Starting with the Boxboro ARRLNew England Convention inAugust 2015, in Boxborough,

Massachusetts, I began a whirlwind oftravel to different ham radio conven-tions and events across the country.What fun!

One of the interesting hams I got tomeet was Bob Phinney, K5TEC, whoruns the Clay Center Amateur RadioClub, which is in a facility on the cam-pus of Dexter Southfield School inBrookline, Massachusetts <www.cc-arc.org>. The club sponsors a Youth Netand UHF repeaters, which are moni-tored for newly-licensed radio operatorsto learn and practice radio etiquette(446.325 and 449.125 MHz, - duplex, PL146.2). It was great meeting with theyoung students who were at Boxboro,having a terrific time (Photo A), encour-aging other young hams to join them onthe air. I also enjoyed meeting with

Join the Radio Club of America’s Youth Activities Chair as she racks upthose frequent flier miles working with, and highlighting the accomplishments of, young hams from sea to shining sea.

On The Road with WB2MGPBY CAROLE PERRY,* WB2MGP

* e-mail: <WB2MGP@gmail.com>

Photo A. Carole (2nd from left in rear) with young hams from the Clay CenterAmateur Radio Club at last summer’s Boxboro Hamfest, along with ARRL EasternMassachusetts Youth Coordinator, Jeremy Breef-Pilz, KB1REQ (to Carole’s left

in the photo).

Photo B. The Radio Club of America Young Achievers receive certificates for their presentation at the ARRL Southwestern Division Convention in Torrance, California.

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Jeremy Breef-Pilz, KB1REQ, the ARRL Youth Coordinator foreastern Massachusetts.

Going Bi-CoastalThe ARRL Southwest Division’s HamCon 2015 in Torrance,California, was next on my itinerary. I moderated a youthforum there (Photo B), and was the keynote speaker at theluncheon. Carl Gardenias, WU6D, ARRL Orange SectionManager, and Convention Chairperson Diana Feinberg,AI6DF, extended additional hospitality and facilitated theprocess for locating the talented young hams and their teach-ers who participated in the youth forum. Bev Matheson,WA6BK, led her 10- and 11-year-old hams from the DorothyGrant Elementary School in their wonderful presentation,“Hamming It Up.” They spoke about how they got started,what they do at meetings, and what activities they have par-ticipated in via ham radio in their classroom.

Bob Sylvest, AB6SY, is the leader of a 4H chapter amateurradio club. He suggested I invite 17-year-old Meghan Tahbaz,KK6CYN, who is a senior in South High School. Meghan wasan incredible speaker whose topic was “Ham Radio and theU.S.S. Pampanito.” She shared the students’ experience witha contact they made with the submarine’s ham station, NJ6VT,and Peter, KI6NYQ, who spoke with the kids. They followedup with a field trip to the submarine, which is currently a memo-rial and museum in San Francisco. What an amazing experi-ence due to a ham radio contact.

Before leaving Los Angeles, I accepted an invitation fromham friend John Amodeo, NN6JA, producer of the TV show“Last Man Standing,” to visit the set. Star Tim Allen’s char-acter, Mike Baxter, is a ham (as is Tim in real life); and it

was great fun to sit at the actual radio station at the studio(Photo C).

Rocky Mountain HighOne week later, I was in Denver, Colorado, speaking at ameeting of Radio Club of America (RCA) members at theWings Over the Rockies Museum. An offer was made by myYouth Activities committee to provide the after-school pro-gram there with materials for a ham radio program. There isalready a ham station in place; and my committee has pro-vided books and manuals.

Back to CaliforniaPacificon was three weeks later, in San Ramon, California,near San Francisco. Once again, I invited local young hamsto participate in the youth forum. Young Rohan Agrawal,KJ6LXV, age 14, was one of my presenters (Photo D). Hepreviously captivated the audience at my Dayton youth forumand at last year’s RCA Technical Symposium. NoraWitkowski, K6NKW, spoke about all the friends she’s madeby being part of the Youth Net on the Bay Net repeater. Fourthgrader Sujay Ojha, KK6SET, spoke about his similar expe-riences in addition to speaking about his radio experiencesin Nepal after the earthquakes.

Good friend David Witkowski, W6DTW, put me in touchwith Dwain Fairweather, KK6BSW, the teacher at the ValleyChristian Junior High School who got his students involvedin the school’s satellite tracking/ham radio program. Dwainintroduced Rahul Tewari, KK6GIH, the net control of theiryouth net. This accomplished young man gave a wonderful

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presentation about the terrific opportunities for hands-ontechnical experiences taking place at their school.

And (Almost) to CubaIn October, my RCA Youth Activities committee becameinterested in supporting a group of hams going on a CubanExpedition, “T42US.” We were especially interested in theplans of Nancy Yoshida, K9DIG, who met with Cuban stu-dents at the FRC (their ARRL) building during the exhibitionportion of their operation. Nancy got to meet with young stu-dents and to conduct amateur radio demonstrations for them.Their host and interpreter was Roberto, CM2KL. By allaccounts their trip, led by Jim Millner WB2REM, was a greatsuccess and RCA was pleased to be a co-sponsor for them(Photo E).

Packing Again…As of this writing, I am preparing for my next event with young,talented hams. The weekend of the RCA Awards Banquetwill also feature the club’s Technical Symposium. In keep-ing with the tradition of our Youth Initiative to have an RCA

Young Achiever give a presentation there, we will be high-lighting two talented young people. Rohan Agrawal,KJ6LXV, and Galen Asphaug, KK6NNP, have been invitedto speak at this exciting event in Cupertino, California. Youwill be hearing more about their presentations at theSymposium in a future article.

Being on the road since August has been an exhilaratingand inspirational experience for me. Encouraging youngstersto get involved with radio communications is how the futureof ham radio will be assured.

Photo C. Carole at the ham station on the set of the ABCcomedy, “Last Man Standing,” during her visit to southern

California. (Courtesy of NN6JA)

Photo D. Carole introducing youth forum speaker Rohan Agrawal, KJ6LXV, at Pacificon outside San Francisco.

Photo E. Nancy Yoshida, K9DIG (right), with Cuban studentsand other members of the T42US joint US/Cuban DXpeditionteam, at the FRC (Federacion de Radioaficionados de Cuba)

headquarters station. (Courtesy of K9DIG)

Being on the road since August has been anexhilarating and inspirational experience forme. Encouraging youngsters to get involvedwith radio communications is how the futureof ham radio will be assured.

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