wa6itf
05-08-2002, 06:43 PM
I’m going to start this commentary with one word: Help!
Why “Help?” Well its now mid-May. The nominating period for the 2002 Amateur Radio Newsline™ “Young Ham of the Year Award” had been open since February 1st. We have announced it at the end of every Amateur Radio Newsline newscast for almost three months. It has been reported on in every Amateur Radio publication as well. Sadly, the response has been sparse.
Normally by now we have received at least a dozen or more nominations. As this is written, all we have are the usual letters asking that we enter a youngster in a contest that some think the award to be. To paraphrase one: “Our 5 year old just got her ham license so send a free radio.”
But that is about it! And for the record; the “Young Ham of the Year Award” is not a contest. Rather its a way to honor the accomplishments of youth in ham radio. It has been that -- and only that -- since it was first presented in 1986.
What does the winner of the “Young Ham of the Year Award” receive? Lets start with a plaque courtesy of Amateur Radio Newsline and sponsored by Dave Bell Associates Inc., a leading producer of high quality television programming and motion pictures. (Dave Bell is W6AQ.)
Then there is a trip to the Huntsville Hamfest and a “gift” of Yaesu brand ham radio gear courtesy of Vertex-Standard U.S.A.. Vertex-Standard (formerly Yaesu USA Corp.) was the founding corporate underwriter of the “Young Ham of the Year Award” and has been a part of the program since its inception.
The young person chosen also gets to spend a week at Spacecamp-Huntsville thanks to the fine folks at CQ Magazine. In fact, it was CQ who came to us with the idea of adding the Spacecamp week. CQ has underwritten it’s cost ever since.
Lastly, additional gifts come from the Rosewood Company. Rosewood is a retailer that offers study guides, antenna books, callbooks, repeater directories, modification manuals, magazines, etc.
The nominating period for this years award closes on May 30th. Just about 2 weeks from now. As it stands, there could be no “Young Ham of the Year Award” presented in 2002 unless we begin to receive more valid nominations. And that is where you come in.
Do you know of a young ham -- age 18 or younger? One who has accomplished something really special using Amateur Radio? Well, what are you waiting for? Now is the time to nominate that person.
Does your radio club have a youngster who has been an outstanding member. Maybe one who does far more for the club that most of the grown-up hams? Again, what are you waiting for? This very moment is the time nominate that boy or girl.
How about that quiet young ham who is always willing to volunteer in public service events? You know; the one who does everything from organizing the communications to keeping the club repeater operating. Ill say it once again: What are you waiting for? Nominate that person.
I think you get the idea.
OK. How do you file a nomination? Simple. You go to http://www.arnewsline.org, scroll down to Young Ham of the Year Award. Click on the rules. Read them. Next, click on the nominating form. Download it. Fill it out and mail it in or e-mail it to us. Its that easy.
Or if you prefer the traditional approach, you can request a nomination by mail to “The Young Ham of the Year Award,” Amateur Radio Newsline, Inc.™, Editorial Office, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita Ca. 91350. Thats the same address to file nominations on paper.
We at the Amateur Radio Newsline™ believe that the future of our hobby, our service and our nation is in the hands of the young. It will be the next generation of young hams who will be the technologists, public service leaders and political leaders of this new millennium. The Young Ham of the Year Award is one way to guarantee that there will be this “next generation” of ham radio leaders. By nominating a youngster for this award, you take one step to help insure the future of the Amateur Radio hobby/service that we all so love. Please, help make that happen.
de
Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF
Why “Help?” Well its now mid-May. The nominating period for the 2002 Amateur Radio Newsline™ “Young Ham of the Year Award” had been open since February 1st. We have announced it at the end of every Amateur Radio Newsline newscast for almost three months. It has been reported on in every Amateur Radio publication as well. Sadly, the response has been sparse.
Normally by now we have received at least a dozen or more nominations. As this is written, all we have are the usual letters asking that we enter a youngster in a contest that some think the award to be. To paraphrase one: “Our 5 year old just got her ham license so send a free radio.”
But that is about it! And for the record; the “Young Ham of the Year Award” is not a contest. Rather its a way to honor the accomplishments of youth in ham radio. It has been that -- and only that -- since it was first presented in 1986.
What does the winner of the “Young Ham of the Year Award” receive? Lets start with a plaque courtesy of Amateur Radio Newsline and sponsored by Dave Bell Associates Inc., a leading producer of high quality television programming and motion pictures. (Dave Bell is W6AQ.)
Then there is a trip to the Huntsville Hamfest and a “gift” of Yaesu brand ham radio gear courtesy of Vertex-Standard U.S.A.. Vertex-Standard (formerly Yaesu USA Corp.) was the founding corporate underwriter of the “Young Ham of the Year Award” and has been a part of the program since its inception.
The young person chosen also gets to spend a week at Spacecamp-Huntsville thanks to the fine folks at CQ Magazine. In fact, it was CQ who came to us with the idea of adding the Spacecamp week. CQ has underwritten it’s cost ever since.
Lastly, additional gifts come from the Rosewood Company. Rosewood is a retailer that offers study guides, antenna books, callbooks, repeater directories, modification manuals, magazines, etc.
The nominating period for this years award closes on May 30th. Just about 2 weeks from now. As it stands, there could be no “Young Ham of the Year Award” presented in 2002 unless we begin to receive more valid nominations. And that is where you come in.
Do you know of a young ham -- age 18 or younger? One who has accomplished something really special using Amateur Radio? Well, what are you waiting for? Now is the time to nominate that person.
Does your radio club have a youngster who has been an outstanding member. Maybe one who does far more for the club that most of the grown-up hams? Again, what are you waiting for? This very moment is the time nominate that boy or girl.
How about that quiet young ham who is always willing to volunteer in public service events? You know; the one who does everything from organizing the communications to keeping the club repeater operating. Ill say it once again: What are you waiting for? Nominate that person.
I think you get the idea.
OK. How do you file a nomination? Simple. You go to http://www.arnewsline.org, scroll down to Young Ham of the Year Award. Click on the rules. Read them. Next, click on the nominating form. Download it. Fill it out and mail it in or e-mail it to us. Its that easy.
Or if you prefer the traditional approach, you can request a nomination by mail to “The Young Ham of the Year Award,” Amateur Radio Newsline, Inc.™, Editorial Office, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita Ca. 91350. Thats the same address to file nominations on paper.
We at the Amateur Radio Newsline™ believe that the future of our hobby, our service and our nation is in the hands of the young. It will be the next generation of young hams who will be the technologists, public service leaders and political leaders of this new millennium. The Young Ham of the Year Award is one way to guarantee that there will be this “next generation” of ham radio leaders. By nominating a youngster for this award, you take one step to help insure the future of the Amateur Radio hobby/service that we all so love. Please, help make that happen.
de
Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF