[TenTec] Just an observation

[Bill Rowlett]

I know this is a waste of time, but, FD IS NOT A CONTEST
 
73  Bill  KC4ATU
 

> Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:46:53 -0700
> From: k9yc at audiosystemsgroup.com
> To: tentec at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Just an observation
> 
> On 6/25/2012 2:34 PM, Jerry Haigwood wrote:
> > A good operator will slow down and work those
> > type of people because the good operator realizes that FD always brings out the non-contesters.
> 
> As a good operator, and one for whom Field Day has long been my favorite 
> contest, I DO slow down for those with lower code speed, and DURING the 
> contest, I grit my teeth and smile. Probably 5% of the 800 contacts I 
> made were in that category. But AFTER the contest, I will do my best 
> educate those who don't know any better. Which is what I'm doing now.
> 
> Almost any phone contest brings out non-contesters, and we want to 
> encourage them.We WANT more contesters. What we don't want to encourage 
> is BAD HABITS. And anything that wastes time is a bad habit.
> 
> This is not just about contesting -- an important part of ham radio is 
> emergency preparedness, and an important part of both contesting and 
> Field Day is training for emergency preparedness. In an emergency, 
> wasting time is also a very bad thing, knowing good operating techniques 
> is and communicating effectively a very good thing.
> 
> I live just down the road from a top contester who also is a key player 
> in our emergency communications activities, including running the nets 
> when things are happening. Our nets are activated for real emergencies 
> fairly often -- we have big forest fires, there are floods, heavy 
> storms, and this is earthquake territory. Back in the midwest where I 
> used to live we had floods and tornadoes. Along the east and gulf coasts 
> there are floods and hurricanes. And nowadays almost everyone is having 
> wildfires.
> 
> 73, Jim K9YC
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