On Thursday, November 17th, the Orange County Radio Amateurs had the privilege of introducing a score of kids to Amateur Radio at Efland-Cheeks Elementary School’s “math and science” night. Kristin Bedell, KI4LLO, the AIG teacher there, was kind enough to offer us the invitation, and our thanks go out to her. In addition, several other hams did yeoman duty volunteering their time to conduct QSOs with the kids over OCRA’s 442.150MHz repeater. From Burlington, ARRL Public Information Officer Christopher Tate, KJ4UBL, did his usual excellent, professional job of drawing them into the over-the-air experience by relating his own school experiences to theirs in his friendly, outgoing way. Stanley Rankin, KF4KQL, in Asheboro, also hung in for the majority of the time. Special thanks, too, to Vic Merryman, K0OUX, Joseph Fields, KF4QYY, and Adriano Marcuz, KV7D, for dropping in at most appropriate times.
In addition to the Amateur Radio exhibit, at least one other ham was in attendance there at the Robotics demonstration–Bob, N6YBE(?), from Durham, who stopped by to say hello and have a QSO with KJ4UBL after the batteries on his automata discharged.
Virtually from the moment the event began at 6:00 PM until it ended at 7:30 (and afterward!) we were continuously busy meeting these wonderful children and their parents. It was a fun, encouraging activity.
-Raymond ”Woody” Woodward K3VSA
ARRL Public Information Coordinator for North Carolina
(an ARRL-trained Public Information Officer)
Nov
18