Opportunities Fair showcases ham radio to retirees

ARRL Honorary Vice President Hugh Turnbull, W3ABC (center), Bob Barnes, KR3X (right), and Pat Barnes, KB3BTB (left).

August 26, 2004 -- ARRL Honorary Vice President Hugh Turnbull, W3ABC, Bob Barnes, KR3X, and his wife Pat, KB3BTB, hosted an Amateur Radio demonstration Friday, August 20, at the Riderwood Village retirement complex in Silver Spring, Maryland, where all reside. The display was part of the complex's annual Opportunities Fair.

"Along with about 35 other special-interest groups, we welcomed the opportunity to acquaint the other residents with another way to spend their time," Turnbull said. "Our table featured some ham radio memorabilia, QSL cards, an operating 2 meter station and a code practice machine to provide some Morse Code 'background music.'" Turnbull said the timing of their demonstration turned out to be "opportune" as well--coming just as local media were praising the Amateur Radio community for assisting in providing communication when Prince George's Hospital Center in Cheverly lost its main telephone system for about 10 hours. Turnbull said that while their demonstration table might not result in any new licensees, it did contribute to a better-informed public. "We continued the education process from what people read in the morning paper about the telephone outage," he said.

Previous: Amateur Community Invited to Celebrate Maxim Birthday Anniversary

Next: ARRL to Participate in National Preparedness Month