{"id":17,"date":"2026-02-11T03:26:42","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T03:26:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cqprideaugusta.us\/blog\/?page_id=17"},"modified":"2026-02-11T03:55:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T03:55:43","slug":"welcome","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cqprideaugusta.us\/blog\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>CQ Pride Augusta is an LGBTQIA+ friendly Amateur Radio community in the Augusta, Georgia \/ CSRA area. Whether you\u2019re a long-time operator, newly licensed, or just curious about getting started, we\u2019re here to help you learn, get on the air, and find your people\u2014on HF, VHF\/UHF, and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/cqprideaugusta.us\/blog\/getting-started\/\">Get Started<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"mailto:president@cqprideaugusta.us\">Email the President<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A club for operators, allies, and newcomers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Amateur Radio is about communication, experimentation, service, and community. We\u2019re building a club culture that\u2019s friendly, respectful, and practical: real on-air activity, real learning, and real support\u2014especially for LGBTQIA+ hams and anyone who wants a welcoming place to grow their skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Licensed Amateur Radio operators<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Join us for nets, operating events, and the fun parts of the hobby\u2014antennas, portable ops, digital modes, contesting, and ragchews.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">LGBTQIA+ community<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t have to choose between being yourself and being on the air. We\u2019re committed to a respectful, welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ operators and allies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People new to Amateur Radio<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No license yet? No problem. We\u2019ll help you understand licensing, choose sensible starter gear, and get confidently on the air.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Amateur Radio (ham radio), in plain language<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Amateur Radio is a worldwide hobby and public-service resource where licensed operators communicate using radio\u2014locally, regionally, and sometimes internationally. Operators use voice, text, and digital signals to make contacts, support events, experiment with technology, and build skills that matter when other systems fail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Talk across town on VHF\/UHF, often using repeaters<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reach across states\u2014or across oceans\u2014on HF when conditions are right<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use digital modes for efficient and low-power communication<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support public service and emergency readiness through training and practice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What CQ Pride Augusta does<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mentoring (Elmering):<\/strong> Friendly help with radios, antennas, operating, and on-air etiquette<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>License support:<\/strong> Study resources and encouragement for Technician (and beyond)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Nets and on-air activity:<\/strong> A place to check in, practice, and meet members<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Portable operating:<\/strong> Field Day, parks, and low-stress outdoor radio fun<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Public service mindset:<\/strong> Skills, preparedness, and community support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"get-started\">Get started<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re brand new, here\u2019s a simple path:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/cqprideaugusta.us\">cqprideaugusta.us<\/a> for updates, resources, and club info.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Email the President to introduce yourself and ask what to do next.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you\u2019re studying for a license, tell us where you are (complete beginner, reviewing, ready to test) and we\u2019ll point you to the right support.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Tip: If you\u2019re new, include <strong>NEW HAM<\/strong> in the subject line so we can reply with the best starter info.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"mailto:president@cqprideaugusta.us?subject=NEW%20HAM%20-%20Hello%20from%20cqprideaugusta.us\">Email Greer (K5CVD)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:18px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">CQ Pride Augusta is an Amateur Radio community based in <strong>Augusta, Georgia and the CSRA<\/strong>. \u00a9 CQ Pride Augusta.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CQ Pride Augusta is an LGBTQIA+ friendly Amateur Radio community in the Augusta, Georgia \/ CSRA area. Whether you\u2019re a long-time operator, newly licensed, or just curious about getting started, &#8230; <a title=\"Welcome!\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/cqprideaugusta.us\/blog\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Welcome!\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-17","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cqprideaugusta.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cqprideaugusta.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cqprideaugusta.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cqprideaugusta.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cqprideaugusta.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/cqprideaugusta.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43,"href":"https:\/\/cqprideaugusta.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17\/revisions\/43"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cqprideaugusta.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}