A Monthly Update from the President’s Shack
The past several months have taught us about adjusting and being versatile. What has been most impressive is how the amateur radio service has leveraged technology. At first, it was awkward and was not very pretty. Of course, I’m speaking from firsthand experience. From online platforms like Skype, Zoom, Meets and YouTube, our amateur radio learning experience is experiencing a renewal and virtual library right at our fingertips. The advancement of the amateur radio service is primed for leveraging this vault of information and it is up to us licensed amateurs to promote on-demand learning for the next generation while balancing opportunities for hands-on learning.
If you have not done so already, take a look at the Parker Radio Association YouTube Channel. A simple search on YouTube will navigate you there. As a side note, be sure to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to the channel to make sure you are updated on its regular content. We made this move to stream our monthly meetings and Elmer Nights in order to continue to provide our members amazing content each month. Recently, we’ve opened up the studio to have ALL members participate. The interaction has been tremendous and has really propelled the learning experience on the topics presented. There are a lot of people behind the scenes that have made this possible and without their support, knowledge and ‘can-do’ attitude, we would be spinning our wheels.
For those of you that are ARRL members, the ARRL recently launched the ARRL Learning Network. This new member benefit piggybacks on what the PRA has been doing for the last several months and their content is typically 15-minutes per session topic. A great snapshot of learning. Since amateur radio is about discovering, learning, and sharing how to use radio technology and radio communications, this is yet another great way for ARRL Members to take advantage of their member benefits in continuing their learning of our radio service. The bottom line is that the ARRL Learning Network is a webinar series featuring live online presentations from member-volunteers who want to help you become more active, involved, and engaged in ham radio. You can participate during a lunch break or as a quick evening activity. Presenters will stick around for another 15 minutes of Q&A. More information on this can be found at http://www.arrl.org/arrl-learning-network
What we have learned as amateur radio operators is that we are quick to adapt to situations; whether temporary or long term. We need to continue to leverage this pandemic ‘problem’ as a true opportunity to accelerate our learning. Amateur radio remains an amazing buffet of options in technology and communication. As amateur radio operators, we are ambassadors to learning and promoting the service. The advancement of the amateur radio service is primed for leveraging this vault of information and it is up to us licensed amateurs to promote on-demand learning for the next generation while balancing opportunities for hands-on learning.
73,
Dan – N2SRK
President
Parker Radio Association