The ARRL’s Lifelong Learning program is now officially underway. About a month and a half ago, ARRL registered teachers were sent an email asking us to provide those running the program with the following information:

• A brief explanation of our teaching backgrounds

• Our areas of expertise related to amateur radio

• Our experience with online learning and course development

• Availability

As you are aware, the ARRL has spent more than two years working with the FCC developing an enhanced program to support the FCC Enforcement staff with monitoring and reporting alleged problems arising on the Amateur Radio bands. The time has come to transition from the former Official Observer (OO) program to the new Volunteer Monitor (VM) program. The OO program will officially sunset on Monday September 30, 2019. The new Volunteer Monitor program will become effective on Tuesday October 1, 2019.

A recent study, Learning Morse Code Alters Microstructural Properties in the Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus, has shown that learning Morse Code increases neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, but from what I’ve read neuroplasticity is a good thing. It helps us learn new things, recover more quickly from injury, and overcome some brain deficits, depression and addictions, and reverse obsessive compulsive patterns.