YLRL District 6

Young Ladies' Radio League District 6 - Spring 2019

See the New Updated YLRL.org Website!


YLRL News & Views - District 6 - California

ARRL Affiliated Since 1939

Celebrating Women and Girls

of all Ages in Amateur Radio

YLRL Web Resources

YLRL National Page: www.ylrl.org

Facebook page: facebook.com/www.ylrl.org

Facebook group:

facebook.com/groups/560760197456757

Instagram: instagram.com/ylrlhamradio/

Twitter feed: twitter.com/YLRLhamradio

YL Harmonics: ylharmonics.org

Young Ladies' Radio League, Inc.

District 6 - California

Join or Renew Online through the New YLRL Website!If you have not yet joined or renewed for 2019, it is now easier than ever to join and pay your dues online through the NEW www.ylrl.org website! Your membership supports the YLRL mission to encourage and assist women and young ladies throughout the world to participate in amateur radio through YL contests, YL nets, member news in our bi-monthly newsletter YL Harmonics and scholarships for young ladies who pursue studies in electronics, communications or related areas.

While your at it, would you send a paragraph or two (and a photo if available) about yourself and your activities to me at district6@ylrl.org for inclusion in an upcoming YL Harmonics?

33,

Carol Milazzo, KP4MD

YLRL District 6 Chair

YL Forum Saturday April 13 at Visalia International DX Convention

The YL Forum was held at the 2019 International DX Convention in Visalia, California on Saturday April 13 at 1:00 pm for all YL amateur radio operators and members of YL groups and friends.

The speaker panel of Kristen McIntyre, K6WX, Cheryl Muhr, NØWBV, Linda Souder, W6QE, Violet Barrett, W6CBA, and chaired by Gayle Jacobs Olson, K6GO, introduced themselves and entertained questions from the audience. Topics on a range of issues on a range of issues were discussed including: a history of the YL forum, a YLRL website update, YL nets on the air and EchoLink, and ways to encourage more YL participation in amateur radio.

YL Forums & Conventions

In attendance were: Mike Binder, NA6MB, Magda Tamulski, KM6KSN, Ingrid Geissler, W7ISG, Nick Rodillas, N6RND, Bob Grubic, NC6Q, Timothy Everingham, N6CUX, Vicki Zumwalt, N6KLS, Jennifer Selbrede, K6ZED, Leida Erickson, N6MXC, Marilyn Konold, KB6KKU, Michelle Thompson, W5NYV, Paul Williamson, KB5MU, Michael Kalter, W8CI, Valerie Pigott, K7VAP, Gary Grant, KC7CS, Grace Foster, W6ULW, John Foster, N6FVY, Joanna Dilley, K6YL, Dennis Vernacchia, N6KI, Carolyn Wilson, K6TKD, Jim Idelson, K1IR, Cathy Gardenias, K6VC, Beckie Kendrick, K6RI, Carl Gardenias, WU6D, Karen Isaacson, KK6SID, Brian Leverich, WA6I, David Bartholomew, AD7DB, Emma Ronney, KG6MFC, Kyle Bixler, NN0X, Dr. Emilia Seiferling, KI6YYT, Irene Brown, N6OU, John Muhr, KT0F, Anna Sombor, W6NN, and Carol Milazzo, KP4MD. Photo Album.A video of the YL forum is posted on YouTube.At the convention, Kristen McIntyre, K6WX, also presented her technical forum "Not So Basic Antennas"--an overview of all types of antennas and their particular applications in amateur radio.

Update from Janet Lutus, WB6WGN, San Bruno, CA

I belong to a local Ham Radio Club in San Bruno, CA. We meet monthly in the EOC, (Emergency Operations Center) and conduct a weekly net on 2 meters. We focus mainly on disaster communication preparedness since we live in earthquake country! California has also suffered many major fires in which phones, electricity, Internet were nonoperational and ham radio was the only means of communications. In some cases even the repeaters were down.

San Mateo County recently conducted a simplex drill to address this very problem. Participants checked in to Net Control on a repeater and then switched to a simplex frequency to read a script. Others rated their signal strength and readability. Our county has many hills, canyons and low spots, so this was a a good exercise.

