[CW] Newbie to CW

[Louise Eberhart]

I have to disagree with some of you regarding CW.  It is a bit of a story
but here goes:=0D
I am now 55 years old.  When I was 10, my Dad and I started to study for =
our
Ham Radio license.  We mastered the theory pretty well but the code was=20
beyond us".  Remember, this was 45 years ago... =0D
My Dad went to be with the Lord in 1979...neither of us had succeeded in
obtaining our licenses.=0D
Fall of 2001, I decided to finally get my Technician license.  I studied =
for
it and passed in February, 2002.  True, it was no code but at least I had=
 my
license.  I knew my Dad would be very proud of me if he knew of my succes=
s.=0D
For over a year I was content with my Technician license.  But one day I
decided I wanted to upgrade to General and expand my privileges but THAT
involved learning CODE!=0D
Off I went on an Internet search to find the "best" way to learn code..
remember, I did NOT learn it years ago when it was just "dit/dah".=0D
I ordered a download of NuCode but it didn't seem to be doing the job.  S=
o I
bit the bullet a couple of weeks later and bought Code Quick, CD's and th=
e
computer software.=0D
A month later, I know all my characters, still having a bit of problems w=
ith
the prosigns however but working on it, and hope to be able to pass my
General July 26.=0D
What I am getting at is that I went from a No Code Tech, having NO desire=
 to
learn cw to wanting to upgrade.  At this point I have NO desire to increa=
se
my speed from 5 WPM but who knows...that may change.  At least I will hav=
e a
taste of CW, just like I had a taste of Ham Radio and like before, enjoy =
it
so much that I may WANT to increase my speed.  I will have my feet wet so=
 to
speak and this may be the start of a great CW experience.=0D
Not everyone wants to do the same thing on Ham Radio.  Some are into the =
CW,
some prefer using their computers in conjunction with their radios, etc. =
=20
Some are content to communicate around the block, others prefer to talk t=
he
world.=0D
As a relative newbie to Amateur Radio, I have found that a lot of hardcor=
e
CW operators tend to be "clanish" and it is a bit unnerving to those not =
of
the same mind.  It is a bit intimidating to hear everyone speak so
negatively of those not CW inclined and it COULD...I am saying COULD, not
would...send some people running the other way.  Find ways of introducing=
 CW
to those who do not know much about and some of them WILL be interested i=
n
learning more.  I hear VERY little on the CW lists to encourage those who
have a BIT of interest in CW.  In other words, ENCOURAGE more since y'all
who are in the know could be of GREAT help to folks like myself who are
interested in learning CW, be it 5 WPM or 25.=0D
I am not saying everyone on the lists are negative but there are centaina=
lly
some that are.=0D
Thanks for listening to me.  Encouragement speaks a hundred times louder
than condemnation and if you think back a few years, CW IS a bit
intimidating when your first start out.=0D
73!=0D
Lou=0D
N5LOU=0D
 =0D
"Any man who has the brains to think and the nerve to act for the benefit=
 of
the people of the country is considering a radical by those who are conte=
nt
with stagnation and willing to endure disaster." =0D
William Randolph Hearst=0D
=20