Welcome to volunteering with NARA

Welcome to the National Amateur Radio Alliance

Welcome to the National Amateur Radio Alliance, and thank you for taking the time to learn more about volunteering with us. The National Amateur Radio Alliance is a membership organization powered entirely by volunteers. Our strength comes from people who choose to give their time, experience, skills and ideas to support amateur radio.

Nothing happens unless a volunteer picks it up

Nothing in this organization happens unless a volunteer decides to pick it up and make it happen. That includes the people serving as Representatives and ambassadors across the country. It includes those organizing events and developing programs, maintaining resources and working on our website, serving on committees and answering questions, reviewing awards, building partnerships, and doing countless other things behind the scenes. And now, that can include you.

More than filling a position

Volunteering with the National Amateur Radio Alliance is about more than filling a position. It is an opportunity to meet people, learn new things and develop skills, contribute your own experience, and make a meaningful difference in an amateur radio community that stretches across the country. You also do not have to be an expert. Some of the most valuable things a volunteer can do are listen, ask questions, make connections, and recognize when someone needs help. Our volunteers are relationship builders and problem solvers.

Where we are going

Throughout this onboarding course, we are going to give you a better understanding of the organization you are volunteering with, and where you fit within it. We will start with a little of the history of the National Amateur Radio Alliance, and the ideas that led to its creation. Then we will look at how the National Amateur Radio Alliance works at the national level, followed by how the organization is intentionally built from the local community up, through our Representatives, Councils, states, regions and territories. We will introduce you to our four key focus areas: Resources, Engagement, Outreach and Advocacy, and show you how they guide the work we do. We will also walk through some of the programs, resources, events, awards and initiatives we operate, so you know what is available when someone in the amateur radio community needs help. Finally, we will talk about what comes next, and the different ways you can get involved. You do not need to memorize everything in this course. The goal is for you to understand who we are, why we exist, how we work, and where to go when you need help or have an idea.

A volunteer organization

There are plenty of ways to contribute. We need people willing to serve in Representative roles throughout the country, but we need just as many ambassadors working behind the scenes. Writing, web design and photography, event planning and member support, awards, public relations, research and proofreading, testing new tools, and countless other skills all have a place here. And not every volunteer needs to be a licensed amateur radio operator. If you are still studying for your first license, volunteering can actually be a great way to learn, because you will be surrounded by people who enjoy sharing what they know.

What we ask of every volunteer

Whatever role you choose, there are a few things we ask of every volunteer. Communicate. Sometimes answering an email is the most important thing you will do that week. If something is not going to get done, let someone know early. Ask questions. Nobody expects you to arrive already knowing how we do everything. And be respectful on the air, online and in person. When you are representing the National Amateur Radio Alliance, your interaction with someone may become their impression of the entire organization. We also understand that life happens. Volunteering should fit into your life, not take it over. If you need to change roles, reduce your involvement, or step away for a while, communicate with us. We understand.

One operator, one club, one conversation at a time

Our vision is a well prepared, educated and engaged amateur radio community. That does not happen because of one national program, or one person sitting at the top of an organization. It happens locally. It happens when someone helps a new operator. It happens when two clubs begin working together. It happens when a volunteer notices an unmet need and brings it forward. It happens when someone introduces amateur radio to a person who has never experienced it before. And sometimes, it starts with nothing more than a conversation. That is the kind of organization we are building. One operator, one club, and one conversation at a time. Welcome to the National Amateur Radio Alliance. We are glad you are here. Let us get started.