[Fists] 23 FEB 07 Sad day

[KJ7UN]

Hi, Fists friends,

I, too, am very sad to see Morse Code dropped as a testing requirement, for
many reasons.  But I am careful how I express my feelings, especially around
new or no-code hams.  I don't wish for one moment to want to make them feel
like less of a ham, just because they aren't even given the chance to take
the test.

Instead, what I have done, is start a cw club in my county.  I started by
compiling a CD for new hams and hams that want to learn code.  I started a
yahoo group we set up for local hams that want to learn or get back into or
just love CW and want to help others.  I got some of our top CW operators to
monitor the list as Elmers and although it's new we already have lots of
members. We do on air practice and have an open question and answer forum.
It's really great.  As we get new hams through the VE process, I plan to get
them all a copy of the CD and several of us will be sure to tell them how
much fun cw mode is and encourage them to participate.

So, rather than just whine and complain (of course I've done some of that
already) I'm trying to do something to get operators interested in code.
We've even got a few Extra class operators who haven't used code since their
test to be interested now and join the group.

Yes, I am mourning a very sad day - but I'm not going to let it ruin my ham
radio experience.  Instead we can all be welcoming and inviting to new hams
who won't have to be forced into code, but now can CHOOSE this mode for the
fun and skill and challenge it offers!  Think of how much more fun they will
be than the current hams, even Extra class, that never really wanted to
learn code, but HAD to - for them it was meaningless!

So I hope we will all do something in our communities.  Be a VE.  Be an
Elmer.  Do a CW program at your local club meeting.  Introduce your love of
CW to someone who wants to learn it.  The CW exam may no longer be a rite of
passage - instead, now cw operators are a skilled group of hams who CHOOSE
to use it! Oh, but actually it's always been that way, hasn't it?  Look at
us!  I guess that's the point.

73 de KJ7UN