Glendora Emergency Response Communications

A Thank You From the Commissioner

Oct 26, 2007

Bulletin by Jim Dowdle, KG6TQT, Valle del Sol District Boy Scout Commissioner.

This bulletin coveys a very special thank to all the hams from GERC who gave of their time and talents to help scouts during Jamboree On The Air, which was held last Saturday the 20th at Sonrise Christian School in Covina.

The net control operator and leader of GERC Mark N7YLA gave of his time, equipment and previous field experience to make JOTA a very successful event. On behalf of all the scouts thank you so very much.

Kent KD6B00 and Jim KG6TQT held two separate radio merit badge classes one and two weeks prior to JOTA. A total of 45 scouts from around the area attended. 2 boys from as far away as Compton came.

The day of the event 32 boys attended JOTA. Three other boys made prior arrangements with Mark N7YLA to get on the air at his ham shack, so they completed the Radio merit badge before the JOTA event. Two boys had outings planned with their troop and could not attend JOTA, and one Venture Scout needed to complete the merit badge for his Eagle Rank before his 18th birthday.

Dave KK6VR, assistant scoutmaster of troop 446 arranged the use of and facilities at Sonrise Christian School. Six scouts from his 446 helped during the day with set up, clean up and generally assisted as needed.

Richard KG6TRD was on location all day long. He help set up and ran the two meter station. Thank you so much Richard.

Don KF6HZX was on location all day and provided help all day on the HF station.
Matt KD7YFT was on site most of the day and provided help on the HF station. Both hauled in and hauled out the equipment for this station, set up the antenna and all the HF gear.

Gary KG6RED attended and provided general help for several hours.

Keith KG6TPU provide HF equipment, however we did not have the manpower to set it up, Keith attended in the afternoon after his special meeting at the Azusa City Council was over.

Rob KE6YGF loaded his Emergency banner for the booth used as the JOTA starting point.

A big thank you to ED KC6OZA, Phil WA6DZS and Rich KG6MXP who talked with many of the boys on two meters. THESE HAMS spent a lot of their time TO HELP MANY BOYS MAKE THEIR FIRST amateur RADIO CONTACT.

Contacts on HF were made by many boys to Troop 505 Modesto, CA., Plano Texas, LE Seur Minnesota, North Dakota, South East Idaho, Vancouver Washington, Auburn, California. Every boy received a First Contact Certificate with the details of his on the air contact

Many of the scouts asked how they can get their ham license. GERC may conduct a class in early 2008. Mark N7YLA GERC leader, and a teacher for over 30 years may hold a class tailored for scout age young men. Every boy who attended JOTA was asked for his e-mail so he can keep him informed regarding the next ham class.

AGAIN Many thanks to all the hams who helped make this first JOTA event for GERC a very successful venture. Again to our GERC leader Mark, N7YLA you made this a great day of fun and leaning for all the scouts who participated.

This concludes this bulletin. BACK TO NET CONTROL

Jim Dowdle, KG6TQT