors enjoy seeing the worldwide map of the QSOs he logs in real time using HAMRS.  His tent is warmed with a portable propane heater, but he also makes sure to have a carbon monoxide monitor to be safe. For this activation, W3DRE set up an EndFedz wire off of a 40′ telescoping Spiderbeam mast. But he is also prepared to do quick activations from his truck if that makes more sense.

The park was a winter wonderland with people cross-country skiing, dog walking, and active outdoors. Dave’s Eskimo tent and antenna drew curious visitors, and became an impromptu GOTA station. It’s a fabulous way to strike up a conversation with an inactive ham who suddenly thinks – wait! I want to get active on the air again so I can join in. Thank you, Dave, for your welcoming leadership on a chilly weekend.

Your inspiring example made a difference.

73, Nancy, KC1NEK