[NvHam] Words To The Wise

[Dick Flanagan]

The FCC has made a change in the way we test for Amateur Radio
licenses and the Element 1 CW exam is going to be eliminated.  Many
have voiced some very negative opinions about this and their
derogatory comments are very hurtful to the new ham trying to get
involved in this hobby.

If we expect the ranks of hams to grow then it is up to us, the
experienced hams, to ensure that the first experience the new ham has
is a positive one and that he or she is welcome.  We should be
extending our hands in friendship and teaching these newcomers how to
operate according to the rules and regulation and how to safely
assemble an Amateur Radio station.

Without nurturing and guidance these new operators will splinter off
and form their own sub-culture.  Soon the expected result will occur
and all of the hams who insisted on staying firmly anchored in the
past will say "I told you so."

So much has changed in communications, technology and society that it
is absurd to even be think that things should -- or could --  be the
way they were over half a century ago.	The FCC has not made CW
illegal.  You can operate that mode or any other mode you wish.
Expect to see more radio operators experimenting with CW and other
modes because they can do so without fear of the expectation to be
expert at it.  That is as long as the experienced operators show them
the correct way and not chastise them for stumbling or for not having
had "come up the way that they did."  We all came to the party
through a different door, but we are all here to have fun.

I hope that all experienced Amateur Radio operators will reach out
and mentor the new hams.  Pass the torch and share the excitement and
thrill that we enjoy from this wonderful hobby and let's keep it
going.

If you have any questions about the FCC's Morse Code Report and Order
in WT Docket 05-235 and the FCC Order on Reconsideration in WT Docket
04-140, please visit the ARRL FAQ on this topic:

http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/wt05-235/

[From ARRL Club News January 2007]

73, Dick
--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
k7vc at arrl.org