[SFDXA] Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) Founder Les Mitchell, G3BHK, SK

[Bill]

    ARRL News


    Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) Founder Les Mitchell, G3BHK, SK

10/08/2014

With *JOTA* <http://www.scouting.org/jota.aspx> 2014 a little more than 
1 week away comes word that its "founding father," Les Mitchell, G3BHK, 
died on October 6. Mitchell started JOTA in 1958, after launching the 
idea a year earlier at the World Scout Jamboree. That was the first year 
the Jamboree had an Amateur Radio station on site, and it's had one 
every year since.

"Little did I think when I drew up the plans and rules for the first 
event in 1958 that its popularity would increase and spread around the 
world," Mitchell reminisced in 2000. "Even more astonishing is the fact 
that after all this time it still holds its popularity. In fact it has 
become the largest international Scout event ever."

Mitchell said that far fewer Scouts were licensed in 1958, but over the 
years Scouts taking part in JOTA got so interested that they became 
radio amateurs themselves.

"JOTA is great fun," Mitchell said, adding, "If you put nothing into the 
event you may get nothing out of it! JOTA is your chance to speak to 
Scouts and Guides over the horizon. Silence makes no friends!"

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