[Fists] A Modest Proposal

[K0HB]

Good idea, John.

It already exists, essentially the same as you proposed.

See here ----> http://www.arrl.org/awards/#cp

73, de Hans, K0HB
--
 ><{{{{*>    http://www.home.earthlink.net/~k0hb   


> [Original Message]
> From: John - N5DWI <n5dwi at sbcglobal.net>
> To: <fists at mailman.qth.net>
> Date: 12/19/2006 9:45:49 PM
> Subject: [Fists] A Modest Proposal
>
> Sending CC's may delay your post. If you feel that your post needs to go
to more than one destination please send them separately. 
>
>
>
> *A Modest Proposal*
>
> (With apologies to Jonathan Swift, 1667 – 1745)
>
>
> Many amateurs are justifiably proud of their achievement of passing the 
> 5, 13, or 20 WPM Morse code examinations conducted by the FCC, or later, 
> by volunteer examiners.
>
> Even if they are too gentlemanly, or too ladylike, to say so, some 
> amateurs consider the fact of having passed those examinations as a sort 
> of badge of honor, marking them as somehow “a cut above” those who 
> haven't done so, the so-called “no-coders.”
>
> They decry the sad state of affairs of the loss of this cherished mode 
> of operation (which hasn't gone away).
>
> They moan that the entrance examinations of the hobby are being watered 
> down to the point that anyone with a body temperature over about 40 can 
> now qualify.
>
> They complain that it's not fair that **THEY** had to go through all 
> this effort and newcomers do not.
>
> For redress they ply the ARRL AND FCC with requests or demands to DO 
> SOMETHING !!!
>
> Well, folks –- it just ain't gonna happen.
>
>
>
> MY PROPOSAL
>
> For those to whom it matters, and I'm one of them, the real proof of our 
> Morse skill, can be heard by all every time we fire up the rig. But 
> some, again including myself, would like a little more than that. We 
> would like a document, a license, a certificate, something to point to 
> attesting our skill.
>
>
> Since the FCC license will no longer attest to that skill, we can and 
> should take matters into our own hands.
>
> I propose someone, for example, ARRL, or CQ Magazine, with a certain 
> amount of credibility, organize a fee based certification program. This 
> program:
>
>    1.
>
>       would administer Morse examinations by volunteers,
>
>    2.
>
>       would issue certificates immediately upon passing,
>
>    3.
>
>       would maintain an online database for ease of verification,
>
>    4.
>
>       optionally, would examine both sending and receiving,
>
>    5.
>
>       optionally, would NOT use multiple choice examinations,
>
>    6.
>
>       optionally, would test for X number of minutes of solid copy.
>
> Websites such as QRZ.COM, on their call sign lookup feature, could post 
> the speed, the name and call sign of the examiner, date and serial 
> number of the certificate, along with all the other currently carried 
> information.
>
> And all that, after any necessary and proper amendments, would be well 
> and good; BUT, once again:
>
> The best proof of our skill will always be ON THE AIR, regardless of 
> how, when or why we acquired that skill.
>
> That's the way it looks from here.
>
> vy 73 de john, N5DWI
>
> (Donning asbestos suit.)
>
>
>
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