Longmont's Santa on the Air spreads holiday cheer

Dana Cadey, Daily Times-Call, Longmont, Colo.
·3 min read

Dec. 3—It started as a way to connect kids to Santa Claus during the pandemic, but two years later, Santa on the Air is still going strong.

For Longmont Amateur Radio Club President Chuck Poch, the program is not only a fun event for the holidays but also an opportunity to promote amateur, or ham, radio.

"It's a hobby that's still around," Poch said. "It's a very viable form of communication, but a lot of the younger generation isn't getting involved. So when a child gets to talk to Santa, it gives them that hope and belief ... and gets them involved in the hobby."

Santa on the Air puts Santa — Longmont's own John Chilson — on ham radio and gives kids the chance to call in and tell him what they want for Christmas. Callers must go through a ham radio operator, which Poch admitted can be a barrier. Poch has a long list of licensed operators, however, and said he is happy to get them in touch with interested callers.

The Northern Colorado Amateur Radio Club, of which Poch is a member, has joined forces with LARC this year. Poch said both clubs' members are a great help for the program; one member even advertised Santa on the Air with a banner on his front porch.

"It's a way to keep the holiday spirit going, because right now we can use whatever happiness we can get," Poch said.

For this year's call-ins, which began Sunday, Poch acts as one of Santa's helpers: Elf Chucky. He said his role is similar to a traffic cop, there to control the chaos of running a radio program and ensure that things go smoothly.

With the technology the club has access to, such as internet radio software EchoLink, Santa on the Air isn't limited to Longmont. Poch said the program was advertised on a local news station in Boston, and that during its first year, someone called in from Canada.

"When I first started this, it was a local thing," Poch said. "You never know how far you're going to get with something."

Chilson, who has been portraying Santa for over 20 years, lends his voice from his Longmont home. Chilson talks to kids about their holiday wishes and fills open time with stories of Mrs. Claus, his elves and life at the North Pole.

"There's a lot to becoming a good professional Santa," said Chilson. "I try to do more than just say, 'What do you want for Christmas? Goodbye.' It's got to be more than that."

With COVID-19 concerns, Chilson has spent the past couple of years participating in virtual meetings with Santa via Zoom.

"Nothing beats in person," he said, "but this is healthier for everybody. Physically, it's not too demanding, and I can work it in (to my schedule)."

The first two call-ins on Sunday and Monday pulled in a few callers each night, but Chilson said the program could use more interaction. He said this week's sessions have featured listeners from as close as Broomfield and as far as Ohio.

"I can't believe the quality of the technology," he said. "The connections are beautiful."

Santa on the Air will run through next Friday. Times are 6 to 7:30 p.m. today, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 5 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Parents who would like give their children a chance to speak with Santa may reach out to club members at k0itp@w0eno.org or at info@w0eno.org. A list of repeaters can be found on the LARC website, w0eno.org.