CONTACT:
Gary Wilson
Public Information Officer
American Radio Relay League
Tel: 609-890-3370 (Home)
Tel: 908-903-2292 (Cell)
K2gw@arrl.net
 
 

DAYTON, OH – May 1, 2008    Scout Leaders will be reaching out to Ham Radio Operators at the Dayton Hamvention May 16-18 to encourage them to provide Amateur Radio opportunities to Boy Scouts back in their home towns.   A forum session will given on Saturday, May 17 at 9 AM in Forum Room 2 explaining how hams can reach out to Scouts to get them involved in the exciting world of Amateur Radio.  And, for the first time, an exhibit booth will be staffed by veteran “Ham Scouters” to answer hams questions and provide them with resources about “Radio Scouting”. Booth 631 in the Hamvention’s East Building will be location of the Scout Radio outpost.
 
Bill Ragsdale, K6KN, District Chairman of the Yolo District of the Golden Empire Council of the Boy Scouts of America is leading the effort.  Bill says “This is how we assure the future of your local ham community by growing the next generation of amateurs via the Boy Scouts.  At the same time, we also build community awareness about amateur radio. Scouts have a built-in sense of adventure which ham radio complements”.
 
Hams will also learn how to teach Radio Merit Badge and help their local Scouts participate in Scouting’s largest annual event, the Jamboree On The Air (JOTA).  “Each October, a half million Scouts around the world talk to each other via Amateur Radio.  Tips on how hams can let their local Scouts participate will be shared”. Visit http://YoloBSA.editme.com/Dayton  for further information.
 
Hams can also learn about a new program being developed for 2010’s 100th birthday of the Boy Scouts of America.  “Scout Camps On The Air (SCOTA) promises to be a fun way for hams to help encourage Amateur Radio Operations at Scout Camps and other large Scouting Events”, says, Matt Murphy, KC8BEW, of the Muskingum Valley Council, BSA, who is coordinating that program.
 
The Boy Scouts of America currently serves more than 4 million youth and adult members.  So stop by booth 631 and the forum session to learn how you can help some of them become the next generation of hams.

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JOTA Frequencies

Band SSB(phone)	CW(morse)
80 meters 3.740&3.940MHz	80 meters 3.590 MHz
40 meters 7.090 MHz	40 meters 7.030 MHz
20 meters 14.290 MHz	20 meters 14.070 MHz
17 meters 18.140 MHz	17 meters 18.080 MHz
15 meters 21.360 MHz	15 meters 21.140 MHz
12 meters 24.960 MHz	12 meters 24.910 MHz
10 meters 28.390 MHz	10 meters 28.190 MHz