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Imagine that some catastrophic event hits your community, and residents are unable to use telephones, the Internet, or other communication tools we take for granted. Did you know that there is a vast global network of volunteers ready to get help to you quickly and efficiently? While many think of ham radio operators as hobbyists, in truth they are a valuable resource in times of trouble. During the days following September 11, they demonstrated their value in a world of cell phones and e-mail.

Radio transmitting goes way back to Marconi himself, when humans discovered they truly could communicate over invisible sound waves called “frequencies.” What a miracle that must have seemed to be at the time! Even today it continues to amaze and reward those who spend the time to learn the rules of two-way radio broadcasting. Many people are employed and paid as professional radio operators, but thousands upon thousands of others use their own time and resources to join this specialized community, readily giving untold hours of service to others, especially in times of crisis but in other ways as well.

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