Well, gents, we can all sit around and harrumph about how everything's going to hell in a handbasket or we can DO something about it.
Think. Instead of treating CW as some kind of advanced hazing technique to make sure the freshmen understand that we upperclassmen run the show, why not make it attractive to learn and use CW? Once prospective licensees are not beaten about the head and shoulders with the Morse requirement, it might be that they could take a more positive view of the mode. If someone MADE you demonstrate, say, SSTV capability would you immediately embrace it? Every one of those dolts getting a letter from Riley for HF infractions passed the Morse test, you know. Think. Why not offer award programs for demonstrating Morse proficiency? How about really pushing the Morse proficiency endorsements? Weight the CW QSOs even higher for Field Day - the world's largest ham radio event. Get your state QSO party to double the value of every CW QSO. Publicize QRP organizations and techniques - those guys are incredibly active. Go someplace rare and put it on CW-only. Show others why CW is cool and fun. Think. Let's come up with the kind of exam and licensing structure we think would really act to qualify a licensee. Questions on procedures and real use of equipment. Why not require evidence of 100 on-the-air QSOs to make General? Give the entry-level licensee full frequency privileges, but a limit of 100-watts - don't keep them in ghettos where the upperclassmen never tune. It's not 1959 anymore with hordes of teenagers building 50-watt crystal controlled transmitters - the new hams need to mingle with us old guys. The hobby badly needs Elmers and helping hands extended to newcomers, not a poisonous group of bitter veterans dishing out hostility. Look at it this way - you're going to be a role model, you have no choice about it. You do get to choose what kind of role model you'd like to be, however. As many have noted, with every transmission (and now email) you are advertising. If a new ham or someone thinking about getting into ham radio read your latest post or listened to your last QSO, would it make them a better ham or want to learn CW? 73, Ward N0AX ---------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems, etc DX-NEWS http://njdxa.org/dx-news DX-CHAT: http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX NEWS items only, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives http://www.mail-archive.com/dx-news%40pro-usa.net ----------------------------------------------------------
