Icom America has announced that it has signed a sponsorship agreement with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) for the organization's 2013 National Scout Jamboree. As the BSA's official amateur radio transceiver supplier for the jamboree, Icom will provide equipment and technical support for the K2BSA radio operation, the Radio merit badge, and Jamboree-on-the-Air.

Icom has supported the Boy Scouts of America's jamboree amateur radio operation, K2BSA, since 1981. Over those eight Jamborees, more than 30,000 Scouts have been able to experience amateur radio as a potential lifetime hobby or as an entry to a vocation in technology and communication. For the 2013 jamboree, Icom will provide all amateur radio transceivers, associated power supplies, microphones, and speakers. They will also be installing VHF and UHF repeaters that will remain in place year round to support Summit activities and the local community.

In addition to supporting the jamboree, Icom America and the BSA will select local councils to receive a loan of a complete amateur radio station for use in merit badge advancement activities and to introduce Scouts to the fun and technology of amateur radio. Up to 10 stations will be available for this program beginning this year. Since its introduction, more than 150,000 Scouts have earned the Radio merit badge, which was introduced as the Wireless merit badge in 1918.

The BSA, by virtue of its active membership and its outdoor program, represents a significant source of potential new radio operators looking to use amateur radio for emergency communications while in the field, as well as for education, experimentation, and friendship.

Icom America is also a supporter of Jamboree-on-the-Air, the largest Scouting event in the world, with nearly 750,000 Scouts participating annually. In 2011, more than 6,000 amateur radio stations from 150 countries participated in the event, which takes place the third weekend of October each year. To find out more about JOTA, visit www.scouting.org/jota.

IdeaBank

Several female hams, as well as women who are familiar with ham radio but not licensed themselves, have told me the hobby would be more attractive to women if ham gear came with more color options -- especially handbag-sized handhelds.

Obviously, the number of women in ham radio is too small for any of the major manufacturers to invest in multicolored HT cases, but look around at cell phones, MP3 players, etc. There's a huge business in providing all sorts of external cases or "skins" for these devices, in a multitude of colors and patterns. My daughter just got a case for her iPhone with the logo of her favorite baseball team on it.

Accessory manufacturers: How about developing a line of different-colored "skins" for ham radio handhelds, especially the smaller ones that may be more appealing to women to begin with? They wouldn't have to be only for women, either. Many of these skins are made from silicone, which adds a layer of protection against damage when dropped, and which is heat-resistant to very high temperatures. A line of skins could also include licensed logos from various ham radio organizations and, um, magazines!

Keep us informed if you decide to pursue this idea and we'll be happy to help you promote it and advertise it to our readers. -- W2VU

IdeaBank is a forum for sharing ideas that any of us may have for products or services that may benefit the ham industry, but which we and our companies are not in a position to produce or provide. Contributions are "public domain," and neither the contributor nor CQ Communications may claim any proprietary interest in a product or service developed as a result of an idea being shared in the IdeaBank. 

The Dade Radio Club of Miami is making another effort to revive the Miami "Tropical Hamboree" hamfest. Representatives made the rounds at the Dayton Hamvention®, promoting the 2013 Miami Hamfest on February 1st and 2nd. A flyer bills the event as a "Ham Radio, Electronics and Alternative Energy Show Serving South Florida, the Americas and the Caribbean."

The Tropical Hamboree had been a major fixture on the hamfest circuit for decades, but declining attendance and the retirement of perennial sparkplug Evelyn Gauzens, W4WYR, as hamfest chair led to its abandonment after 2004. The club tried unsuccessfully to revive the show in 2008.

The 2013 show is slated for its traditional date - one weekend before the Orlando Hamcation® - and location, the Miami-Dade Youth Fair Grounds and Expo Center. More information is available at <http://miamihamfest.net>.

Richard Moseson

CQ magazine editor and CQ Communications Editorial Director Rich Moseson, W2VU, has been selected for listing in the 2013 edition of Marquis Who's Who in America. Published since 1899, Marquis Who's Who in America is oldest and most-respected "who's who" guide published today. The book features "profiles of prominent individuals who have had a substantial impact and influence on our society," according to its website.

Moseson was previously listed in two other Marquis publications, Who's Who in Entertainment (1st and 2nd editions, 1988 and 1992) and Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America, 4th edition (1992).

"I am very honored to be named to the flagship 'Who's Who' directory," said Moseson. "It is not only a personal honor but also reflects well on CQ Communications and the quality of our publications." The 67th (2013) edition of Who's Who in America is scheduled for publication in September 2012.

(Source; CQ Magazine)