Virginia Section of the ARRL October Section Manager’s Report (Covering September)

++Section Youth Coordinator Appointment++

I have recently appointed McKenzie Denton KO4GLN to serve as our Section Youth Coordinator. I think it goes without saying that she will have many challenges to face when it comes to recruiting todays’ generation into the Amateur Radio Service, but she’s already got a great start. Below are some excerpts from her biography. The full introduction will be posted on the ARRLVA.com site soon:

My name is McKenzie Denton, and I am writing to introduce myself as the incoming Section Youth Coordinator for Amateur Radio in the Commonwealth of Virginia. I am truly honored and excited to serve in this role and wanted to take a moment to share my background, ex-periences, and aspirations with you.
Amateur Radio Journey: I embarked on my amateur radio journey just three years ago, earning my Extra License in August 2020, my General License in October 2020, and my Technician License in April 2021. However, the impact of amateur radio on my life has been nothing short of transformative.

As a 16-year-old, I was faced with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought isolation and uncertainty into my life. It was during this time that I discovered amateur radio and its vibrant community. I enrolled in virtual classes offered by an amateur radio club and passed my Technician test. Soon, I found myself making contacts, forging friendships, and becoming an active member of the amateur radio family. These connections became my source of comfort and inspiration during those trying times.

Promoting Amateur Radio: One of my main goals is to attract and retain young operators by providing a fresh perspective. Emphasize the hands-on experience, from building and experimenting with radio equipment to making contacts worldwide. Showcasing the technological side of ham radio, including digital modes, satellite communication, and software-defined radios, aligning with their interest in modern technology.

Education and Skills: I am currently pursuing a degree in Biomedical Science (Pre-Med) at Old Dominion University. My academic achievements include a 4.0 GPA and other academic accolades. I am also a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and a qualified Medical Assistant and volunteer at the local trauma center.

In conclusion, I am passionate about amateur radio and committed to fostering its growth, especially among the youth. I am eager to collaborate with fellow enthusiasts, clubs, and organizations to promote amateur radio in Virginia and beyond. Please feel free to reach out to me at KO4GLN@arrl.net or (757) 560 3901 if you have any questions or suggestions.

Again, welcome aboard McKenzie!

++Affiliated Club Coordinator++

Mike WA8AHZ sends the following information:

W1AW/4 in Virginia:  Is operating ARRL’s Hiram Percy Maxium Memorial Station, W1AW in Newington, CT on your bucket list, but might not make it this year?  The next best option is to activate your own radio station as W1AW/4 for an hour or two from Oct 24-31!  The Chesapeake Amateur Radio Service is hosting the Section’s activation, and needs your help operating.  Details are at https://vota.w4car.org   You must create an account prior to accessing the sign up sheet.  Expect your access to the sign up website not later than the next morning by 8am.  Questions, contact vota@w4car.org

The Volunteers on the Air (VOTA) operating event continues for the entire calendar year, and W1AW/4 is currently ranked #2 on the ARRL VOTA leaderboard.  See: https://vota.arrl.org/leaderboard.php  Of course, this is the culminative of all the Sections in the 4 Call area activating as W1AW/4.  If you didn’t activate W1AW/4 (VA) in March, you still have another opportunity in late October.  

++Upcoming Events++

2023 OCT 29:  The Marine Corps Marathon is recruiting volunteer amateur radio operators. The Peoples’ Marathon – hosted by the US Marine Corps is on Sunday, October 29, 2023.  Over 23,000 runners are expected this year, and 150 Ham volunteers are needed to provide critical radio communications along the 10, 26 & 50 mile courses.   Volunteer sign up is open.  Go to:  www.hamcommunity.com/mcm-register

+++Richmond Marathon+++

2023 NOV 11

Hey y’all, I’m looking for operators for the Richmond Marathon on Nov. 11th! I need nearly 40 ops. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact me at:  W4PKR@ARRL.NET

In the subject line of your email, please include “2023 Richmond Marathon”, then, please tell me your name, call sign, your phone number and what, if any, experience you have operat-ing events. You
don’t need to be experienced for some of the positions (i.e. water stops), but for other posi-tions, I will need experienced ops. I particularly need Net Control Operators (I have a total of six slots, two of which are filled).

