12/27/2023

2023 has been a remarkable year for amateur radio. There were many noteworthy
opportunities for hams to use their license privileges for the greater good. An
annular solar eclipse saw radio amateurs engaging in projects of scientific
research[1] about our ionosphere, devastating firestorms gutted entire cities
and saw Amateur Radio Emergency Service member-volunteers rise to activate[2],
hurricanes threatened life and property[3], bicycle races spread across the
desert[4] necessitating robust communications provided by hams, and high school
students led and executed contacts with the International Space Station[5].
Many amateur radio operators stood to serve in ways that made headlines, and
all of them were volunteers.

Still, tens of thousands of others did work that never made the pages of
QST[6], didn't become the lead story on the local news, and didn't become
fodder for online forums. Perhaps it was the ARRL VE who administered tests,
welcoming the next generation of hams into the hobby, or the National Traffic
System net manager who handled traffic from hams checking in. It could've even
been the mentor who took the time to show a learner how to solder. These are
the unsung heroes of the Amateur Radio Service -- these are the volunteers.

ARRL has nearly 60,000 volunteers within its membership, without whom it could
not function. They are the lifeblood of this hobby. ARRL designated 2023 as the
Year of the Volunteers[7] to recognize their efforts, encourage new prospective
volunteers to follow their lead, and call existing volunteers to reach one rung
higher on the ladder of service. The Volunteers On the Air (VOTA)[8] operating
event has been popular among hams, with some operators making nearly 30,000
QSOs throughout the yearlong activation.

A young man from north Texas emerged as a leader. Sam Lovett, KI5RSV, is just a
teenager but has been awarded the 2023 Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award for his
success with developing interest in amateur radio among his peers. He leads a
youth net and has been instrumental in building a strong ham culture in his
Trail Life USA troop. A video interview with Sam will be featured in the
February 2023 digital edition of QST.

Lyn Alfman, N8IMW, of Norwich, Ohio, was honored for her volunteer work in the
public information space. She received the 2023 ARRL Philip J. McGan Memorial
Silver Antenna Award. The proclamation issued by the ARRL Board of Directors
says that Lyn "exemplifies the skills and depth of understanding [needed] to
convey to media outlets the fascinating world of amateur radio."

ARRL's George Hart Distinguished Service Award honors the work
member-volunteers put in to use their license privileges to serve others. Jo
Ann Keith, KA5AZK, of Diana, Texas, is the 2023 recipient.

Jo Ann is the net manager of the 7290 Traffic Net, a public service traffic net
that has been in operation since 1953. She has a long history of volunteer
work, dating back to her youth when she served as a candy striper. Like tens of
thousands of others, Jo Ann uses amateur radio in the spirit of service.

These are just a few stories that can be told from the Year of the Volunteers.
There are so many other stories out there, and we encourage you to tell your
own.

While the Volunteers on the Air event closes on December 31, 2023 at 2359 UTC,
the spirit of this year will continue as long as there are hams standing to
serve others through amateur radio.

From all of us at ARRL, thank you!

[1] https://www.arrl.org/news/solar-eclipse-qso-party-seeks-amateurs-and-radio-enthusiasts-for-global-experiment
[2] https://www.arrl.org/news/devastating-hawaii-wildfires-prompt-response-from-amateur-radio-emergency-service
[3] https://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-operators-provide-post-hurricane-communications-in-mexico
[4] https://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-serves-in-large-utah-bike-race
[5] https://www.arrl.org/news/student-led-ariss-contact-a-success
[6] https://www.arrl.org/qst
[7] https://www.arrl.org/files/file/QST/This20in%20QST/2023/012023/EDITORIAL20JAN%202023.pdf
[8] https://www.arrl.org/volunteers-on-the-air

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■ Synchronet ■ Whiskey Lover's Amateur Radio BBS