[FARC] Fw: How was your group involved with JOTA

[Jeff Fishman]

Whoever in the club was involved with JOTA this year is welcome to respond to this inquiry.
Jeff KB3FIO
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Herman Niedzielski 
To: AERO AMATEUR RADIO CLUB ; AFRH-WASHINGTON AMATEUR RADIO ASSN ; ANNE ARUNDEL RADIO CLUB ; ANNE ARUNDEL RADIO CLUB JR, INC ; ARC OF THE NATIONAL ELECTRONICS MUSEUM ; BALTIMORE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB ; BALTIMORE RADIO AMATEUR TV SOC ; BOUMI TEMPLE (SHRINERS) ARC ; CALVERT AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION ; CARROLL COUNTY ARC ; CARROLL COUNTY CONTESTERS ; CENTRAL MARYLAND ARC ; CHARLES COUNTY ARC ; CHESAPEAKE AMATEUR TELEVISION SOCIETY ; CHESAPEAKE BAY RADIO ASSN ; COLUMBIA ARA ; EASTON AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY ; FREDERICK ARC ; Goddard Amateur Radio Club, Inc. ; GREEN MOUNTAIN REPEATER ASSN. INC. ; KENT AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY ; LAUREL AMATEUR RADIO CLUB ; LEISURE WORLD ARC ; MARYLAND MOBILEERS ARC INC ; MID-ATLANTIC DX & REPEATER ASSOCIATION ; MOUNTAIN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB ; NATIONAL CAPITOL DX ASSOCIATION ; POTOMAC AREA VHF SOCIETY ; POTOMAC VALLEY RADIO CLUB ; SOUTHERN MARYLAND APRS GROUP ; SOUTHERN MARYLAND ARC ; ST MARY'S COUNTY ARA ; VOICE OF AMERICA ARC 
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 2:03 PM
Subject: How was your group involved with JOTA


Hi everyone,

I received an email from Jim Cross,WI3N, MDC SM  with the following message:
Hi Herm,
I wonder if you could request that the folks on your list send you a brief few sentences on their JOTA experiences that can be combined into an article for the upcoming Section News.  I got a really nice but very long one from Charles Co but I'd like to put out something crediting the hams for their interest in helping the JOTA operation.  Time to get the feelers out for next year's JOTA to see if the fall camporees can be scheduled on the JOTA weekend.

Before the Christmas season overtakes us, if it hasn't done that already, I hope you would take a few minutes and send me description of what your group did for JOTA.  I would like to share your experiences with the others.  The one way we can promote JOTA besides being a part of ourselves is by sharing our experiences with as many Hams as possible and encouraging them to become involved with a Scout Unit, District or Council.

On the Hagerstown Scene, we had our usual Cub Scout extravaganza on Saturday of JOTA weekend with about 300 to 400 Cubs, Scouts, Parents and siblings.  Fran Little, W3SCC and myself set up a station and operating on 40meters contacted several stations and many cubs had their opportunity to talk to for the first time over Amateur Radio.  We were one of ten events setup for the cubs to spend the better part of the day having fun and learning at the same time.  We have done this for several years and some of the Cubs coming back a second year remember us.  

On a second note, we had made contact with our Local Council Scout Executive and was invited to participate in a Council Scout Camporee to be held Nov 5th and 6th at the Washington County Agriculture Center which happens to be the home of the Hagerstown Hamfest.  

We set up a station operated by Butch Eigenbrode,NI2W for many of the scouts to get their chance on the air. We also setup two other tables for CW,  one CW setup was with a code practice oscillator operated by Bob Long,KD3JK and I setup a second CW table(actually it was a 30 gallon barrel  which worked very well since everyone was standing up anyway).  On the second CW table I had a MFJ Keyer with a Keyboard and the scouts liked to try that one.  The best part is that we had a sign-up sheet for those interested in taking a Tech Class that we will be holding in the spring.  We had 18 sign up and these included at least one father and son pair plus a few of the Venture Scouts.  They had several activity stations setup and the Scouts went through the stations in groups of 20 to 25 people.  

The camporee was run by the Order of the Arrow and during the day we met with them and they  invited us to participate in their Spring Camporee on April 29-May1st 2011 which is being held at the Fort Richie site just northeast of Hagerstown.   Unfortunately Saturday April 30th is the Hagerstown Hamfest and I plus most of our "active" club members will be involved in that event.  I am hoping to recruit a few "good men" to have a good showing at the Spring Camporee.  Anyone available.......  

One additional note I have your email as listed by the ARRL Club site, if this is not the one to receive emails for your club please let  me know so I can update the list with the correct email.  

That was my story, how about you........  What was your story?

Herman Niedzielski, K2AVA
ASM  MDC for Scouting 
k2ava at myactv.net

"Support Scouting, they are our future."