Operating events is fun, rewarding and it gives us real-world experience that is directly relat-able to emergency operations.
 
Thanks in advance and I look forward to hearing from you!

73 de W4PKR
Jim

+++Hamfests+++

For more information see: https://www.arrl.org/hamfests/search

We currently do not have a Section Convention host, and there are currently no other hamfests or conventions in the Commonwealth. Please submit any requests for an ARRL sanctioned event, go to http://arrl.org/arrl-sanctioned-events and follow the instructions there. Remember that all of the requests go through the Section Manager and the Division Director, so allow for plenty of time for these to be reviewed. Please reach out to me if you’d like to get your club (or combination of clubs) to host the Section Convention.

+++Contest Calendar+++

Don't forget our year-long Volunteers On The Air Event
https://vota.arrl.org

Start planning for the Virginia QSO Party now! Last year's VAQP was a great success, with many "rare" counties being activated for the first time in many years. I'm planning on getting the list and hitting up a few more of them this coming year. The Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club (SPARC) is the sponsor of this event, and I recommend you giving their website a visit.  https://www.qsl.net/sterling/uf1.htm

++Get On The Air (GOTA) For Life++

The final meeting for the ARRL VA GOTA For Life Design Team took place on Tuesday August 15,2023, at 7:00 PM via ZOOM. The subject of this meeting will concern children and how to keep them interested once they have their licenses. After this meeting, the Design Team and others who are interested will meet in November 2023, to hear the final report of the Design Team's findings. The GOTA for Life Design Team has met quarterly since May 2022 and has listened to speakers and discussed various ways to keep amateur radio operators on the air from the time they get their tickets until they become Silent Keys. For more information, contact Ed Gibbs KW4GF, Section Assistant Manager, at beachteach15@yahoo.com

++Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)++

+++ARES September Report+++

The ARES Monthly Report will continue to be sent out as a separate document. This goes both via the ARRL mailing list and to ARES Leadership for further distribution.

If you are an EC and do not have the current link to the report, please contact Marty KE4KEW at martinkrupinski AT comcast DOT net. The report format was changed by HQ to capture more hours better. And speaking of hours, each hour is equivalent to our partner organizations spending $31.84 in training an operator. This increases by 8.7% on 1 October, so this is a very big deal!

+++2023 Simulated Emergency Test (SET)+++

The basic plan for the 2023 SET, with the primary dates of 8 and 9 October (can be rescheduled depending on your served agencies’ needs) has been published and can be found at https://emcommwiki.org/index.php/2023_Virginia_Simulated_Emergency_Test_(SET)_Plan While the primary dates have passed, there are some ARES units that are scheduled for other dates. Keep checking the page periodically as other information that may prove helpful will be added, however it will not affect the basic plan. Some ARES units have already held their event, and reports so far are that it was a good learning experience. Also, for the first time, Virginia Department of Emergency Management regional offices participated in this past weekend’s events.

++Section Manager Close-out++

We continue to grow and learn each and every day. As we demonstrate our skills and eagerness to serve our communities and one another, we gain new members, but also new respect from our community. We’re seeing the fruits of this outreach by calls for assistance from educational organizations, emergency managers, and voluntary organizations. Each one of these is an opportunity to learn about what we can provide them, from their perspective.

Recently we were asked to staff a booth at Washington and Lee University’s “Volunteer Day”, and the local Red Cross representative was the lead on this. I contacted Steve W4VSP, and he worked with myself, his team, and John WA4JN to gather the resources needed for this, and put on a great show for them. The lessons learned from those interactions will help us improve how we interact at the collegiate level in Virginia.
Please continue to reach out to organizations, and when you do, pass along the good and the bad so that we can collectively learn from those experiences. We are in the communications business, so let’s communicate!

73,
Jack KE4LWT