This is a scary thought: I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a window and realized that if I wore a pointed hat I would look like a gnome!

I guess I should start with National Night Out. This year it was help on 4 August. We (The Perry County Amateur Radio Club) set up a booth at the Landisburg Fire Department. This being a community event, they had a good turn out. Right from the start there were people wandering the grounds and participating in the activities. We had radios set up for demonstrations and literature to hand out. The idea was to provide to the community information on ham radio and how it benefits the local area.

Yesterday was uneventful. It was rather dismal. We did our shopping. Nothing much to talk about unless you want our grocery list.

This morning we left home at 6AM and arrived at Gathland State Park (US-1574 and US-4556 The Appalachian Trail) and got on the air by 0817. Within a half hour we worked 35 stations before it got too hot to sit there. We had one net (MidCars) ask us to move, which I gladly did as they were polite and ,considerate. The spot we moved to was the location of another net but they did not start until we were done. A park ranger drove past, checking us out but did not stop. As I was starting to pack up, a man in his early 20s came over and he expressed interest in what we were doing. He was doing a hike on the Appalachian Trail and was carrying a GMRS. He was interested in ham radio and is studying for his license. I gave him a description of POTA and how it is a good way for fat old hams to keep active.

Over the course of the day we heard the following birds: American Robins, Northern Cardinals, House Finches, Mourning Doves, Chipping Sparrows, Northern Mockingbirds, Tree Swallows, Eastern Wood Peewees, Red-eyed Vireos, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-throated Vireos, White-breasted Nuthatches, Carolina Wrens, and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.

After this we went down to the cemetery in Burkittsville and did some photography.

I can’t stress enough the importance of making a good impression on others. When I interact with people I try to leave them with a positive attitude toward radio.

I asked CHATGPT to come up with 10 ways to promote POTA and ham radio and here is the list: Parks on the Air (POTA) is one of the best gateways into amateur radio because it combines technology, the outdoors, and friendly competition. Here are ten practical ways to promote both ham radio and POTA in your community.

1. Host a “Try Ham Radio” POTA Activation
   • Invite the public to a local park.
   • Let visitors listen to contacts and, under FCC rules, make supervised contacts using your station.
   • Bring brochures explaining how to get licensed.
2. Create Short YouTube Videos
   • Produce 30-60 second videos showing:
     • Setting up an antenna in a park
     • Making your first contact
     • Portable radios
     • Wildlife and scenery
     • “A Day in the Life of a POTA Activator”
   • Keep videos entertaining rather than overly technical.
3. Offer “POTA Discovery Days”
   • Your club can organize monthly outings where newcomers only need to bring a lawn chair.
   • Experienced operators provide radios, antennas, and coaching.
4. Partner with State Parks
   • Ask park managers if you can demonstrate amateur radio during park events.
   • Emphasize emergency communications, outdoor recreation, and STEM education.
5. Create an Information Packet
   Include:
   • What is Amateur Radio?
   • What is POTA?
   • How to Get Licensed
   • Local club information
   • Upcoming activations
   • QR codes linking to your club website and the POTA website.
6. Speak to Community Groups
   Offer presentations to:
   • Libraries
   • Scouts
   • Hiking clubs
   • Historical societies
   • Senior centers
   • Schools
   • Emergency preparedness organizations
7. Share Interesting POTA Stories
   People love stories more than technical specifications. Examples include:
   • “We talked to Alaska from a Pennsylvania park.”
   • “This tiny radio reached Australia.”
   • “We operated entirely from solar power.”
   • “A family joined us and made their first radio contact.”
8. Promote Through Social Media
   Post:
   • Photos from activations
   • Contact totals
   • Beautiful park scenery
   • Antenna setups
   • Wildlife encounters
   • Time-lapse videos of station setup
   • “Today’s Park” features
9. Offer Portable Operating Workshops
   Teach beginners:
   • Portable antennas
   • Battery power
   • Logging software
   • Safety
   • Lightweight equipment
   • Park etiquette
   • Leave No Trace principles
10. Host a Friendly POTA Challenge
    Organize a club event such as:

• Activate five parks in one month.
• Work all state parks in your state.
• Make 100 park contacts.
• Operate from every county park in your county.
• Award inexpensive certificates or small prizes to participants.

Bonus Idea: “Ham Radio Meets Hiking”

Many people aren’t interested in radio alone—but they are interested in outdoor adventures. Promote POTA as:

• Hiking with a purpose
• Camping with communication
• Technology without the Internet
• Emergency preparedness
• Family-friendly outdoor fun
• Photography and radio combined

Instead of saying “Come learn about ham radio,” try saying:

“Join us in a local park and see how we can talk across the country—and around the world—with nothing more than a battery, a wire antenna, and a radio.”

That kind of demonstration sparks curiosity and often leaves a stronger impression than simply describing the hobby. For clubs like the Perry County Amateur Radio Club, regular POTA outings combined with YouTube Shorts and local newspaper coverage can be an especially effective way to attract new operators and show that amateur radio is an active, modern outdoor hobby rather than just something done from a home shack.

I believe that is a good list with some ideas to think about. Well, time to go for now. Namaste, kids, and keep your stick on the ice.