The Southwest Ohio DX Association (SWODXA) in conjunction with ICOM® America, Inc. is announcing a program to recognize and reward amateur radio operators who have played a key role in helping other amateur radio operators achieve DXCC. The purpose of this program is not to bring recognition to those that achieve DXCC but rather to recognize those amateurs that assist others in achieving their first 100 confirmed entities.

There is an application form and a judging committee staffed by SWODXA representatives and a representative from both the NCDXF and INDEXA. Those amateurs receiving the mentoring must be under 30 years of age during the calendar year for the award. The intent of targeting this audience is to attract and retain those amateurs that are most likely to remain engaged in the hobby after achieving DXCC.

SWODXA is uniquely positioned to bestow this award at the annual SWODXA DX Dinner®. The DX Dinner, held annually in conjunction with the Dayton Hamvention®, is arguably the largest gathering of active DXers in the world. We present the DXpedition of the Year Award®, the DXpeditioner of the Year Award, when applicable, and host the DX Forum there. CQ
Magazine announces their CQ DX Hall of Fame inductees at the DX dinner as well. As a technology leader in our hobby, there is no better partner to promote and celebrate this award than ICOM. Ray, N9JA, has been a constant promoter of ham radio, even coining the phrase “For the Love of Ham Radio”. ICOM has selflessly supported amateur radio over the years and is taking this opportunity to promote the mentors of DX. Thanks to ICOM for their support!

More information and the entry form can be found at www.swodxa.org/DX Mentor-Program or by emailing  hedxmentor@gmail.com. I wanted to repeat the above because this is a NATIONAL PROGRAM that comes from an Ohio
Section club! I also wanted to clarify that the deadline for your nominations is April 30th
.
Share the Magic of Radio. 73,
Tom Sly – WB8LCD
Ohio Section Manager
wb8lcd@arrl.org
330-554-4650

Do you know a young leader who is passionate about disaster preparedness and community resilience? Encourage them to join FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council (YPC).

The YPC is a nationwide program that brings together young leaders who want to make a difference in their community and build valuable leadership skills. Council members serve for one year and collaborate on projects that promote emergency preparedness, participate in engaging discussions with FEMA leaders, and gain insight into careers in emergency management.

Students currently in grades 8 through 11 may apply. Applications can be submitted in either written or video format by March 3 on FEMA’s YPC application page.

Former national YPC member Georgia Bukata, who served on the national YPC from 2023-2024, shared how her experience had a positive impact on her life. “My time on the Youth Preparedness Council taught me invaluable skills that continue to shape my life today,” said Bukata. “Collaborating with diverse peers from across the country, I learned how to harness different strengths and perspectives to tackle complex projects. The YPC taught me how to work efficiently, communicate clearly, and adapt to new challenges—all skills that have been essential in my academic and volunteer work.” Bukata also shared how the experience shaped and inspired her to take action. “The YPC deepened my passion for emergency preparedness and public service,” she explained.” It inspired me to pursue opportunities like teaching a course on preparedness at Duke and to explore the intersection of health policy and community resilience. The connections I made (…) opened my eyes to the broader impact we can have in shaping future preparedness efforts.”

Mark your calendars! FEMA will conduct two informational webinars to provide additional details about the YPC and answer questions. Both webinars will cover the same content.

• Thursday, Jan. 30, at 8 p.m. ET. Register in advance on Zoom for government.
• Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 5 p.m. ET. Register in advance on Zoom for government.

Don’t miss this opportunity to make a difference and shape the future of emergency preparedness!

To learn more about the YPC, please visit the Youth Preparedness Council page on FEMA.gov

Disclaimer: The reader recognizes that the federal government provides links and informational data on various disaster preparedness resources and events and does not endorse any non-federal events, entities, organizations, services, or products. Please let us know about other events and services for individual and community preparedness that could be included in future newsletters by contacting 

FEMA-prepare@fema.dhs.gov.