[SFDXA] Thanksgiving Message - ARRL Section Manager: Mr Barry M Porter, KB1PA

[Bill]

2020 has been a very trying, stressful year, but Amateur Radio operators
have a lot
to be thankful for. We all should be thankful for each other, and our
abilities to use our radio equipment to stay in contact with each other, 
and our
colleagues all over the world. We should be thankful for all those that 
have come and gone
before us.
Without them, there would not be amateur radio. We need to be more
thankful for our mentors, who showed us the ropes and allowed us to 
learn, becoming
better
radio amateurs. We need to be thankful for those that give so much time
as leaders
of our clubs and other organizations, often a thankless job. We need to
be thankful
to those radio amateurs who give presentations to our groups, on many
diverse, but
fascinating topics that give us interesting activities to try, even
during this pandemic.
We should be thankful for our national organization, the ARRL. They do a
lot to keep
amateur radio growing, and give lots of unseen support to our local
groups and represent amateur radio on national stage.
Of course, we should be thankful to all the various first responders in
our communities.
We should be especially thankful to our families, our amateur radio and
non amateur
friends.
We need to give more focus on recruiting and mentoring new amateurs. In
this high tech world, we need to search out those that are curious about 
how all things
work, especially
radio things. Many got their start by taking apart radios, TVs and other
electronics. Finding and mentoring those interested in how stuff works, 
like we were mentored
will allow amateur radio to grow. We all have something to pay forward. 
We need to do more
than just teach
license classes. We all need to pitch in and mentor the newly licensed.
I bet only 10 percent
of those that get their first license ever get involved in amateur
radio. We can and should
do better.
In addition, we ALL need to give back something to our local clubs and
organizations. Making suggestions, serving on committees, offering to give a
presentation,
or as club leaders will keep our groups healthy, interesting and viable.
We need to be
open to attracting and interacting with new amateur radio operators, and
getting our average age below 70.
This year, we have lost many amateur radio friends and colleagues.
During this time of
thanks, we should all remember all the good and not so good times we
spent with them,
and keep them in our memory.
Please have a happy thanksgiving! Like I said, we have a LOT to be
thankful for.

Thanks to everyone for all you are doing to promote amateur radio!

And HAVE Fun on the air with Radio

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ARRL Southern Florida Section
Section Manager: Mr Barry M Porter, KB1PA
kb1pa at arrl.org