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 Previous: Today's Hams Must Nurture Newcomers, Haynie Tells Dayton ARRL Forum |  Next: FCC Chairman Responds to Request to Support ARRL Restructuring Plan |
 Norm Fusaro, W3IZ. |
NEWINGTON, CT, May 23, 2004--Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, is the newest member of the ARRL Headquarters family. As ARRL Affiliated Club/Mentor Program Manager, Fusaro--who joined the ARRL Field and Educational Services (F&ES) staff May 17--will be responsible for ARRL Affiliated Club support, as well as for inaugurating a volunteer mentor program and an enhanced volunteer instructor program. The position Fusaro's filling is a new one at Headquarters, and he plans to make the most of his past informal experience as an "Elmer"--or mentor--helping new licensees to get up and running in Amateur Radio.
"Something I did on the local level was to be the guy to go out there and extend a helping hand, offer some guidance, open the station up for visitors," said Fusaro, who notes that he would have liked similar support when he first got his ticket 20 odd years ago.
F&ES Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, says the League created Fusaro's position after recent survey results indicated that far too many new licensees either never get on the air at all or don't remain active. Many survey respondents indicated they needed help in getting active on the air or to learn new modes or get involved in other ham radio activities.
"We want people to enjoy Amateur Radio or to keep enjoying Amateur Radio," White said. "We hope to find ways to support clubs and individuals in mentoring activities." She believes Fusaro's background in retail sales and customer service--some of it in the electronics and computer field--will stand him in good stead in his new post. "His sales background helps him to look at what the 'ham customer' needs in terms of support and to think about ways to fulfill those needs," she said.
A native of the Philadelphia area, Fusaro is an avid contester and soon-to-be-former Frankford Radio Club member (he says he'll be joining the rival Yankee Clipper Contest Club now that he's living in New England). In addition to Elmering many new hams in the past, he's served as a club officer and leader for several years in the RF Hill Amateur Radio Club and taught ham radio licensing classes.
Fusaro says in his new position, he'll work with both clubs and individuals with a goal of establishing a network of mentors. "The goal is to get the newly licensed ham some practical guidance and maybe some hands-on training," he said, so they'll be spared the sort of frustration he experienced obtaining his license and in getting on the air.
One resource that he hopes to offer eventually is a Web mentoring database that new licensees can use to find assistance in their localities. "Much like the volunteer examination database," he said. Unabashedly passionate about Amateur Radio, Fusaro says he's looking forward to having an opportunity to now work with new amateurs on a professional level.
In addition to contesting, Fusaro enjoys ragchewing and RTTY. His favorite on-the-air events include the Pennsylvania QSO Party, the ARRL November Sweepstakes and the ARRL International DX Contest. He's an active HF mobile and portable operator too.
His wife, Debbie, is N3ZXF. The couple is purchasing a home in Bristol, Connecticut, where he's already scoped out the antenna prospects.
WB3IOS Moves to New F&ES Position
 Jean Wolfgang, WB3IOS. |
White recently announced another change within ARRL Field & Educational Services. Jean Wolfgang, WB3IOS, who's been on the Headquarters staff for seven years, has assumed a new position as Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) Program Specialist. In that position, she'll oversee all day-to-day activities to ensure the success of the League's on-line technical courses and Amateur Radio Emergency Communications classes.
Like Fusaro, Wolfgang also hails from Pennsylvania. White credits her with coming up with the idea to open registration for the on-line technical courses more often, to aid members in working the on-line courses into their schedules.
"She aids hundreds of members in registering for ARRL's on-line and hybrid emergency communications courses--Level I, Level II and Level III," White said, "and handles their progress through the receipt of graduation materials, including grant-reimbursement checks."
In her prior position, Wolfgang established the Youth Web pages, enhanced ARRL's support for ham radio and Scouting programs, such as the Jamboree On The Air, and she shepherded Kid's Day. She also oversaw the ARRL educational advisors and ARRL's annual educational awards.
Wolfgang's
husband Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, is an editor on the ARRL's Book Team and a
long-time Headquarters employee. Their son Dan develops electronic publications
in the League's Production Department.
| Previous: Today's Hams Must Nurture Newcomers, Haynie Tells Dayton ARRL Forum | Next: FCC Chairman Responds to Request to Support ARRL Restructuring Plan |
