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![Previous (earlier) Story](/images/sty-down.gif ""Section News," Line Scores Moving from QST to Web; Great Lakes Director Steps Down"){kind=small} Previous: "Section News," Line Scores Moving from QST to Web; Great Lakes Director Steps Down |  Next: FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Letters for the Period Ending July 15, 2002 |
By Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT
Contributing Editor
July 23, 2002
Another Field Day has come and gone! This year's Field Day was my 10th as a Amateur Radio operator, and they all have been awesome. It was a real treat to spend this year's Field Day with my Elmer Jay Miller WA5WHN, who has been behind me every step along the way in this hobby.
 Father-son duo: Jim Kamphaus, N8SIM, logs for his son Jim "Max" Kamphaus, K8MAX (left), during the Greater Cincinnati Amateur Radio Association Field Day. |
I was first licensed at the age of 12 in 1992. At a Boy Scout meeting, Jay's son Jeremy, KB5OMD, brought in his 2-meter H-T (hand-held transceiver), and it caught my attention. He told me all about ham radio, what could be done with that little H-T and what was needed to be able to use it legally.
After that meeting I decided that this would be a cool thing to get involved in. Later, I met Jeremy's dad at another troop activity, and from that point on he made himself available to answer any kind of Amateur Radio questions.
After I became licensed, he sat down with my father and me to discuss the pros and cons of the various H-Ts on the market back then. When I upgraded to Tech Plus, he loaned me his Yaesu FT-747 HF transceiver and a dipole, so I could get on the air and enjoy my new privileges. He invited me to my first Field Day, and he helped me work as many stations as possible during the event.
Ever since then our families have become great friends. I've enjoyed his time and willingness to help when needed, and I honestly wonder if I would be licensed if it weren't for their commitment of time to help a rowdy 12 year old get his Amateur Radio ticket.
A common topic within the Amateur Radio community is the need for more young Amateur Radio operators. I firmly believe that this hobby needs more young people. Frankly, it alarms me that the average age of hams in the US--now in the 50s--is edging ever upward.
Today's world is a much different one than existed 30, 40 or 50 years ago, when Amateur Radio (and hobbies in general) tended to be more attractive to young people. Ham radio at that point also enjoyed a much greater "Gee whiz!" factor than it does in today's already technology-heavy environment. Game systems, the Internet, new things to do with friends after school and on weekends, sporting commitments and more vie for the time of today's youth as never before. This isn't a bad situation as far as the younger generation is concerned, but it is something that needs to be addressed if we Amateur Radio operators ever wish to get young people on the bands.
So I'm devoting this month's column to suggestions for attracting and engaging more young people in Amateur Radio. These are not the only solutions by any means; there is no "silver bullet" to this problem. But consider these as food for thought. I'm also interested in hearing your own suggestions and possible solutions too.
Become an Elmer!
Jay, WA5WHN, had a profound effect on me since 1992 when I first became licensed. He pushed me to become active in the ham community rather than getting my license and just disappearing--as many new licensees unfortunately do. I certainly wouldn't be where I am now if it weren't for him. Every person reading this column can provide the same positive influence on a young person as Jay did for me. Often, amateurs throw a copy of Now You're Talking! at young people interested in getting their licenses followed by the comment, "Study this and take your test." Instead, a little time and effort should be spent with anyone with a desire to become licensed. It shows them that people in the amateur community are interested in them and that they are welcome to join our ranks. It shows them that when they have a question or encounter a problem, other helpful hams will come up with an answer or a solution. Become an Elmer! Look around for someone who is interested in our hobby, and make a deal with yourself that you will devote whatever time necessary to ensure that person passes his or her exams and becomes an active Amateur Radio asset. It is well worth it!
