[CQ-Contest] CW Speed, etc

[John Warren]

Ty K3MM wrote:

>I dont agree that we are losing newbies directly because of CW speed.
>There is just less interest and incentive in learning the code to start
>with....it has no more commercial/military viability.  You have to want to
>do it for JUST for fun and games now, which isnt enough incentive for most
>to become literate, let alone highly proficient.

Hmmmm. I thought we always played at contesting JUST for fun and 
games? Sure we want to improve our skills and our station - just so 
that it's even more fun.

As a 100% SSB op, let me humbly offer a suggestion. If you want to 
keep CW alive and thriving, you need to grab on to and WELCOME every 
5wpm newbie who shows up. A certain modest % of those will "get the 
bug" and will progress to become the next generation of serious CW 
contesters. That's what has happened here in central Texas. If you 
are unwilling to slow down in SS, at least make a firm commitment and 
serious effort through your clubs to search out, WELCOME and elmer 
some new 5wpm entrants. If you don't, all those new HF ops will end 
up just like NT5C.

73, John.