One of the highlights of our Club was participating in a contact between the International Space Station and a local middle school in San Bruno. Another local radio club and many other hams set up the necessary equipment to make the contact 250 miles above the earth. The entire student body was present as contact was made with Capt. Scott Tingle, KG5NZA. Some students in the school's radio club had questions ready to ask Capt. Tingle concerning life on the Space Station. Unfortunately the contact only lasted 11 minutes before the Station flew out of range but it was an experience the students won't soon forget.

YL HF Nets

Don't have an HF antenna or radio? Click on the frequencies listed above to listen via WebSDR!

EchoLink Nets

YL Contests

  • DX/NA YL Anniversary Contest - Oct 5 1400 UTC - Oct 7 0200 UTC

Kristen McIntyre, K6WX, on QSO Today Podcast

Kristen McIntyre, K6WX, is literally in the center of the Silicon Valley, a senior software engineer at Apple, after spending years in Japan as an entrepreneur. Her resume has her doing just about everything in electronics in addition to supporting STEM programs that encourage kids into studying for the sciences. She is the president of the Palo Alto Amateur Radio Association, and she is a ARRL Pacific Division Vice Director. Kristen writes a monthly column for Nuts and Volts magazine. She was recently inducted into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame.

"They" say that if you want to get something done, give it to a busy person. Kristen is a busy person who still has time to mentor kids and travel to ham radio conferences to speak on any number of subjects that interest and engage us. After hearing her speak at the 2018 Pacificon Antenna Seminar, Eric Guth, 4Z1UG, knew that he should share her story with you in the QSO Today podcast at https://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/K6WX

Contest Award Winners

Emilia Seiferling, KI6YYT, 1st place, YL category, 2018 California QSO Party

We operated portable in Solano county about two miles from our house in a quiet RFI spot. We were set up in our tiny trailer, a MeerKat. We got the trailer to do exactly this sort of radio operation. Last year I got fourth place so I decided to go for a better placement this year. I was really surprised to get first. Some one in a better location could do the same thing. You just have to submit your log! If you put this in the YLRL Harmonics, maybe it will encourage other YLs to participate in their state QSO Party.

73, Emilia Seiferling, KI6YYT

Carol Milazzo KP4MD/P, 1st Place PR, 3rd Place NA, 2018 IARU HF World Championship

2018 was my second consecutive entry in the IARU HF World Championship from my beach front vacation condo in Puerto Rico. I opted to forego the frustration that QRP'ers face with compromise antennas and dismal propagation, so I added the KXPA100 amplifier to the KX3 transceiver and the Buddistick antenna on the balcony. Prior WSPR station spot data again helped optimize my operating and rest times to maximize the QSO yield. I was rewarded with 1st Place Puerto Rico and 3rd Place Zone 11 and North America in the CW Low Power Category!

33, Carol Milazzo, KP4MD

Ladies of the Net Excursion to Solvang April 27-28

KM6CIR Ladies of the Net is excited to announce that our first get together of 2019 will be April 27th and 28th!! We will meet for lunch on Saturday, April 27 between 12:00 - 1:00 pm at the Solvang Restaurant, 1672 Copenhagen Dr., Solvang, CA 93463. The nearby hotels are: Hotel Corque (805) 688-8000; King Frederik Inn (805) 688-5515; and Wine Valley Inn & Cottages (805) 688-2111. They are all within walking distance of the Solvang Restaurant and are all located near the stores for our shopping spree. Come join us for this fun weekend in Solvang. Join the net every Monday - Thursday at 10am PST and help plan the itinerary!!

YLRL Scholarship Applications Due April 30

The Young Ladies Radio League sponsors three scholarships:

  • The Ethel Smith, K4LMB, Memorial Scholarship which pays $2,000.

  • The Mary Lou Brown, NM7N, Memorial Scholarship which pays $2,000.

  • The Martha “Marte” Wessel, K0EPE, Memorial Scholarship which pays $1,000.

  1. Applicants must be female and

  2. Hold at least an FCC Technician Class or equivalent foreign authorization and

  3. Intend to seek a Bachelor’s or Graduate degree from a U.S. college or university.

There are no residence restrictions and non-US Amateurs are eligible. Preference will be given to students studying communications, electronics, or related arts and sciences. The Ethel Smith and Mary Lou Brown scholarships will be awarded to full-time students. The Martha “Marte” Wessel, K0EPE, Memorial Scholarship is intended for a part-time student who is working full time while a student.

