[HCARC] Set UP Rule

[Gary and Arlene Johnson]

I guess one has to make a distinction between making sure you "can set up"
 and practicing setting up, or having it be a race to set up.  One would
 think that the actual CAN GET SET UP AND SET UP RIGHT is far more important
 than can you get set up very quickly.  Second is the eternal question as to
 what Field Day is about.  Is it a contest for points and bragging rights or
 is it a chance to teach/involve the non-radio public in the art of Ham
 Radio.  I guess being someone new to ham Radio that I see it as a valuble
 teaching tool for the public, thus interesting enough future Hams to keep
 Ham Radio viable.  An interesting statistic that even with the large influx
 of new Hams like me, the average age of the Ham operator has grown steadily
 older.  Unless the young are exposed and interested (the young ones like
 Josh Luttrell the other night), then it is a self fulfilling prophesy that
 Ham Radio will be a dying art.  Yong Josh is interested - and I see Field
 Day as a perfect way to increase his interest at a time when he is still
 impressionable.  Soon enough for kids his age the lure of the female (or
 males in the case of young women and yes I am being intentionally UN-PC)
 will compete very strongly with Ham radio.  Look at Dale's last
 class - I'll bet that the average age was close to 60 years old.  At least
 one man was almost 80.  None were younger than 40.

 Gary J
 N5BAA
 HCARC Secretary 2013