[CW] ARRL Proposal

[Dan Harriman]

Howdy all;

I have watched this latest issue with the ARRL unfurl with the greatest of 
interest!
I am curious as to where the information comes from that shows "What the 
majority
of the members wanted."   (No offense meant to you Tony, you're just the 
one that I
am using to make my reply from.)  I read QST. I read these reflectors and I 
talk on the
radio. I haven't seen any reports or spreadsheets as to the wishes of the 
majority. All
I see are the writings of those on these reflectors. And to the dismay of 
several of us,
we, the cw operators,  are the minority in ham radio, not the majority.

It is not only the no code tech, tech with code or the novices nor even the 
new
5 wpm generals and extras that mostly use phone instead of CW. It is the 
Old Farts
that use phone more than any other group-at least around these parts of the 
woods
anyway.  There are generals, advanced and extras around here and beyond 
that took
the respective cw test elements for their license class and then never used 
code again.
I mean for years. Decades. Maybe even centuries!   Some of these OFs even 
brag about
how long it has been since they used cw. One guy, who is a 20 wpm extra, 
openly admits
that he hasn't used cw since SSB came around and he'll be damned if he will 
ever use it
in the future, either!  "What an antiquated mode," says he.  "They should 
have done
away with it years ago."

In my opinion, the majority of ham operators want to see cw go away. (I am 
not one of them.)
I am just being realistic. I think that the ARRL has probably acted in the 
interest of the
majority of it's membership. At least for the majority of those who took 
the time to write their
representatives. I am sure that a lot of members on this list, including 
me, wrote to their reps
and offered our opinions.  Like many on this and other reflectors that 
pertain to cw, I share
the feeling that we, the cw ops, were not represented as we would have 
liked. However,
the cw requirement is being abolished world wide, but here in the USA, the 
one organization
that represents more hams than any other here, has taken a stand to at 
least keep cw as a
requirement to get on some portions of the bands and for the extra class 
license.

I will write the FCC when the time comes to do so and let them know my 
feelings about cw
and restructuring. Maybe they will be more sympathetic to our cause, maybe 
not.  Only time
will tell.  In the mean time, I am enjoying cw. I am enjoying qrp. I am 
enjoying ham radio.
If and when changes take place, I will adapt and continue to enjoy ham radio.

Y'all take care and hope to work you down the HF log,

vy 73,

Dan Harriman ARS KC5GXL
Orange, Texas

At 14:45 01/19/2004, you wrote:

>well after being a member since  1962 that bunch of crooks at arrl have 
>gotten my last buck.. my membership will expire at the end of this year 
>and i WILL NOT renew it. seems like they want the almight dollar instead 
>of what the majority of the members wanted.
>73 tony

.

If at first you don't succeed, maybe you shouldn't try sky diving!

dit dit