[K3PZN-List] Report: Presentation at St. John Lutheran Church This Morning.

[WILLIAM NEERIEMER]

Folks-

This morning from 9 to 10AM +/-, the Training and Education committee made a presentation to a group of middle schoolers at a Vacation Bible School held at St. John's Lutheran Church, midway between Westminster and Manchester.  In the classroom were Bill W3STG, Rich N3III, and Shirley KB3KYJ.  On the air, were Bill N3WM in Finksburg, Bill WB3IWU at Carroll Lutheran Village, Frank K3MTT in Eldersburg, and Pat N8PK/mobile.

I opened the event by introducing our group by name and callsign, and spoke briefly about amateur radio.  We then segued into a brief talk about repeaters, and allowed all of the students who wanted to, the opportunity to talk on the radio to one or more of the field people.  Most talked to Frank, but some talked to the 2 Bills as well.  The students got to hear the repeater identify itself both in voice and CW.    After everyone who wanted to got a chance to speak, we switched over to 40M CW between Rich and Bill N3WM.  Rich wrote on the chalk board as Bill transmitted to him.  While that was going on, Shirley took pictures, and did a show and tell of some the HW that Rich brought.  He brought a tube radio, which he uncovered for them to see.  He brought a solid state radio, and a couple of home brewed radios.  We passed the pixie 2 (in an Altoids can) and the ??? SDR (in a Lemon Head can) around so that the kids could see them up close.  That interested them alot. 

We also spoke about hurricane Zephyr, and passed around the Carroll County Times with Phil KE3FL, and Rich's picture.

After completing the CW portion, we moved on to SDR.  Rich brought an audio recording he had made this morning, and used his laptop to identify and listen to several different signals.  A mixture of easy to hear, and hard to hear CW & SSB.  This went over very well.

A couple of the kids were really interested, and may want to continue.  We invited them to visit us at Field Day.  We'll see how many actually show.

The girl who was most interested won't be in town this weekend, but Shirley invited her to join us at the next club meeting, and promised that she'd come too so that she'll know someone there.  She is home-schooled, and thinks this would be great for her education.  Hopefully that spark will catch fire.  

73 Bill W3STG