Fwd: Re: [Fists] ARRL: Hams say "Hello"

[Tony May]

Sorry about all the typos.  It's been a long couple of days... corrections 
below...



----------  Forwarded Message  ----------

Subject: Re: [Fists] ARRL: Hams say "Hello"
Date: Saturday 18 March 2006 06:39 pm
From: Tony May <kg6sxy at arrl.net>
To: fists at mailman.qth.net

> This looks like another nail in the coffin for the technical service,
> ham radio as we knew it, and a big push toward making Ham radio a
> generic radio hobby.

I believe that as long as we have spectrum to enjoy morse code, those of
 us that feel that morse code sings to our hearts will have opportunities
 to excite others about this wonderful form of communications.  I don't
 think morse code will die until every last amateur radio operator in the
 universe stops caring.

The same goes for the amateur radio service; as long as there are those of
us that value giving our time to help others, there will always be a
place for us.  Whether it's acknowledged beforehand or not, it all comes
down to what we each do personally to help others.

Sometimes it takes a little creativity to get more people involved and to
see that amateur radio can be a lot more than tinkering with electronics
and using antiquated communications methods.  Whatever it takes, within
reason of course, to inject some more enthusiasm, can only lead to better
things in the future.

Rather than letting some public relations articles take the wind out of
our sails, it should push us to spread the word even more than we have in
the past and show people how rewarding it can be to be prepared for the
unexpected and ready to lend a helping hand to your neighbors when the
time comes.

72/3,
Tony