[BCVHFA] KID'S DAY IS JUNE 15!

[K8CM]

[From the ARRL Letter]

Kid's Day, Saturday, June 15, from 1800 to 2400 UTC, is a chance to invest 
in the future of Amateur Radio. Scheduled twice a year, in January and 
June, Kid's Day is an opportunity for amateurs to introduce their own 
youngsters, young relatives or neighborhood kids to the magic of Amateur 
Radio and, in the process, to perhaps open the door to a lifelong hobby.

Activity is on 20, 15 and 10 meters as well as locally on VHF, including 
repeaters. Suggested frequencies are 14,270-14,300; 21,380 to 21,400, 
28,350 to 28,400 kHz and 2-meter repeaters (with permission from the 
repeater sponsor).

Kid's Day is not a contest. It's more of a social event, where an 
experienced operator facilitates getting the youngsters on the air so they 
can enjoy the fun of ham radio. The licensee need only keep an eye on the 
technical and legal aspects of the operation--including observing 
third-party traffic agreements and identifying every 10 minutes--and lend 
an Elmering hand as necessary. The idea is to help the kids find someone 
they're comfortable talking with and to just let them enjoy themselves. In 
Kid's Day, it's quality of the contacts, not quantity, that counts.

To provide a little framework, it's suggested to have youngsters exchange 
name, age, location and favorite color with other participants they meet on 
the air. It's OK to work the same station more than once if the operator 
has changed. Stations may call "CQ Kid's Day."

ARRL's Jean Wolfgang, WB3IOS, encourages having youngsters make drawings 
during periods of slow radio activity which reflect their feelings about 
Amateur Radio and Kid's Day. "We are collecting these drawings--they can be 
done by computer or crayon--and we'll use some of them to design a new 
Kid's Day certificate," she said. Submittals should include the child's 
name and age as well as contact information (including e-mail, if 
available) for the sponsoring amateur. Send the artwork to 
jwolfgang@arrl.org or to ARRL, Kid's Day Artwork, 225 Main St, Newington,
CT 06111.

"The kid sitting beside you may or may not be a ham in the years to come," 
Wolfgang says, "but I'll bet that you will both have a good time--and who 
knows what the future will bring?"

All participants are eligible to receive a colorful certificate. Visit 
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kids-day-survey.html to complete a short 
survey and post your comments. You will then be able to download the 
certificate page. Or, you can send a 9x12 self-addressed, stamped envelope 
to Boring Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 1357, Boring, OR 97009.

Details on Kid's Day are available on the ARRL Web site 
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kd-rules.html>.