W1AW, K1D to be On the Air for Kid's Day, January 2

The eight-year-old son of well-known contester and DXer Tim Duffy, K3LR, participated in the June 2004 Kid's Day.

Third grader and General class op Sadie Dillard, KE5BUX--here at her family's station--worked Mark Spencer, WA8SME, at W1AW last October from the Garland (Texas) Amateur Radio Club station for her first HF contact. Her mom and dad are Cheryl and Jerry Dillard, KC5UYO and WD4LHN.

Andy Schiller, AB1BA, operated from W1AW during Kid's Day in June 2003.

Luciano and Gina Schipelliti at the K1D microphone during a 2002 Kid's Day event. [Peter Schipelliti, W1DAD, Photo]

NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 9, 2004--The first 2005 running of Kid's Day will be Sunday, January 2 (the second 2005 Kid's Day will be Saturday, June 18). Intended to encourage young people--licensed or not--to enjoy Amateur Radio, Kid's Day offers a "mentoring opportunity" for experienced amateurs while giving youngsters some firsthand ham radio experience and perhaps sparking a lifelong interest.

"The personal touch is the most effective way to gain someone's interest in ham radio," says ARRL Education and Technology Program Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME. "Many of us became involved in the hobby because of a family member, relative or close friend."

Spencer suggests that Kid's Day offers an opportunity for more experienced radio amateurs to "walk the walk" by doing something to attract and encourage youthful involvement in Amateur Radio. And to serve as a positive example, he'll be putting W1AW on the air for Kid's Day. He's planning to have a few kids available for the occasion.

He suggests that veteran hams take advantage of the opportunity Kid's Day presents to invite their own youngsters, the neighbors' kids, nieces, nephews or grandkids to get on the air and talk with other kids via Amateur Radio.

Farther north in New Hampshire, perennial Kid's Day promoters Peter and Jeanne Schipelliti, W1DAD and K1MOM, plan to be on the air from special event station K1D during the week before and the week after Kid's Day. The Schipellitis have three youngsters, and the two older ones--Geena and Luciano--are old hands at Kid's Day from their parents' station.

Originated by the Boring Amateur Radio Club, Kid's Day sponsored and administered by the ARRL with BARC's cooperation and assistance. Now entering its eleventh year, each running of Kid's Day typically attracts more than 1000 youthful participants. Kid's Day occurs each year on the first Sunday in January and the third Saturday in June.

Kid's Day is not a contest, and patience is the byword on both sides of each contact. The role of the licensee and control operator is to guide youngsters with the basics, keep an eye on the technical aspects of the operation, observe third-party traffic restrictions when making DX QSOs and ensure station identification at proper intervals. In this event, it's contact quality, not quantity, that counts.

Kid's Day will run from1800 to 2400 UTC, and there's no limit on operating time. The recommended exchange is name, age, location and favorite color. Stations may work the same station again if an operator has changed. Call "CQ Kid's Day."

Suggested frequencies are 14.270-14.300, 21.350-21.400 and 28.380-28.400 MHz plus 2 meter repeater frequencies, with permission from the repeater's sponsor). Guidelines for this event are available on the ARRL Web site.

All participants are eligible to receive a colorful certificate. Visit the ARRL Kid's Day Survey page to complete a short survey and post your comments. You will then have access to download the certificate page. Or you can send a 9x12 SASE to Boring Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 1357, Boring, OR 97009.

Kid's Day participants are invited to post logs and comments on the Internet.

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