They make friends with other amateurs around the country and sometimes around the world. Public service is a large part of the Amateur Radio Service.
Hams sponsor and provide radio support for various activities in their community.
Field Day is the largest ham activity related to public service. One weekend each June, amateurs take their equipment into the great outdoors to simulate operation during a disaster. The challenge is to establish temporary stations and contact as many other participants as possible. Many stations make 1000 contacts or more within the 24 hour time allotment. Indeed, many amateurs are experimenters and researchers who have made significant contributions in the microwave spectrum, with video and digital communication systems, and in any number of related technologies including orbiting satellites.