12/27/2023 ��2023 has been a remarkable year for amateur radio. There were many noteworthy�opportunities for hams to use their license privileges for the greater good. An�annular solar eclipse saw�radio amateurs engaging in projects of scientific�research[1]�about our ionosphere, devastating firestorms gutted entire cities�and�saw Amateur Radio Emergency Service member-volunteers rise to activate[2],�hurricanes threatened life and property[3], bicycle races�spread across the�desert[4]�necessitating robust communications provided by hams, and high school�students�led and executed contacts with the International Space Station[5].�Many amateur radio operators stood to serve in ways that made headlines, and�all of them were volunteers.��������Still, tens of thousands of others did work that never made the pages of�QST[6], didn't become the lead story on the local news, and didn't become�fodder for online forums. Perhaps it was the ARRL VE who administered tests,�welcoming the next generation of hams into the hobby, or the National Traffic�System net manager who handled traffic from hams checking in. It could've even�been the mentor who took the time to show a learner how to solder. These are�the unsung heroes of the Amateur Radio Service -- these are the volunteers.�����ARRL has nearly 60,000 volunteers within its membership, without whom it could�not function. They are the lifeblood of this hobby. ARRL designated 2023 as the�Year of the Volunteers[7]�to recognize their efforts, encourage new prospective�volunteers to follow their lead, and call existing volunteers to reach one rung�higher on the ladder of service. The�Volunteers On the Air (VOTA)[8]�operating�event has been popular among hams, with some operators making nearly 30,000�QSOs throughout the yearlong activation.�����A young man from north Texas emerged as a leader. Sam Lovett, KI5RSV, is just a�teenager but has been awarded the 2023 Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award for his�success with developing interest in amateur radio among his peers. He leads a�youth net and has been instrumental in building a strong ham culture in his�Trail Life USA troop. A video interview with Sam will be featured in the�February 2023 digital edition of�QST.�����Lyn Alfman, N8IMW, of Norwich, Ohio, was honored for her volunteer work in the�public information space. She received the 2023 ARRL Philip J. McGan Memorial�Silver Antenna Award. The proclamation issued by the ARRL Board of Directors�says that Lyn "exemplifies the skills and depth of understanding [needed] to�convey to media outlets the fascinating world of amateur radio."�����ARRL's George Hart Distinguished Service Award honors the work�member-volunteers put in to use their license privileges to serve others. Jo�Ann Keith, KA5AZK, of Diana, Texas, is the 2023 recipient.�����Jo Ann is the net manager of the 7290 Traffic Net, a public service traffic net�that has been in operation since 1953. She has a long history of volunteer�work, dating back to her youth when she served as a candy striper. Like tens of�thousands of others, Jo Ann uses amateur radio in the spirit of service.�����These are just a few stories that can be told from the Year of the Volunteers.�There are so many other stories out there, and we encourage you to tell your�own.�����While the Volunteers on the Air event closes on December 31, 2023 at 2359 UTC,�the spirit of this year will continue as long as there are hams standing to�serve others through amateur radio.�����From all of us at ARRL, thank you!������[1] https://www.arrl.org/news/solar-eclipse-qso-party-seeks-amateurs-and-radio-enthusiasts-for-global-experiment�[2] https://www.arrl.org/news/devastating-hawaii-wildfires-prompt-response-from-amateur-radio-emergency-service�[3] https://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-operators-provide-post-hurricane-communications-in-mexico�[4] https://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-serves-in-large-utah-bike-race�[5] https://www.arrl.org/news/student-led-ariss-contact-a-success�[6] https://www.arrl.org/qst�[7] https://www.arrl.org/files/file/QST/This20in%20QST/2023/012023/EDITORIAL20JAN%202023.pdf�[8] https://www.arrl.org/volunteers-on-the-air��---� � Synchronet � Whiskey Lover's Amateur Radio BBS