To all Virginia ARRL Members

    What’s on your Ham Radio bucket list?  Are you radio active in the hobby, and if so, how so?  If not, what can we do to make you more radio active?  Add your bucket list items here:  https://forms.gle/etWw9kYCX1ExwgzQ6

     Prior to the end of the spring semester, I had the opportunity to visit Hams at UVA and Liberty University.   I can report that our collegiate Clubs are active.  Speaking of our youth, two Virginia Youth Hams (Connor Black, W4IPC and Tyler Schroder, NT1S from Virginia Beach and Fairfax) are selected to the VK9XY DXpediton Team going to Christmas Island.  This is a partnership between the Pacific Islands DXpedition Group and Youth on the Air, and will be on-island Mid-Nov to early Dec 2026.    

     You might be aware that our VE exam teams across the Commonwealth mint about 800 new Hams annually.  While a small percentage are youth, the majority are folks inoculated with the radio bug at an earlier age waited to take their FCC exam later in life.  ARRL affiliated clubs receive monthly a list of new hams from their area.  Ask a club near you to share the list with you, and take time to write a note of congratulations or send a congratulatory Radiogram to someone on the list.  Our goal should be to mentor these new Hams in the hobby to ensure they become, and stay radio active.  Sadly, many don’t become radio active and leave the hobby before they ever had the opportunity to explore its many facets.

     Thanks to the many ARRL members across Virginia who volunteer with SKYWARN, a National Weather Service (NWS) program to report severe weather events.  Amateur Radio Operators provide critical weather reports, via radio, when activated.  In Virginia, SKYWARN is divided into three regions:  National Capital -- WX4LWX, Wakefield -- WX4AKQ, and Blacksburg -- WX4RNK.   The ARRL has a Memorandum of Understanding with the NWS to provide these reports.  There is no prerequisite to report severe weather, but all three NWS offices covering Virginia provide free classes to help spotters identify severe weather conditions.  See their QRZ.com webpages, or your local NWS office websites for programs in your area.  Additional volunteers are welcome.

      T

he Chesapeake Amateur Radio Service recently passed on a best practice:  they host a GOTA-like opportunity when they are conducting a Club-sponsored POTA activation.  It’s a two-fer and sounds like a winner.  Suggest to your local club they could adopt CARS’ idea.

      

Check out our updated Section website, www.arrlva.com   Lots of great stuff has been added. Thanks to our webmaster, John Best, KC4MEC and the Section Manager Leadership Team.

 

73,

 

Mike

Michael A. Aimone, WA8AHZ

Section Manager