John Hoge W3JJH writes "We opened up the Carroll County Amateur Radio Club Station K3PZN this past weekend to host scouts for the Jamboree on the Air. Our non-licensed visitors included 18 Cub and Boy Scouts, a Girl Scout, and 8 scout leaders and parents. Several of the boys earned or made progress on Radio Merit Badge. Some left with study material for licenses. 6 hams participated including: Tenderfoot Scout Doug Strobel KB3HAM (a great call sign!) First Class Scout Andrew Young KB3GUY Star Scout William Hoge KB3GHE A good time was had by all, and some young people were bitten with the amateur bug. Now for a bit of a rant! The JOTA has been around for 44 years. It happens every year on the third weekend in Ocotber. The calling frequencies are well publicized. So why did I find folks calling "CQ Contest" for a state QSO party over the top of 14.290? Look, guys, if we want to hold on to our spectrum, we need to encourage youngsters to enter the hobby. Otherwise, we won't have enough of a constituency to effectively lobby the FCC in a few years. Cranking up the linear and contesting on top of an international youth event doesn't make a good impression on the kids. They are hoping to talk to someone with more to say than "59 Cook County.""
