Wellington VHF Group, Inc: Online.

2009 is the The 52nd JOTA , and the World Scouting Movement's communication theme for this year is environment. The leaders of the Paparangi Scout Group (who we’ve supported at the last two JOTAs), have invited us to hold another event this year, with a goodly number of Scouts already keen to get involved.

Paparangi are a great group to be involved with, and a lot of fun. To give you an idea of what's on the cards.... :

What is Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA)?
The JOTA is an annual event in which Scouts and Guides all over the world speak to each other by means of Amateur radio contacts. Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared, via the radio waves.

When is JOTA?
The 52nd Jamboree On The Air will take place on 17 and 18 October 2009. Please mark your diaries.

How to take part?
Wellington VHF Group will be setting up an Amateur radio station in the Paparangi Scout Hall in Newlands.
We're looking to operate a variety of bands and modes; Set up 80m, 40m, 2m and the National System as a start.
We'll also hopefully be able to provide some exposure to other Amateur Radio activities of interest; Foxhunting and Morse Code are usually an interesting diversion!

We need people to assist us at Paparangi. However, even if you can't make it - you can help by contacting your local Scout Group and finding out whether you can inspire them to get on-air during the course of the weekend. The aim is to get as many scouts as possible calling “CQ Jamboree” on the Scout Frequencies! And get them chatting with their fellow scouters from all across the country - or the world!

JOTA is a lot of fun, and also good practise for those of us who need to remember what it's like to bring along and set up our rigs, erect antennas, run feeders, sort out power supplies, batteries etc, but Amateurs are good at this stuff! That, and we get to enlist the help of enthusiastic Scouts to do the fun stuff, like creating antenna poles out of pioneering timber.

Mark Foster ZL1VMF is co-ordinating our effort for JOTA 2009, so get in contact with Mark to register your interest in helping out, and be part of this fun event, encouraging youth interest in Amateur radio. Mark is also our Webmaster, so you can get hold of him via the VHF Group Web Contact Form.