|    Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) May/June 2023In this issue...  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *   ---  A Note from Dan Dan Romanchik KB6NU headshotI first made contact with ARDC by attending the February 2021 community meeting. At that meeting, Rosy KJ7RYV, our Executive Director, mentioned that one of the problems that they were having was that ARDC was not well-known yet in the amateur radio community, and as a result, they weren’t getting as many grant applications as they needed.  When I heard that, it occurred to me that with my writing and PR skills and my ham radio contacts, I could do just what ARDC needed to be done. I contacted Rosy, told her that she needed to hire me, and, to make a long story short, I became ARDC employee #3 in June 2021.  Now, nearly two years later, many more people know who we are, major amateur radio publications have published our articles and press releases, and we have appeared on many amateur radio podcasts and streaming video shows. And, we now receive many more grant applications than we can fund. I believe that I can claim success.  That being the case, now is the time for me to take up my next challenge. On May 31, I will be leaving ARDC.  What my next challenge will be I’m not sure yet, but I have plenty of projects to keep me busy:   * I plan to continue publishing my “No Nonsense” license study guides and have a couple of ideas for new books as well. * I hope to teach more ham radio classes. * I’m going to continue to address the issues facing amateur radio on , and I may start a podcast to reach even more people. * I’m exploring the possibility of starting an amateur radio business, or forming a partnership with an existing business, to produce some cool, new amateur radio products.   Heck, now that I’ll have more free time, I may even finally get around to learning how to use that antenna-modeling software I downloaded a couple years ago.  I’ve always said that my mission is to help more people have more fun with amateur radio. No matter what my next challenge will be, you can be sure that is what I’m going to do.  73, Dan KB6NU  PS My final act at ARDC was to help them launch an updated site. Check it out when you have a minute! <   ---  46 Applications Received by May 1 According to our Grants Manager, Chelsea KF0FVJ, we received 46 new grant applications by the May 1 deadline. The Grants Advisory Committee is already hard at work evaluating these applications. If you haven’t heard back from us yet about your application, please be patient. It takes approximately two to three months after this date for us to review all of the proposals.  There are two more application deadlines in 2023: July 1 and October 1. Applications received after October 1, 2023 (aside from scholarship programs) will be reviewed in 2024. We'll issue decisions about scholarship programs by the end of the year.  You can submit your application any time:    ---  ARDC is Now on groups.io Groups.ioFor a while now, ARDC grantees have asked us about opportunities to connect with, learn from, and support one another. Last month, we set up  – a forum designed to do just that.   1. The  is for announcements about ARDC. 2. The  is for topics of general interest. These may include discussions about ongoing projects, how to best apply for a grant, and discussions about the future of amateur radio.   To join the discussion, follow one of the links above and then click the *Join This Group* button. There, enter your email address, and you’re in! Come one, come all – we're excited to hear from you, and to foster supportive discussions with and for our    ---  Next ARDC Community Meeting, Saturday, July 15 Our next Community Meeting will take place on Saturday, July 15 at 10:00 am PDT / 1 pm EDT / 1700 GMT via Zoom. We’ll be discussing the ARDC Code of Conduct, our new vision statement, along with updates about our grants and work with 44Net. If you’re interested in attending, watch for an email invitation with the Zoom information.  Illustration of a group of people holding hands in a circle   ---  Grants Aid Balloon Tracking, 4-H Youth  is a global, crowdsourced meteorological and amateur radio weather balloon monitoring platform. Run by volunteers as a community service, the organization empowers a larger audience to get involved with amateur radio.   will help SondeHub to provide a global and free platform to support the tracking of amateur high-altitude balloon launches. The system displays telemetry from the balloon payloads, while also continuing to provide free services to assist in tracking and recovery of meteorological radiosondes.  Map depicting SondeHub, a global and free amateur radio weather balloon monitoring platform  The Sondehub website provides a global and free platformto track amateur high-altitude balloon launches.  4-H is the largest youth development organization in the U.S. and has diversified beyond its farming roots to include STEM projects. The  in Escondido, CA, is one such example. Their slogan is “learn by doing” and their motto is “to make the best better.”  A  will make amateur radio an integral part of the 4-H program in Escondido, CA. Project leaders will guide participants from diverse backgrounds through detailed engineering discussions and hands-on activities. The program will introduce many topics covered in the Technician Class question pool, and there will be opportunities to attend exam study sessions at the end of the year.   ---  Come See Us at Hamvention, NANOG 88, SEA-PAC, HAM RADIO Friedsrichshafe Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) Board member Ria Jairam N2RJ at Hamvention with Desiree Baccus N3DEZ, an American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ARDC Scholarship recipientA number of us attended Hamvention this year, and we all had a blast. This year, we were joined by our newest board member, Ria Jairam, N2RJ. In the photo at right, Ria is joined by Desiree Baccus, N3DEZ, one of our ARRL Scholarship recipients. Desiree’s scholarship enabled her to quit her full-time job and devote more time to her studies. She graduated this spring with a degree in Business Administration and Project Management. “Your scholarship changed my life!” she said.  Desiree was one of many scholarship winners and grantees that stopped by the booth to thank us for the work we’re doing. It’s this kind of feedback that makes it all worthwhile.  Recently, we've also attended:   * , 2-4 June, 2023, Seaside, Oregon. * , June 12-14, 2023. Seattle, WA.   And you can find us here soon:   * , June 23-25, 2023, Friedsrichshafen, Germany.  ---  Contact us! We want to hear from you:   * Visit our website: < * General info: contact@ardc.net * Information and questions about grants: giving@ardc.net * Network44 issues: postmaster@ardc.net * groups.io: <   Follow us on Twitter: .Follow us on Facebook: <   ---  Our Mission The mission of Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) is to support, promote, and enhance digital communication and broader communication science and technology, to promote amateur radio, scientific research, experimentation, education, development, open access, and innovation in information and communication technology.   ---  To change your subscription, . |