The cut–off date for applications is April 30.

Here is a link to the scholarship application form. Please publish it to your organization and anywhere else you feel might get it into the eyes of prospective applicants. 2019 FAR Scholarship Application Form

Prospective applicants can also access the form at www.farweb.org. YLRL scholarship information

Linda Hynan AC5QQ, 1312 Western Ridge Dr, Waco, TX 76712 Email: lshynan@hot.rr.com

YLRL Forum at the 2018 ARRL PACIFICON Convention

Women amateur radio operators of all ages (YLs) and members of YL clubs and groups attended the YLRL Forum at the 2018 ‪‎ARRL‬ Pacificon Division Convention. The forum was held on Saturday October 20 from 3-5 pm at the San Ramon Marriott.

Following introductions of the attendees and a welcome by YLRL District Chairwoman Dr. Carol Milazzo, KP4MD, Convention Keynote speaker Jeri Ellsworth, AI6TK started with a talk on her success in amateur radio and other male-dominated fields. The forum continued with slide shows of the year's YL events including the Ladies of the Net Visit to the Jelly Belly Factory, Activation of the USS Lucid Museum Ship Radio Station, and photos from the 2018 YLRL Convention. Attendees shared in a thoroughly enjoyable discussion of their experiences, strategies, challenges, and accomplishments in amateur radio.

Many thanks to all who visited and assisted at the YLRL Booth throughout the Convention weekend!

Click to see the 2018 YLRL Forum Photo Album

PACIFICON is the annual ARRL Pacific Division convention, held each year in October. It is THE premier amateur radio conference in the western U.S.

Reach Out to Girls at Local STEM Events

Wouldn't you enjoy sharing your passion for amateur radio with girls who are curious about the fascinating world of communications and electronics? Girls of all ages love hands-on activities and the opportunity to experience contacts over amateur radio, and you can provide the learning experiences that can lead to an amateur radio license of their own and to fulfilling careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

Check the event calendar on your local Girl Scout council website and apply to participate in upcoming STEM events. Offer to set up an amateur radio station at STEM events, give demonstrations to local scout troops, answer questions about your interest in amateur radio and demonstrate operating procedures and let them talk on the air!. We conducted a very well received amateur radio booth at the Girl Scouts Heart of Central California STEM Expo in Sacramento. We plan another hands-on operational amateur radio station at the March 2 Placer County STEM Expo in Rocklin with youth oriented literature about amateur radio, the YLRL, Radio Scouting, and the Girl Scouts Radio and Wireless Technology Patch Program. Please contact Carol KP4MD at district6@ylrl.org if you wish to participate or need assistance, literature or resources for a local event.

All YL Episode on Ham Nation Webcast

September 7, 2016 on TWIT TV

On September 7, 2016 the Ham Nation webcast was an all YL episode. Here is the video with a table of contents. In her talk, Katie Allen Breen WY7YL explains challenges that she and many other YLs face when entering amateur radio.

  • 0:00 Leo Laporte W6TWT opens the program introducing hosts Val Hotzfeld NV9L, Amanda Alden K1DDN, Katie Allen WY7YL, & Dr. Tamitha Skov

  • 5:20 Video of YL's around the world - Val

  • 9:00 Interview with DXpeditioner Helen Archibald, VA1YL - Val

  • 15:50 DX News and Conventions - Val

  • 18:25 Katie Allen Breen, WY7YL shares her experience in Ham Radio

  • 30:30 Icom America Commercial

  • 33:15 Amateur Radio Newsline™ - Lisamarie Luminais

  • 39:15 Space Weather and HF Propagation - Dr. Tamitha Skov

  • 1:06:30 DX Engineering Commercial

  • 1:09:10 Smoke and Solder - Audrey Mc Elroy, KM4BUN explains transistors

  • 1:17:00 Public Service & Ham radio - Amanda Alden K1DDN

  • 1:25:00 Chat Room Questions - Abbi Wilson KF5BEW & Kendra Wilson KF5FYS Wilson

Young Ladies' Radio League in District 6

In August 2016 I started serving as District 6 Chair (California) for the Young Ladies' Radio League (YLRL), ARRL affiliated and founded in 1939 with a current international membership of about 1,100 YL (Young Ladies, that is, women and girls of all ages) ham operators. The YLRL's primary purpose is "to encourage and assist YLs throughout the world to enter into the Amateur Radio Service." The YLRL encourages women's and girls' participation in amateur radio through YL contests, YL nets, member news in the bi-monthly journal YL-Harmonics, and also sponsors scholarships for YLs who pursue education in communications and electronics or related areas (science, technology, engineering and math).

