Welcome to the Northern Virginia North Pole Network The most rewarding aspects of Amateur Radio is how it touches peoples’ lives.

First Annual Northern Virginia North Pole Network A Success! Thanks to the work of seven individuals, patients and their families at the INOVA Fairfax Hospital for Children managed to have a little Christmas cheer in the midst of what could be an otherwise bleak holiday season. While the origins of the North Pole Network may not be known, the Hospital Disaster Support Communication System group of Orange County, CA, have been putting on such an event for over 27 years at nearby hospitals and assisted living centers. Their website, http://members.aol.com/emcom4hosp/npn.html offers many recommendations for carrying out conversations with Santa Claus over Amateur Radio, often referred to as a “North Pole Network.” The participants of the Northern Virginia North Pole Network included Meghan Markley, Brian Myhre KG4DMM, Ryan Comes KF4YKD, Scott Keith, Scott Myrick, Jennifer Kidd KG4JDL, and Benjamin Kidd KG4EIF. Providing the essential radio link between the children and Santa, Jennifer and Meghan moved room to room armed with an HT and stickers reading “I talked to Santa Claus on Amateur Radio!” Decked out in handmade elf costumes, Jennifer acted as control operator while Meghan held the microphone and talked the children through the process of communicating with the North Pole. Using a separate frequency, Brian communicated specific information about each patient in advance so that “Santa” was prepared for each QSO. Back in the NVNPN control room, Ryan both manned the control point for the Santa Station and copied down any “elf intelligence” that Brian passed along. Scott K. and Scott M. provided the improvisational talent and radio voices required to be Santa. Benjamin casually monitored the entire operation moving between the control room and the hospital corridors. At approximately 2:10 PM, “Santa” made his first contact with a patient at INOVA. Some of the children were a little intimidated by the jolly old elf’s voice coming through the radio, but soon warmed up to it, usually with giggles and smiles. Santa, being omniscient, knew each of the patient’s names, who was in the room, and even what they were wearing. One girl, when posed the question, “What do you want for Christmas?” responded, “Can I ride in your sleigh Christmas eve? As added benefit of the event, Scott Keith was quoted in saying, “If I’m going to do this again, I’m definitely going to get my license!” Both Scott M. and Meghan made similar remarks.

Email Benjamin At ducktapekidd@Virginia.edu

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