Amateur radio has always been about connection — connecting with people across town, across the country, and across the world. But more importantly, it connects people through shared experiences, mentorship, and community.

Events like this remind us that the hobby has the power to bring people together and open new doors, especially for veterans who already understand the value of communication and teamwork.

At the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, the Granite State Amateur Radio Association showed more than 100 children (ages 6–12) and their parents what Amateur Radio is all about, with 13 club volunteers running hands-on stations and cheering on first-time operators.

Tom Perkins, W1FMF, spent a week at the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology—a donor-funded program that equips teachers to bring hands-on radio and STEM learning to schools. His takeaway: simplify complex tech for students, and bring back practical tools and activities that work in the classroom.

This past Saturday (Sept 6th), our GSARA returned for its second year at the 4H Agricultural Fair in New Boston, turning the fairgrounds into a quick-learning playground for all ages. We kept things hands-on, friendly, and—dare I say—pretty contagious for anyone curious about radios and community service.