[Boatanchors] The ARRL's next move

[w8au at sssnet.com]

At 09:15 AM 3/2/2018, Bill Henderson wrote:
>Around here there has been some renewed interest in CW to the point 
>that two of the local clubs have joined forces to offer classes. 
>Originally, the plan was to help people increase their proficiency 
>(speed) but has evolved into a class for anyone.


Bill:  Up here in NE OH at my local club we have been teaching code 
as a separate class
for 10 years for those no-coders the have got curious about this 
mysterious mode. and want to try it.

The benefit from a class is the extra tutoring received relative to 
how to hold and use a hand key,
(relaxed wrist flexing), What to do when you make a contact, (First 
transmission report and info),
providing an intro into all the abbreviations they will hear on the air, etc.

When they reach 5 wpm they're invited to join "phase 2,": a weekly 
slow code net for further training.
(in addition to making other contacts)   We use 80M as that is "real 
radio" compared to a quiet 10M band.

There are many things like this not available via Intrenet training 
(receive only)

One of the interesting things we work to correct is a newcomer's dit 
and dah timing....Where their
brain thinks their dahs are long when they are not.  (dits and dahs 
undistinguishable)   We tell them
to highly exaggerate the dahs and eventually their sending will 
approximate the 3 fo 1 ratio)

Our objective is to get them to the "conversational" plateau where 
they copy words mentally instead
of having to write down each letter.

The results over a decade have been satisfactory, considering there 
will usually be one dropout
and some are satisfied to just do 15 wpm, and some others develop 
into speed demons. (Yea!)

We use the ARRL system of using all the vowel characters in the first 
lessons, since this permits
sending "words" so they can feel they are accomplishing something.

By the way....
I kept the first ARRL cassette tape that had Jean Shepherd, 
K2ORS  (of Christmas Story movie fame)
giving his 3 minute "pep talk" about his love of CW.  It's a great 
first session opener!   (unfortunately
no longer available on their current CD due to his passing)

GL to all clubs that may want to engage in this extra training.  If 
you don't have a CW opr in your ranks,
beat the bushes and find one. :-)  They're not rare....

Perry   w8au