[SECC] no code license

[Rick Dougherty NQ4I]

Hi all and Happy Holidays...greetings from VK2 Land...I have been here 3 
days now and this no code thing has been very interesting indeed...a little 
history...Australia has the Foundation License class...the call sign is like 
VK2Fxxx and represents that the holder is a foundation licensee...they are 
allowed almost all voice privileges on almost all frequencies and 10 watt 
power limitation...it appears that it has been a very good thing here in 
VK.....the licensee's are devoted hams...they have nice stations...most are 
second and third generations of hams in the family...and I for one can't see 
any wrong here...it is still difficult to work these hams since on 80m and 
40m they are low power...but some stateside hams are working them....

Take a look around at a hamfest nowdays...there are no young hams in 
attendance...the average age of hams in the US is nearly 55 or greater....we 
need an infusion of some younger blood into the hobby..and if it comes in 
this way...so be it! We can either accept the fact that it is inevitable and 
go with the flow...or we can put our collective heads in the sand or sell 
off our equipment in protest....

I see it as a chance for additional contestor's...these young hams, some 
will want the challenge of contesting....some will participate....and some 
will even become super op's like W4AN, N5TJ, and VE7ZO.....so lets embrace 
the changes....it does no good to lament and cry in our beer that "there 
goes the hobby"...change is good....

And ya know...some might learn the code...I heard an old contestor tell a 
bunch of younger contestors who were ssb only op's...."good contestor's do 
CW as well as SSB" and that provided the motivation for me in 1979 to 
upgrade to extra class and begin CW contesting....now its my favorite 
mode....

Well thats my .02 cents worth ....preparing for incoming!!

de Rick nq4i