[Boatanchors] Elmer

[Bry Carling]

Where are these trendsetters when we need them? The guy who was taught by the Elmer  
should henceforth be known as his "Spongebob." 

"I had a great Spongebob back in 1982. That kid absorbed everything I had to say!"
- Elmer Gantry, K6GAN, 2012 

So to all you Spongebobs out there, congratulations. You have joined the ranks of the 
sponges soaking up everything you can learn from the older hams who don't mind being 
called Elmer (wascally wabbit or not.)

On 11 Dec 2012 at 11:46, Howard Holden wrote:

> My "Elmer"  (and in more ways than just radio) was my Dad, WA2UEJ.
> Not 
> funny, not dumb, not hillbilly, not Fudd. He will always be my
> Elmer, no 
> matter what the naysayers think or say. And I'm pleased to be
> regarded as an 
> "Elmer" to more than a few hams in my day. And I am sure I am not
> alone in 
> my thinking. But for those who don't like it, they don't have to use
> it.
> 
> My $0.02
> 
> Howie WB2AWQ/7
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Bruce
> Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 11:26 AM
> To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [Boatanchors] Elmer
> 
> Hello,
> 
> Actually, the term "elmer" is something relatively new, and only
> recently
> has it come into any kind of common use.   It was first used in a
> March
> 1971 QST article by Dave Newkirk:
> 
> "Too frequently one hears a sad story in this little nutshell: 'Oh,
> I
> almost got a ticket, too, but Elmer, W9XYZ, moved away and I kind of
> lost
> interest.'"
> 
> Newkirk went on to say, "We need those Elmers. All the Elmers,
> including
> the ham who took the most time and trouble to give you a push toward
> your
> license, are the birds who keep this great game young and fresh."
> 
> 
> What the ARRL thinks of the term "elmer" today:
> 
> From the ARRL Web Site:
> 
> "Hams Helping Hams - ARRL Mentor Program"
> 
> "Welcome to the ARRL Mentor page. This page is going to be the
> central hub
> for all things that deal with mentoring or Elmers and clubs. We have
> already
> posted an initial set of resources to make navigating the site
> easier for
> everyone and especially the new ham."
> 
> "There has been a bit of question as to why we are using the term
> mentor as
> opposed to the traditional term Elmer. Ham radio does have its share
> of
> tradition and lore, and to a lot of folks it seems that we are
> breaking from
> tradition and discarding the affectionate term Elmer. Not so. Most
> folks
> outside of Amateur Radio do not recognize what an Elmer is, but they
> do know
> what a mentor is. And because this program is geared toward the new
> ham we
> don't want to confuse anyone."
> 
> 
> What some other hams think of the term "elmer" today:
> 
> 
> I just wish that dumb-sounding term "elmer" would go away for
> good.
> 
> Don k4kyv
> 
> 
> I hate that name, I always get a vision of Elmer Fudd or some
> unwashed
> mountain hillbilly.
> 
> Whoever thought it up should be strung up by the heels and beat with
> the
> Wouff Hong.
> 
> Carl
> KM1H
> 
> 
> I think that the time has come to retire "elmer" for good.
> 
> 73, Bruce WA8TNC
> ===============
> Al Klase wrote:
> > Richard,
> >
> > Like you, I never heard the term Elmer until about 20 years ago,
> and I've 
> > read a lot of old QST's. I kinda wish the guy who started this
> would 
> > explain himself.
> >
> > My best guess is that it refers to Elmer E. Bucher , who was
> American 
> > Marconi's chief instructor in the Pre-RCA era, and later served a
> similar 
> > role under David Sarnoff.  He wrote book like "Practical Wireless
> > Telegraphy" and "Wireless Experimenter's Manual" which are
> classics. 
> > Search Google Books for Elmer E. Bucher
> >
> > Al
> >
> >
> > On 12/11/2012 12:19 PM, Richard Knoppow wrote:
> >>   ...........  BTW, a puzzle to me is the term "elmer" to mean
> mentor. I 
> >> never saw or heard this until about twenty years ago. You will
> not find 
> >> it in any old handbook or list of ham radio slang.  I wonder
> where it 
> >> originated and who "Elmer" was. ........
> >
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> Boatanchors mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/boatanchors
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> 
> List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
> ** For Assistance: dfischer at usol.com **
> 
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> Boatanchors mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/boatanchors
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> 
> List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
> ** For Assistance: dfischer at usol.com **
> 
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list:
> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> 
> 
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2013.0.2805 / Virus Database: 2634/5951 - Release Date:
> 12/11/12
>