12/27/2023 ãã2023 has been a remarkable year for amateur radio. There were many noteworthyãopportunities for hams to use their license privileges for the greater good. Anãannular solar eclipse sawÿradio amateurs engaging in projects of scientificãresearch[1]ÿabout our ionosphere, devastating firestorms gutted entire citiesãandÿsaw Amateur Radio Emergency Service member-volunteers rise to activate[2],ãhurricanes threatened life and property[3], bicycle racesÿspread across theãdesert[4]ÿnecessitating robust communications provided by hams, and high schoolãstudentsÿled and executed contacts with the International Space Station[5].ãMany amateur radio operators stood to serve in ways that made headlines, andãall of them were volunteers.ããÿããÿããStill, tens of thousands of others did work that never made the pages ofãQST[6], didn't become the lead story on the local news, and didn't becomeãfodder for online forums. Perhaps it was the ARRL VE who administered tests,ãwelcoming the next generation of hams into the hobby, or the National TrafficãSystem net manager who handled traffic from hams checking in. It could've evenãbeen the mentor who took the time to show a learner how to solder. These areãthe unsung heroes of the Amateur Radio Service -- these are the volunteers.ããÿããARRL has nearly 60,000 volunteers within its membership, without whom it couldãnot function. They are the lifeblood of this hobby. ARRL designated 2023 as theãYear of the Volunteers[7]ÿto recognize their efforts, encourage new prospectiveãvolunteers to follow their lead, and call existing volunteers to reach one rungãhigher on the ladder of service. TheÿVolunteers On the Air (VOTA)[8]ÿoperatingãevent has been popular among hams, with some operators making nearly 30,000ãQSOs throughout the yearlong activation.ããÿããA young man from north Texas emerged as a leader. Sam Lovett, KI5RSV, is just aãteenager but has been awarded the 2023 Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award for hisãsuccess with developing interest in amateur radio among his peers. He leads aãyouth net and has been instrumental in building a strong ham culture in hisãTrail Life USA troop. A video interview with Sam will be featured in theãFebruary 2023 digital edition ofÿQST.ããÿããLyn Alfman, N8IMW, of Norwich, Ohio, was honored for her volunteer work in theãpublic information space. She received the 2023 ARRL Philip J. McGan MemorialãSilver Antenna Award. The proclamation issued by the ARRL Board of Directorsãsays that Lyn "exemplifies the skills and depth of understanding [needed] toãconvey to media outlets the fascinating world of amateur radio."ããÿããARRL's George Hart Distinguished Service Award honors the workãmember-volunteers put in to use their license privileges to serve others. JoãAnn Keith, KA5AZK, of Diana, Texas, is the 2023 recipient.ããÿããJo Ann is the net manager of the 7290 Traffic Net, a public service traffic netãthat has been in operation since 1953. She has a long history of volunteerãwork, dating back to her youth when she served as a candy striper. Like tens ofãthousands of others, Jo Ann uses amateur radio in the spirit of service.ããÿããThese are just a few stories that can be told from the Year of the Volunteers.ãThere are so many other stories out there, and we encourage you to tell yourãown.ããÿããWhile the Volunteers on the Air event closes on December 31, 2023 at 2359 UTC,ãthe spirit of this year will continue as long as there are hams standing toãserve others through amateur radio.ããÿããFrom all of us at ARRL, thank you!ããÿããã[1] https://www.arrl.org/news/solar-eclipse-qso-party-seeks-amateurs-and-radio-enthusiasts-for-global-experimentã[2] https://www.arrl.org/news/devastating-hawaii-wildfires-prompt-response-from-amateur-radio-emergency-serviceã[3] https://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-operators-provide-post-hurricane-communications-in-mexicoã[4] https://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-serves-in-large-utah-bike-raceã[5] https://www.arrl.org/news/student-led-ariss-contact-a-successã[6] https://www.arrl.org/qstã[7] https://www.arrl.org/files/file/QST/This20in%20QST/2023/012023/EDITORIAL20JAN%202023.pdfã[8] https://www.arrl.org/volunteers-on-the-airãã---ã þ Synchronet þ Whiskey Lover's Amateur Radio BBSã