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THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN RADIO AMATEURS SMRA MEET VIRTUALLY FOR THEIR MEET THE
MENTOR PROGRAM.  A NEED FOR CHANGE NEW MEMBERS ARE THE KEY TO GROWTH IN ANY
ORGANIZATION, AND MENTORS SUSTAIN THAT GROWTH.  PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, NEW
AND EXPERIENCED HAM CONNECTIONS WERE MADE AT SMRA GENERAL MEETINGS, WHICH
OFTEN LED TO SHACK VISITS AT HOME, RESULTING IN LASTING FRIENDSHIPS.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE QRP OUTINGS, TRAFFIC NETS, PROJECT BUILDS, AND
VOLUNTEER COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES.  WHEN ACTIVITIES WERE CANCELLED IN 2020
BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, SMRA NEEDED TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY COULD THRIVE IN
SUCH UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND HOW HAMS COULD CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE EACH
OTHER AND EXPLORE IDEAS.  JOHN JAMINET, W3HMS, A KEY CLUB MEMBER, EDUCATOR,
AND ACTIVE MENTOR, RECOGNIZED THE IMMEDIATE NEED TO COME UP WITH AN IDEA TO
PROVIDE NEW HAMS WITH SUPPORT AND CAMARADERIE, WHILE THERE WAS AN INCREASED
INTEREST IN THE HOBBY.  TOGETHER WITH LATE SMRA VICE PRESIDENT ED CROSSLEY,
W3SMF SK, THEY RECOGNIZED THAT NEW HAMS OFTEN DIDNT KNOW WHERE OR HOW TO
SEEK ASSISTANCE.  AWARE THAT MANY KNOWLEDGEABLE HAMS WERE WILLING TO SHARE
THEIR TIME AND EXPERIENCES, JOHN CAME UP WITH A PLAN TO CREATE A VIRTUAL
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