Also in GB2RS this week…

| February 19, 2016

The Youth Contesting Program of IARU Region 1 will be continued in 2016. Youth members from IARU R1 member societies are invited to take part in a contest from so called Top Gun stations. They will learn how to operate the contest station, improve their contest skills and will aim for the best results together as a team. A youngster will probably be coming for the first time to the host country, and will get the chance to experience this country and share amateur radio knowledge with local youngsters. The contests take place in May, July and September and full details, including information on how to apply, are online. The website is www.ham-yota.com/youth-contesting-program.

International Amateur Radio Union President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA has presented former ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ with the IARU’s prestigious Michael J. Owen, VK3KI, Memorial Award. Tim cited David’s “skill, diplomacy, and encyclopedic knowledge” of amateur radio, and his role on the international scene, as most deserving of the award. Michael J. Owen, VK3KI was a towering figure in the IARU and the Wireless Institute of Australia. He died in 2012. David Sumner started with his service at the watershed World Administrative Radio Conference in 1979, which yielded the so-called WARC bands, 30, 17, and 12 metres. David has travelled to more than 60 countries in connection with his ARRL and IARU responsibilities, which include 17 years as IARU Secretary.

World Thinking Day is taking place this weekend. This is when members of Girlguiding use amateur radio to try to contact other members throughout the world, as part of the celebrations of their founders’ birthdays. If you hear Thinking Day stations on the air, please give them a call.

Over 1,000 Members volunteer for the RSGB in a wide variety of roles. What motivates them and what do they get out of it? Find out from the RSGB’s new video. Go to www.rsgb.org/volunteer-video or view it on the RSGB YouTube channel. If you’d like an offline copy to show at your club, please contact us. In the video Andy Roberts, M0GYK, Diana Smith, M6FIO and Graham Parry, G7OSR explain why they enjoy volunteering at the NRC. So if you’ve got some spare time, would like to help others within the amateur radio community, or would like to shape the future of the hobby, watch the video then take a look at the volunteering section on our website—see what inspires you!

Category: GB2RS Headlines