Ham Outreach

Ham Outreach / Operating / POTA

NCRC POTA demo helps new Generals GOTA

- by Nancy Austin

 

 “I learned more from your POTA demo today than I learned as a new ham over the last year! Thank you!” – Mike, KC1NFG (visiting Newport and welcomed to join in and GOTA.)

Today’s Newport County Radio Club (NCRC) POTA demo at Brenton Point Park was well attended by club members as well as a ham just passing by.  All were curious to jump in and learn how to quickly deploy a portable antenna and POTA setup to get on the HF bands quickly and make contacts. Jim Garman, KC1QDZ and Randy Jones, K8ZFJ were ideal mentors, helping some make their first POTA QSOs. 

From September 6-10, 2023, the NCRC is hosting a collaborative effort to activate all 52 RI POTA parks. For more information on POTA – Activate All RI and resources for getting started with Parks on the Air, please bookmark: https://ri-arrl.org/pota/

Ham Outreach / Public Service

Volunteer at Big E – the 6th largest fair in the nation Sept 15 -Oct 1, 2023 (free admission & parking)

- by Nancy Austin

As we head deeper into hurricane season, it is as important as ever to build state and regional connections, face to face, with other radio amateurs.

The Big E, formerly known as The Eastern States Exposition, is billed as “New England’s Great State fair.” It is the largest agricultural event on the eastern seaboard and the sixth-largest fair in the nation. In 2022, the Big E had 1.6 million visitors. 

For the second year, Larry Krainson, W1AST from western MA is leading an ambitious project to have an Amateur Radio booth staffed for the Fair’s duration by all the ARRL-affiliated clubs and individuals in New England. Last year, the BIG E featured an ISS-astronaut live chat. This year, Larry is again requesting support from RI. The ask is to support this major ham outreach and awareness project by signing up to cover 1 (or more) 6-hour shifts during the 10am-10pm period the New England Amateur Radio booth must be staffed each day for the 17 days the fair is open. Volunteers will be reimbursed for admission and parking. You can sign up individually, or carpool as a group from your club. Come experience what the Big E is all about while meeting other hams from across the region.

The sign up form is here:  bit.ly/45Cv6mn

More information on the Big E is here:

https://nediv.arrl.org/project-big-e/