Handiham World Update for December 23, 2022

It is difficult to believe that we are coming to the end of 2022. It has been a busy year with Morse code classes, the Extra Class license class, our celebration of the 55th Anniversary of the Handiham Program, and starting our first two semester Technician Class license class. Of course, all of this is made possible thanks to our dedicated volunteers who put in countless hours in support of Handiham Program members.

The annual holiday break will run through January 6th. During this time, the office will be closed, and we won’t be able to respond to emails or phone calls. Pemdy and I look forward to reconnecting with all of you in the new year!

We have an exciting announcement about the 2023 Radio Camp. From September 6 through September 13, 2023,
Handiham Radio Camp-Metro Edition will be held right here in Minneapolis at the same hotel we used for the 2018 Assistive Technology and Amateur Radio Conference. We will be making several field trips during the week to operate radios and visit local attractions, and we want everyone to join us for very special week filled with hands-on ham radio activities. More details, including financial details and the daily schedule will be available in early 2023.

I want to say a special thank you to Barry, K9AMO, our Handiham Radio Club net manager and his incredible team of net control stations. All of you provide an invaluable service to our Handiham community. The Handiham Radio Club sponsors nets at 11:00 am Central time and on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm Central time.

The basic Morse code class just finished week 13 this week. The students worked hard over this past semester, and we had a lot of fun in class too. Classes included weekly interactive sessions over Zoom along with practice recordings to help students gain mastery of their new language. If you already know your letters, numbers, and prosigns, we will be holding an intermediate level Morse code class starting February 20th that will help you increase your speed from around five words per minute to around 13 words per minute. You can contact Pemdy if you want to join that class.

If you have already completed the intermediate level Morse code class or if you can copy at around 13 words per minute, you can join us in September of 2023 for a two semester advanced Morse code class. We will be taking students from 13 to around 20 words per minute. The class will run two semesters with a long break between semesters. If you are interested in this class, please contact Pemdy to be placed on the list for an application.

The 24 week Technician Class finished week 8 last Wednesday. This class gets three weeks off for the holidays and will resume on January 11th. Classes are held using the Zoom platform, and handouts and class recordings are provided each week to assist students with their studies.

In the fall of 2023, we will also be starting a two-semester General Class license class. If you are interested in joining us for that class, please ask Pemdy to put you on the list for an application. This class will be in the same format as the current two-semester Technician Class with interactive Zoom classes along with class recordings and handouts sent via email to students.

The Handiham Radio Club is getting radio active! Look for more information to come about regular monthly meetings via Zoom and ways for you to get involved in the club. If you have not yet joined the Handiham Radio Club, all members of the Handiham Program are eligible to join. Just let Pemdy know you want to be put on the email list for the club so you can keep up with everything that is happening.

From all of us at the Handiham Program, we wish you happy holidays and look forward to what 2023 will bring!

Lucinda and Pemdy