[Qcwa] ANNOUNCING THE ROY NEAL, K6DUE, AMATEUR RADIO MENTORING PROJECT

[qcwa@mailman.qth.net]

THE AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE
(A Federal 501(c)(3) Non Profit Corporation)
Editorial Office - 28197 Robin Avenue
Santa Clarita California
Tel: (661) 296-7180
E-Mail: newsline@arnewsline.org
on the web at: www.arnewsline.org

Press Release

For more information please contact Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF=20
(wa6itf@arnewsline.org)

AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE=E2=84=A2 ANNOUNCES CREATION OF THE ROY NEAL, K6DUE, A=
MATEUR=20
RADIO MENTORING PROJECT

January 15, 2004 (Los Angeles California)  The Amateur Radio Newsline Inc.,=20=
a=20
Federally chartered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation has today announced=
=20
the creation of the =E2=80=9CRoy Neal, K6DUE, Amateur Radio Mentoring Projec=
t.=E2=80=9D  This=20
is a program designed to take newly licensed radio amateurs and place them=20
one-on-one with veteran hams so that they may learn the traditions and opera=
ting=20
skills that no classroom or home-study environment can teach.=20

Roy Neal, K6DUE, was a driving force within the structure of Amateur Radio=20
Newsline.  He passed away on Friday, August 15, 2003 from complications aris=
ing=20
from heart valve replacement surgery a few days earlier.

In addition to serving as Amateur Radio Newsline's Vice President, he was=20
also our teacher, advisor and friend.  Those of us who had the honor of know=
ing=20
Roy were keenly aware of his willingness to help anyone better themselves. =20=
He=20
was always willing to share his lifetime of knowledge in many areas includin=
g=20
science, space exploration and Amateur Radio.  With this in mind the Amateur=
=20
Radio Newsline Board of Directors at its annual meeting on December 13, 2003=
=20
voted unanimously to honor Roy=E2=80=99s memory by creating a program to car=
ry on his=20
vision. =20

What we have named =E2=80=9CThe Roy Neal, K6DUE, Amateur Radio Mentoring Pro=
ject=E2=80=9D is=20
loosely based on a similar program created by Broadway performer Ann=20
Reinking.  Reinking was a student of and performer with the legendary=20
choreographer/director Bob Fosse.  She is now carrying on the =E2=80=9Cmento=
ring=E2=80=9D tradition in the=20
art of dance through her own educational foundation,  the Broadway Theater=20
Project. This is a Florida based training program connecting students with s=
easoned=20
theater professionals.  If we may quote Ms. Reinking:

=E2=80=9CIts sort of an un-written law or rule in the world of dance that yo=
u pass on=20
what you know.  This particular craft is at its best when its passed from on=
e=20
person's hands to the next.=E2=80=9D

Now, if  you think about it, what Ann Reinking says about "dance" applies=20
equally to our world of Amateur Radio.  Maybe more so, because, for decades=20=
the=20
knowledge and tradition of our hobby/service was passed down from seasoned=20
operators to newcomers, one to one.  Unfortunately, in the ham radio of toda=
y,=20
this art of mentoring that we call "Elmering" seems to be disappearing.  It=20=
is=20
being replaced by "weekend cram class training" and/or the more tedious worl=
d of=20
=E2=80=9Chome study.=E2=80=9D  Both provide lots of technologically trained=20=
hams, but they=20
do not turn out skilled operators or hams who really appreciate the art of=20
amateur radio. Only one-on-one =E2=80=9Cmentoring=E2=80=9D or =E2=80=9CElmer=
ing=E2=80=9D can do that.

=E2=80=9CThe Roy Neal, K6DUE, Amateur Radio Mentoring Project=E2=80=9D is to=
 be a similarly=20
structured program that fosters those one-on-one relationships that go well=20
beyond the knowledge necessary to pass a ham radio exam. It will put an emph=
asis=20
on our traditional ham radio values by placing new hams into contact with=20
skilled operators who are willing to teach them such radio art-forms as how=20=
to=20
work DX, or run a contest, build and operate a repeater, talk by bouncing=20
signals off the moon, kit construction and anything else that makes a ham a=20=
ham. In=20
essence, to pass along the living traditions that make ham radio what it is=20=
to=20
all of us old timers.

To make this work, two groups of hams are needed.  First we need skilled=20
operators who are willing to donate time to assist those in need of training=
.  We=20
also need new hams to come forward and say: =E2=80=9CI want to learn more.=
=E2=80=9D  We will=20
do our part by matching the mentors to those in need of Elmering. =20

To get the project underway we have asked Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB, to create th=
e=20
necessary databases and begin the process of matching volunteer mentors to=20
those wishing instruction.  We are also asking both groups to send us an e-m=
ail=20
at mentor@arnewsline.org.  In your note please state if you are offering to=20=
be=20
a mentor or are in need of training.  Please include your name, call,=20
address, e-mail address with zipcode, phone number, best time of day to call=
 and any=20
other pertinent information. =20

It is our hope that the nation's Amateur Radio community will join with us t=
o=20
make "The Roy Neal, K6DUE, Amateur Radio Mentoring Project" a part of the=20
traditions of the hobby, and that it will become a lasting memorial to the r=
adio=20
amateur who gave so much of his life to making Amateur Radio the best hobby=20
and service in the universe.=20
. =20

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