[CVRC] Formation of "Elmers Corps"

[Matthew Parker]

Good Day, All -

In order to support and encourage our new hams and newcomers to our area
in assisting and motivating them to be active on the air, we are forming
an "Elmers Corps."  The basic idea of this project is to formulate a
list of hams in this area who have been involved with ham radio for a
while and are willing to take calls/answer questions for new hams and
newcomers.  We introduced the idea yesterday during the open house at
the VA Medical Center and already have six volunteers enlisted.

If you would enjoy sharing your knowledge and helping to provide
guidance to new hams, we need your support and enthusiasm.  Please let
me know if you would like to join with us in this project and I'll
include you on the list.  Information we need includes the following:

Name
Callsign
Home QTH (City)
Common 2-meter contact frequency (if any)
Contact phone number & time of day to call
E-mail address (if any)

We will be planning a meeting of all those interested in helping with
this project soon to meet each other and exchange ideas.  We are also
planning to start a "Newcomers Net" on 2 meters soon as a means of
providing a place where newcomers can have their questions answered on
the air.

Tentatively planned for Saturday, January 10 from 10 AM to Noon will be
an "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Ham Radio but Were Afraid
to Ask" forum.  This will be an opportunity for new hams and new comers
to come and receive personal assistance from those of us who have been
involved with it for a while.  We plan to provide assistance, answer
questions, and provide information on any subject with which those
within our amateur radio community need help, including:

Working with their radios
Proper operating procedures
Area clubs and emergency organizations
Area repeater systems and capabilities

For this event we need the support of our knowledgeable hams both to
answer questions as well as to represent the clubs/organizations they
are involved in.  More information on this event will be forthcoming as
January approaches.

Thanks to Donn Fisher, W7DAF, for providing inspiration and ideas to
help get this project going.

73,
Matt Parker, N7TOD