by Neil Carleton VE3NCE
Radios. Check. Antennas. Check. The volunteers of the Almonte Amateur Radio Club (AARC) are ready to go, and the public is invited to attend.
This Sunday, November 6th, on the 150th birth anniversary of Dr. James Naimsith, AARC members will be operating in shifts around the clock, at the Mill of Kintail gatehouse, with special event stations on 80, 40, 20, 10, and 2 m frequencies. The public is invited to attend between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. during this 24 hour project to honour Dr. James Naismith, Almonte native. Best known worldwide as the inventor of basketball, he was an educator, a leader, and devoted to serving society.
AARC volunteers will be on hand to introduce visitors to the fun of amateur radio, and explain the operations of the special event stations. They’re hoping families will attend too.
Station operators at the gatehouse hope too that some visitors will have a chance to make their first on-air contact with one of the Club’s volunteers. On display will be a large world map with the locations marked of Canadian and international radio amateurs who have participated during the day.
In the weeks following this unique event, AARC volunteers will be preparing special commemorative cards that will be mailed to radio amateurs around the globe who took part. On the back, along with printed information about the 150th anniversary event, the technical details will be recorded by the station operator to verify the contact. Featured on the front is a photo composition of the historical Mill building with James Naismith and his good friend R. Tait McKenzie.
QSL cards are they’re known, are exchanged by amateur radio operators in all parts of the world to confirm two-way radio contacts between stations. Later on, in the new year, a public display will be organized of the QSL cards that arrived from radio amateurs close to home and in countries worldwide.
There’s parking in front of the gatehouse, and no admission fee to visit the Almonte Amateur Radio Club’s special event. Please sign our guest book when you arrive. Hope to see you there.