The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation – North America (AMSAT-NA) is supporting the 52nd Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) Scouting event by dedicating AO-51 operation to the event. You can learn more about the AO-51 satellite on the AO-51 Info page.

For October 17th and 18th, the AO-51 QRP repeater will be allocated for JOTA use. All users are requested to give way to JOTA stations or QSO’s with JOTA stations. The frequencies used for this weekend will be 145.880 FM uplink, and 435.150 FM downlink, no PL tone required. The mode change should occur at ~00:00 UTC on the 17th (Friday evening in the US) and run for approximately 48 hours.

AMSAT wishes the Scouts good luck operating via the AO-51 satellite for the event. Reports of your JOTA operations should be sent to the AMSAT-BB or directly to ko4ma@amsat.org. Photo files up to 5 Mb total are also welcome for possible inclusion in an upcoming AMSAT Journal article.

Thanks to 73, Drew – KO4MA, AMSAT-NA VP Operations, and Ed – N8BBQ, AO-51 Operations Committee, for providing the information about AMSAT-NA’s support for JOTA.

Jamboree-on-the-Air is an annual Scouting and amateur radio event sponsored by the World Scouting Bureau of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. Thousands of amateur radio stations
around the world participate.

The 52nd annual Jamboree-on-the-Air will allow more than 500,000 Scouts from around the world to exchange experiences and share ideas by making contact through amateur radio. The event is an official Jamboree, so it contributes to the world brotherhood of Scouting by promoting communications and understanding among Scouts from all over the world. Individual Scout units can operate on the air for any part of the 48-hour weekend event.

JOTA welcomes participation by Scouting and amateur radio enthusiasts of all ages – Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, Girl Scouts, and, Scouters.

JOTA is traditionally held the third weekend in October, and this year will be no exception. The event will begin on Friday, October 16, at 22:00 hours local time and will end on Sunday, October 18, at 23:59 hours local time.

Patches are available. JOTA cards for recording contacts are also available.

For more information and JOTA Scout frequencies, and how to order patches and JOTA cards, visit the national BSA Web site:
www.scouting.org/international/highlights or download the 2009 JOTA Flyer (pdf).

Check to see if your District or Council will be holding any JOTA activities that weekend.

Chief Scout Executive Robert J. Mazzuca recently signed a historic agreement between the Boy Scouts of
America and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Boy Scout Association.

The agreement outlines the details for a youth and leader exchange program between the two Scout associations. The BSA has agreed to send Scouts and leaders to Saudi Arabia and accept Scouts and leaders from Saudi Arabia. The exchange program will be administered under the authority of the BSA International Commissioner: Wayne Perry.

“Exchanges such as these offer an incredible opportunity for understanding and goodwill,” Perry explained. Included in the exchange plans will be “home stay” opportunities for young people to stay in the homes of families of the host country.

The BSA hopes to begin the exchanges this summer.