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Over the years, in the pages of QST, countless letters and articles have been written about Elmers, those special people who were patient and interested, and thoroughly enjoyed bringing newcomers into the world of Amateur Radio. Maybe one of those newcomers was you? If so, then you know how discovering Amateur Radio at a young age made a difference in your life. Maybe it taught you how to build relationships with adults, gave you an edge in learning math and geography, or perhaps even put you on the path to a rewarding career.
Now there's a way that you can be part of a national program focused on bettering the lives of young people everywhere. You can do it through Amateur Radio in your community. And, ARRL can provide the game plan!
Earlier this year in Philadelphia, Pa., President Clinton and Former President Bush, other national political figures and people from communities across the country gathered at the "President's Summit for America's Future." The highly-publicized event was organized to kick off "America's Promise, the Alliance for Youth," a national, multi-year campaign to better the lives of the nation's young people and put them on the path for a bright and productive future. This praiseworthy objective stimulated the interest of many Amateur Radio operators, who understood Amateur Radio's spirit of volunteerism and commitment to youth. And that's why the ARRL Board of Directors authorized the creation of ARRL's "Radio Coaches" program to encourage more membership involvement in youth activities.
If your club chooses to participate, you'll be in good company. Until the year 2000, individuals, educational organizations and large and small companies around the United States are making the commitment to help ensure that young people have access to five critical resources: an ongoing relationship with a caring adult: mentor, tutor, coach; safe places and structured activities during non-school hours for learning and growing; a healthy start; a marketable skill through effective education; and an opportunity to give back through community service.
The types of commitments being pledged range from a bank that will give jobs to 500 local inner-city youth and provide volunteers for their schools, to an eighth grade class who will tutor local elementary school students to prepare them for their transition to middle school. The ARRL program focuses on the energy and ingenuity of our Affiliated and Special Service Clubs.
How does it work? From day one, we supply information to help your Affiliated or Special Service Club form a "coaching team." Your team will build a relationship with a local school, community organization or other institution from which you will recruit your "athletes." You will coach young people in your community on the basic elements of electronics and the magic of radio communication through exposure to Amateur Radio. In addition to students gaining experience with Amateur Radio, you may arrange field trips to technology museums, radio conventions and hamfests. Or you may choose to introduce students to local businesses such as radio/TV stations, airports, paging services, cellular telephone providers, police and radio dispatchers and others who use radio technology. Your job as a coach will be to make every member of your team more aware of how this experience can lead to career opportunities in the emerging world of telecommunications.
As team players ARRL will provide clubs with fliers to help recruit youngsters, curriculum materials and other informational resources necessary to make this program work for everyone. We'll also provide youth packages with handouts keyed to the curriculum materials and information on technical careers. We'll supply the strategy and you'll supply the energy and imagination.
Why "coaches"? Why "teams"? We want to reinforce the idea that Amateur Radio is a "sport for the brain," that can not only provide a lifetime of enjoyment, but also a lifetime career. Introducing a gentle note of competition will get your athletes excited about learning and get them thinking about pursuing an avocational interest in technology And, in this game everyone wins!
Together, our mission, through Amateur Radio, will be to give young people an ongoing relationship with a caring adult and a marketable skill through effective education.
ARRL's long-term program goal will be to recruit as many as 100 clubs into the Radio Coaches program. Each club would make the commitment to help at least 20 youngsters per school until the year 2000. With this plan, the Amateur Radio community could influence approximately 4000 students. ARRL will help support you during the time of your commitment and as the year 2000 draws closer, we'll be compiling a casebook on the most successful programs from around the country.
But it will only work if you put on your coaching hat. Enthusiastic Amateur Radio volunteers have the tools, the knowledge and the commitment to public service to make a valuable contribution to young people in your community. We hope you will start talking with your fellow hams and club members and together begin considering ways in which you can make a valuable contribution to this program and today's youth.
To learn more about the Summit and the Alliance for Youth program, see www.americaspromise.org. For more information on how you can get involved in our Radio Coaches program, contact "Radio Coaches" c/o Field Services Department, American Radio Relay League, 225 Main Street, Newington CT, 06111. Send e-mail to coaches@arrl.org.