 Elmering: John Blessing, N0YRL, assists Terri Cresap, KD5NG, during the Valencia County Amateur Radio Association Field Day. |
Ham Clubs Should Make Youth a Priority
Clubs can be effective because they are organized groups of people who share a passion for Amateur Radio. Contests, social activities, meetings and statewide linked repeater systems are possible because of clubs. How many more young people might be involved in our ham radio if clubs made them a priority? One way is for a club to create a youth promotion committee, whose primary purpose is to organize club programs intended to get youngsters licensed in their communities. Activities might include demonstrations at schools, setting up and operating a station at a mall, visiting Boy Scout troops and volunteering as "Radio" merit badge counselors (more than 75 percent of the badge is Amateur Radio-related), organizing a fun licensing school for school children and scouts, putting together a memorable Jamboree On the Air (JOTA) event each October and organizing a special club meeting where each member invites a young person (relative, neighbor, friend, etc). These kinds of activities are what bring youth to our hobby, and if a club considers youth a priority, it can be more effective than one person. What is your club's stance on youth promotion? Is it doing the job effectively? Create a list of ideas your club should adopt, and present them to the leadership at your next meeting! Volunteer to be that youth promotions chairman! It will make a difference.
Young Hams Should Be Visible!
Once licensed, every young ham should get on the air and become active in the Amateur Radio community. Doing so makes it apparent to other inactive or unlicensed youth that the hobby has young people within its ranks. If you tuned across the HF bands every day and never heard a QSO, would you be discouraged? I bet you would. If other young people hear you on the air, however, they'll be more likely to get on the air themselves. If young people see you active in the community as a club member, hamfest visitor or ARES member, they will want to do the same. It's as simple as flipping the switch on your radio and doing what your license allows you to do--talk on the air and get active in the ham community!
Young Ham Clubs Should Be Visible!
Youth ham clubs should be visible, too! Assemble at local hamfests and on-air activities like Field Day, so you are out in front of the ham community. Promote your meetings on all of your area's nets, and organize fun events that will attract new members and make younger members want to stay. Doing this will interest any young ham or potential ham who sees your club, and it also will interest the older hams so they will tell their children or young neighbors about you. On another note, a few months ago I posted message on QRZ.com and eHam.net to urge young hams to promote their hobby among their friends. Surprisingly, most of the public replies were about the need to start some young ham listserv on Yahoogroups or a Web or e-mail-based ham club. I respectfully disagree with those ideas, however, since they do more to promote the Internet than getting on the air and becoming active within the ham community. The Internet is great to conveniently inform members of club activities and such, but it is a bad place to establish a youth club. Base the club on visibility on the air and within the ham community. Doing so will interest more hams and send the right message to those who get their licenses.
 Letting a young person you know (neighbor, family member, friend) make some contacts of their own is an easy way to interest them into getting their license! This photo is from the 2001 K2BSA National Scout Jamboree operation. |
Share Some of Your Tools
The suggestions I've shared won't solve all of the problems associated with getting youth interested and involved in Amateur Radio. The real key is to make young hams a priority, researching what it takes to get youngsters involved in your local ham community, and devoting 110 percent of your efforts to make it happen. I invite you to share ideas that have worked in your club or ham community. E-mail me the details, and I can share them in future columns.
Whether you're 12 years old or 80, whether you have had your license for three months or 60 years, whether you're a club member or a club officer, let's give that 110 percent to promote our hobby to the young crowd in our areas. Let's Elmer them and ensure they become active members of the ham community. Doing so will make Amateur Radio much more enjoyable, and then some--it will ensure that ham radio will remain as awesome as it is now for the next 100 years.
I hope everyone is enjoying the summer. Get on the air and, as always, e-mail me to introduce yourself or offer topic suggestions. Until next time, 73!
Editor's note: ARRL Life Member Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico. A
21-year-old senior in electrical engineering at the University of New Mexico,
he was the 1999 ARRL Hiram Percy Maxim Award winner as well as the 1997 winner
of the Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award. He was first licensed in 1992 at
age 12 and holds an Amateur Extra class license. Brian enjoys CW, QRP
transmitter hunting, satellite operation, digital modes and, of course, just
speaking into the microphone. He's active in the Boy Scouts of America as an
assistant scoutmaster and a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow. Brian
welcomes visitors to his Web site.
Readers may contact him via e-mail, n5zgt@arrl.net.
| Previous: "Section News," Line Scores Moving from QST to Web; Great Lakes Director Steps Down | Next: FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Letters for the Period Ending July 15, 2002 |
