[Boatanchors] Re: GB> Folksy MARS

[Tom NØJMY - AAR7FV]

Sorry, Breck, I didn't construe "folksy" to have negative connotations, but
every thing you say is true.

The main problem we have with MARS is the same problem ham radio in general
has, i.e. the average age of the members is increasing and there is a need
for younger people.  Many people whom I have talked with regarding MARS say,
"I'm surprised it's still around. We don't need it.  Our son's submarine has
e-mail,".  They don't realize that MARS has, in large part, shifted it's
focus away from a "morale" service to an emergency and defense back-up,
using much more than SSB phone patches.  We can use alot of the digital
modes, including AMTOR, PACTOR, PSK31, and my personal favorite at the
moment, MT-63.

  If I offended anyone with the term "folksy" I certainly apologize, but it
was the word that came to mind, probably inaccurately, when trying to draw a
distinction between the old MARS mission (NOT the ops) and today's MARS.

Tom

FWIW, I was a Barry Goldwater fan at age 7, hi.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Smith" <smithab11@comcast.net>
To: <glowbugs@piobaire.mines.uidaho.edu>; <boatanchors@mailman.qth.net>;
<heathkit@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002 8:45 PM
Subject: GB> Folksy MARS


> "It is no
> longer a folksy organizination with Barry Goldwater running phone patches
> from Vietnam"
>
> Well it may have been "folksy" but the astronomical  amount of phone