A majority of newly licensed YLs are Technicians. More YL role models and all Elmers are needed to reach out and welcome both new and inactive YLs and encourage them to get on the air and to upgrade and join our mainstream amateur community. (The "Ladies of the Net" YL net meets on 7245 kHz LSB weekdays at 10:00 am Pacific Time). We see new opportunities to include YLs in our youth outreach through the Maker movement and through helping to implement the new ARRL "Radio and Wireless Technology" Patch Program in our local Girl Scout troops. This is good for the growth and health of our entire amateur community. Please do encourage YLs on the air, in your communities, and in your clubs to join this mission to welcome more YLs to our fascinating hobby by contacting me or the YLRL.

33, Carol Milazzo, KP4MD, YLRL District 6 Chair

You can always send compliments, suggestions and submissions for inclusion in our news to district6@ylrl.org

Children's STEM "Ada Lace" Adventure in Amateur Radio Book Now Available

Emily Dawn Calandrelli, KD8PKR, is an engineer from MIT, astronautics expert, former NASA employee and a licensed radio amateur. She is also the host of Xploration Outer Space, a Saturday morning children's television show in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) block of Xploration Station, and a field correspondent on Bill Nye Saves the World.

Emily is a professional speaker and presents on the topics of space exploration, scientific literacy, and equality of the sexes in STEM. Calandrelli is also a contributing writer at TechCrunch where she writes on technology developments in the space industry.

Emily writes about "Take Me to your Leader", the latest book in her "Ada Lace Adventure" series of STEM books for children age 6-10 [no doubt a take-off on the historic Ada Lovelace]: "I'm excited to share the cover of the third book in the Ada Lace series! In this 3rd book, Ada learns all about radio waves and makes unexpected contact." This and other books of the Ada Lace Adventure series are now available for order on Amazon.

ARRL Offering "Radio and Wireless Technology" Patch Program for Girl ScoutsPosted August 25, 2016

The ARRL has begun offering a new Girl Scouts "Radio and Wireless Technology" patch program that offers opportunities for participants to learn about wireless technology, including Amateur Radio. Scout leaders and Amateur Radio volunteers associated with the Greater Atlanta Girl Scout Council and Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains developed the program to incorporate information and exploratory activities that provide a backdrop for understanding radio communication. The program will encourage Girl Scouts to take on activities to gain knowledge and skills, as well as kindle an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects and careers.

"The initiative for the program came about through my conversations with hams who wanted to work with Girl Scouts as well as Boy Scouts and wanted a patch program that would introduce ham radio, as the 'Radio' merit badge does in the Boy Scouts," said ARRL Education Services Manager Debra Johnson, K1DMJ. "I was introduced to a group of leaders with the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta who wanted to work in developing a new, fun patch program for radio that would fit with the Girl Scout Leadership Experience structure. This group was joined by Jill Galus, KB1SWV, of the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains in New Hampshire. We collaborated on this over the course of several years." Galus's father, "Skip" Youngberg, K1NKR, and a team from the Nashoba Valley Radio Club helped test-drive the new patch program with Girl Scouts in New Hampshire, during "Thinking Day on the Air" this past February.

The program defines the requirements for Girl Scouts to earn the patch at the Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador levels. Girl Scouts can learn the fundamentals of radio communication and wireless technology, from broadcasting to smartphones, and apply what they learn to connect people, enhance safety, and explore related careers. In addition to acquiring the fundamentals, participants can explore radio science through hands-on learning with Amateur Radio, and use radio to talk around the world and for public service. They also can learn about the role of wireless technology in everyday life and in careers. Read more.

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E-mail compliments, suggestions and submissions for inclusion on this page to district6 (at) ylrl.org

YLRL is a Registered California Domestic 501(c)3 Non-Profit Corporation C0397847

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