IARU Region 1 Youth Working Group Chair Lisa Leenders, PA2LS, has announced that December will be “Youngsters On The Air Month” in IARU Region 1. Nearly 40 YOTA-suffix call signs are expected to be active, with young operators at the helm. Leenders said the idea is to demonstrate Amateur Radio to youth and to encourage youngsters to be active on the air. She stressed that the activity is not a contest but an effort to spread the word about Amateur Radio to the younger generations.

“We are trying to spread the word! Talk to people about what we do, not only quick 59s,” she said.

Awards are available for working YOTA stations. There are four award levels: Bronze = worked five YOTA stations; Silver = worked 10 YOTA stations; Gold = worked 15 YOTA stations, and Platinum = worked 25 YOTA stations. All stations must be worked during December 2015.

Some rare DXCC entities will be on the air for the activity, including A2YOTA in Botswana, and A43YOTA in Oman. — Thanks to IARU Region 1