"FUN" was the apparent result of a  successful recipe. A recipe that included
lost of preplanning ,food  and Ham Radio. At the Indianapolis the Red cross
Chapter house , the Red cross radio disaster group sponsored its very first
Kids Day event.

Amateur radio operators and club members of the group began setup and
testing early the week before January the 6th in order to prepare for the 
Kids Day on the air event. 
Lead by Steve Wendt, KB9RDS; Hams not only took time to demonstrate
Amateur radio but let the visiting kids spend time on the air talking and
working other kids across the USA. The club setup code practice areas for
kids and parents to expose them to the Morse Code that Hams use on the air during CW communications.

A log sheet was available for each kid and Steve, KB9RDS had an area for
helping the kids fill out their individual sheets in preparation for the contacts
they would soon be making. 
On to the radio room and there the club members were ready with five
stations in all; one each on 10,15 & 20 meters and two on 2 meters. Kids
could wonder from station to station and make contacts as the day
progressed.
Lots of comments followed throughout the day as kids experienced the "fun"
of chatting with other places and other kids. Here are some of my favorites
from the event...
"what's this?"    "so this IS Ham Radio!".     "Can I do this too?".
"How do I do this?"    "What's my call Sign?"
"Dave say your Name please?" oops!!!"
and finally, one 15 year old kid made a contact with a NASA station and
jumped up shouting for all to hear... "I just contacted NASA!!!!!!!"

Over in the CODE room kids were amazed to see how easy sending Morse
code can be. John,W9GRE had these notes from the code area 
"Is this my name?..."   "This is really cool !"    &   " This is Fun!".

The final Red Cross radio group results as follows:
Five (5) radio stations....24 kids made 58 contacts during the event.

It was concluded that Kids do live in Indiana and have "FUN" with Ham
radio. The Red Cross Disaster Radio Group plans to do more Kids day
events..."I think the big kids had fun too!!!".

Special thanks to Bill, (K9DBY); John, (W9GRE); Rick, (KB9NZY); 
Don, (K9MCM); Mike, (KB9NZF); Suzy, (KB9WRV) & Norm, (KB9UEH). 

WA9LGQ Indianapolis IN Red Cross Disaster Radio Group.....[IRCDRG]
is located at 441 E. 10th Street , 46202
 

 Submitted by; Chuck Crist, W9IH