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|    Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) April 2023In this issue...  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *   ---  A Note from Rosy - Rosy Visits ARRL! Rosy Schechter, KJ7RYV, working a pileup at W1AWHello, ARDC Community!  You know that feeling when, after a lot of work behind the scenes, you start to see some of the fruits of your labor? Well that’s the feeling I have this month. As you’ll see below, we’ve made some big strides:   * Ria Jairam N2RJ joined our Board of Directors! When I was a newbie in ham radio, her work was some of the first that I followed. It’s an honor and a pleasure to have her on board. * I got to visit ARRL HQ, at the invitation of Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, the manager of their Education and Learning department. Not only was it a delight to meet the staff, I got to work WIAW, with the help of Steve as well as Bob Inderbitzen NQ1R. , courtesy of Bob. * ARDC now has a ! It’s an integral step for our organization, and one that lays the groundwork for more community events. Stay  tuned…   On a sadder note, Dan Romanchik, KB6NU, will be leaving ARDC. While we’re excited for him and his next journey, he’s going to be missed here at our virtual office. This news means we have some big shoes to fill, and we are getting to work filling them! If you know of someone who might come close, please send them the Communications Manager job description linked below.  Here’s to the changing of the seasons and continual evolution.  73, Rosy   ---  Ria Jairam, N2RJ, Joins ARDC Board Ria Jairam N2RJ headshotOn April 3, 2023, Ria Jairam, N2RJ, joined the board of directors of Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC). Jairam has been a licensed amateur radio operator since 1997, after first having been licensed in her native Trinidad and Tobago. She has served on the boards of the  and the . Rosy Schechter, KJ7RYV, ARDC Executive Director, says of Jairam, “Ria is a powerful voice in amateur radio, and we are proud to have her join our team. She’s definitely going to help us make great things happen.” For more information on Jairam, please .   ---  ARDC's New Code of Conduct We are very happy to announce that we have published our . First, let us thank you for all your input. That, plus a great deal of work by our staff, volunteers and board members, has resulted in a code of conduct that will help ensure that our activities and events are inclusive, productive, and harassment-free. Please  and let us know if you have any thoughts or concerns. You can do this by sending email to conduct@ardc.net.   ---  Grants Boost Handiham Program, Fund EMP Testing Handiham Program, 55th AnniversaryFor more than 50 years,  has empowered individuals with disabilities to earn their amateur radio licenses and build a worldwide community. Participants have the opportunity to learn about ham radio and other technologies from their homes through online audio lectures, and digital cartridges.￼  This  will fund Handihams to purchase code practice oscillators and handheld FM transceivers for participants and to hold an in-person, radio camp. At the camp, participants will take part in hands-on activities that include antenna theory and construction, fox hunting, portable HF operation, VHF and UHF operation, digital modes, contesting,and SKYWARN.  Separately, an  to the **Cascade Amateur Radio Society (CARS)** will fund EMP testing of a variety of handheld and mobile radios, including:   * 6 BaoFeng UV-5R dual-band HTs, * 6 Yaesu FT-70DR or FT-60R HTs, * 5 Yaesu FTM-6000R mobile radios, and * 1 Yaesu FT-891 HF mobile radio.   The results will be released to the amateur radio community and the public via , and the club plans to submit an article to QST magazine.   ---  ARDC is Hiring: UX/UI Designer/Developer (Contractor) & Communications Manager ARDC is in the process of updating the , which is the website that users sign into to request 44Net addresses. The portal was built many years ago, and is in need of an upgrade. To help us do that, we are looking for a skilled **UX/UI Designer/Developer**.  This is a contract position, and since we all work remotely, the contractor may be located anywhere in the world. We do, however, require that they are able to participate in meetings with our UK-based IT lead (GMT) and occasionally with our US staff, who are based on the west coast in the United States (PDT). For a more complete job description, please .  **We are also looking for a **. This person plays a key role in our organization, as they are responsible for writing blog posts and press releases, managing social media, not to mention developing and executing a comprehensive communications strategy.  This role requires a dynamic individual who not only writes well, but can also engage people on social media, chat forums, and in-person at amateur radio events. The ideal candidate will be active in technology communities – particularly those related to amateur radio, digital communications science, free/libre open source software, and DIY culture. This is an excellent opportunity for someone interested in doing communications work in a philanthropic environment related to technology and education.  for more details.   ---  Come See Us at Hamvention, NANOG 88, SEA-PAC, HAM RADIO Friedsrichshafe ARDC is on the move this summer! In the coming months, you’ll be able to find our team at the following events:   * Dayton Hamvention, May 19-21, 2023, Xenia, OH. We’ll have a big crew at Hamvention again this year, and we will be hosting a forum on Friday, May 19, from 2:40 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. in Room 2. * , 2-4 June, 2023, Seaside, Oregon. * , June 12-14, 2023. Seattle, WA. * , June 23-25, 2023, Friedsrichshafen, Germany.  ---  Contact us! We want to hear from you:   * Visit our website: < * General info: contact@ardc.net * Information and questions about grants: giving@ardc.net * Network44 issues: postmaster@ardc.net   Follow us on Twitter: .Follow us on Facebooke: <   ---  Our Mission The mission of Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) is to support, promote, and enhance digital communication and broader communication science and technology, to promote amateur radio, scientific research, experimentation, education, development, open access, and innovation in information and communication technology.   ---  To change your subscription, . |