[Fists] Get involved! No matter how little your able to...

[Dave Shrader]

One way to assist the growth of our hobby is to become a member of a
teaching team for prospective hams. I am a registered instructor for
ARRL.

I teach at least two courses a year.

I had a request to teach a course for the no code Technician license and
refused! It was a course for Explorer level Boy Scouts. CW is an
integral part of my courses!

When I teach a course we all begin with element #1. Nobody moves to
element #2, 3 or 4 until they successfully can copy 7 wpm on paper solid
[ S O L I D ]. Typically, this takes four or five weeks of instruction
for 1 to 1 1/2 hours a night one night a week [plus homework]. Each
subsequent week we begin with 15 minutes of code practice at 7 to 9+
wpm. The total course is typically 12 weeks. THEN and only then do we
offer a VE session. 

BTW, CW is a good determinant of those who are really interested.

Deacon Dave, W1MCE, FISTs 8897
50 years licensed as W1MCE
Program Chief Engineer, retired
Manager, Textron Antenna Range, retired
R E T I R E D !!!!!!!!!!!

PS: As Richard says: "It doesn't have to happen if we get involved."

Richard Stern wrote:
> 
> I was reading the recent comments about how HAM radio is turning into CB.
> 
> It doesn't have to happen if we get involved. By "WE" I mean those of us who are not new to the hobby. I guess we're called ELMER's. Sometimes being an ELMER doesn't come with an official appointment or a badge with a flashy T-shirt that proclaims "ELMEROUSITY".....HI...HI
>