Imagine if… you stepped up during a crisis, without formal training, and made a difference. That’s exactly what Vicki Carnes (AD3i) has done since the early stages of Hurricane Helene’s devastation in Western North Carolina. From a small room in her humble home, Vicki has volunteered day and night, tirelessly serving as net control on the Mt. Mitchell repeater. Her calm, steady voice has guided ham radio operators through the chaos, organizing relief efforts, coordinating emergency traffic, and ensuring critical messages reach the right people.

What’s extraordinary is that while she’s been guiding ham operators, the world has been listening in through police scanner apps and Broadcastify, tuning in from all over the globe. Vicki now stands at the helm of Project Helene, an initiative that bridges the gap between the ham radio world and the internet. Through the Project Helene website and Facebook page, Vicki has made it easier for people everywhere to stay connected, updated, and informed about the ongoing relief efforts.

Vicki’s passion is in teaching kids about the ham radio world, which led her to create a non-profit you can find at stemarc.org. She pours her heart into teaching the younger generation how to become ham radio operators. With a deep passion for the power of communication, she nurtures each student, guiding them step by step as they learn the skills that could one day help them make a real difference in their communities. She believes in the importance of passing down knowledge and creating future leaders in the world of ham radio. Her hands-on approach and unwavering support show these kids that they are capable of so much more than they ever imagined, giving them the tools and confidence to one day step up in critical moments, just as she has done.

Vicki may call herself “just a 72-year-old maw maw in a rocking chair,” but she’s rocking the world in ways that few could have imagined. Her work during Hurricane Helene and her dedication to teaching the next generation prove that you don’t need formal training to make a difference—you just need heart, a voice, and the courage to take action.