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ARRL Products: Help for Beginners (More) The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual -- All you need to become an Amateur Radio Operator. Get your FIRST ham radio license! Now including a guide for Choosing the Right Radio! Basic Radio -- FINALLY--an introduction to radio FOR EVERYONE!--what it does and how it does it. Getting Started with Ham Radio -- Get on the air now! A guide to your first Amateur Radio station. Online Course: The ARRL Ham Radio License Course -- Prepare for your first Amateur Radio license! Understanding Basic Electronics -- This book provides a stepping-stone to learning electronics. With the foundation it helps you create, you'll be ready to learn more advanced concepts.

The South Florida FM Association and the Dade Radio Club of Miami have been fortunate to have Joe Chwick, AC4TV, serve as "Elmer" to dozens, if not hundreds, of hams. With Joe's encouragement we became a 100% Ham Family--my wife Phyllis, KF4FIL, daughter Philene, KD5EJY, and son Philip, KD4PXD.

Joe conducts training classes for all licenses--Technician to Extra Class--at the Jewish Community Center and the County Emergency Operations Center, in Miami-Dade County. He does this at no cost to the student and without compensation.

Chwick is a certified RACES and ARES Radio Operator, as well as a Community Emergency Response Team Member. He provides special on-air training sessions and trains the network controllers for emergency network operations and special events.

A qualified Radio Merit Badge counselor, Joe volunteers his services to the Annual Merit Badge College of the South Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He is one of the organizers of Citizens' Ham Mobile/Marine Patrol--cosponsored by the Miami-Dade Police Department, Citizens'/Youth Crime Watch of Miami-Dade, and the South Florida FM Association. CHAMP provides information regarding emergency situations to the County's 911 facilities. Along with representatives of the Miami-Dade Police department, Joe trained hams in CHAMP communications procedures. To date, more than 250 Amateur Radio operators have completed CHAMP training.

In the summer Joe serves as a volunteer counselor at the JCC Summer Camp, teaching youngsters about radio as a hobby. Joe is in his late seventies. Perhaps it's his patient and motivational manner that has brought so many youngsters and adults into the Amateur Radio community.

Joe Chwick reflects every facet of the Amateur Radio Elmer, and through his service to the community, has earned the title South Florida Elmer.--Sam Harte, KQ4MR