As we wrap up another amazing year for the Parker Radio Association, we have climbed back to our known activities. From monthly face-to-face meetings and Elmer Nights to Field Days, portable deployments, Special Event stations and Wednesday group lunches, it is easy to take for granted just how far we have advanced in 2021. As our membership continues to grow, it is a constant reminder that this organization belongs to the members and it is the members that make it strong, thriving, active and fun! It simply takes one or two members to come up with a simple idea, put it into action, and watch amazing things happen. These simple suggestions lead to a snowball effect, where one great idea is surrounded by more great ideas that slowly build momentum. As the momentum builds, so does the snowball; it gets bigger and bigger with the more encouragement, traction and involvement it fosters.
One key trait of the PRA, as it continues to grow, is that our culture has never lost its focus of feeling like an organization you have always belonged to. Fostering and maintaining a welcome and friendly atmosphere is at the core of who we are as an organization and it permeates the airwaves as well. I am amazed at the number of new hams and members that have found the PRA and are warmly greeted on any one of our repeaters. With the ease of technology, it is important that we exercise our spectrum privileges not only on HF, but VHF and UHF as well. Getting on the air is one thing, but getting on the air and having a great conversation, learning something new and making new contacts and friends is a whole other level. Simply put, it takes all of us to welcome the new member at a meeting, answering the call on a repeater of a unfamiliar callsign, and encouraging participation in the amateur radio service. Each of us in in control of creating an amazing snowball effect in amateur radio that can compound into great things.
As we wrap up 2021 and welcome 2022, I am honored to serve as your President for the next two years. I have been fortunate to be surrounded by amazing people that are far more talented than myself. For our outgoing Board, Patrick-AI8C, Elizabeth-N1RDH, Justin-AE2L, John-N4SJW, Ray-N0KEG, and Wayne-N0AD, thank you for your service, dedication, enthusiasm and making decisions that benefited the PRA membership and amateur radio. Each of you brought your time, talent and treasures during the most difficult time of the PRA’s short history. You navigated us graciously and have set the stage for continued success in the years and decades to come. To our newest (and returning) Board members taking their seats in January 2022, Paul-AC5S, Brian-K0FBS, Robert-AE0CA, Randy-K0TNG, Jeff-AB0L, and Scott-AK6Q – I’m excited to continue to build upon the snowball that has started.
We all have a great opportunity to offer up our time, talent and treasures in 2022. Committees will need chaired, committees will need members and the organization will need your active participation. We have some great things planned in 2022 with more group activities, special events, public service, and educational activities. It simply takes one or two members to come up with a simple idea, put it into action, and watch amazing things happen. These simple suggestions lead to a snowball effect, where one great idea is surrounded by more great ideas that slowly build momentum. As the momentum builds, so does the snowball; it gets bigger and bigger with the more encouragement, traction and involvement it fosters. Get involved and get active!
Hopefully we’ll start seeing some actual snow soon.
73,
Dan – N2SRK
President
Parker Radio Association