• The Triple Play (J)

    From Daryl Stout@954:895/7 to All on Thursday, July 13, 2023 00:05:18
    (CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MESSAGE)

    On the 10th day of Hamming, my radio gave to me:

    10 Different Wouff Hongs, 9 modes on digital, 8 the Hamfest Start Time,
    7 Nights Of Net Logs, 6 Meter Clean Sweep, 5 Band DXCC. Four sets of
    antennas, three different radios, two license upgrades, and a license,
    callsign from the FCC.

    Founded by T.O.M. ("The Old Man", W1AW, Hiram Percy Maxim himself), The
    Royal Order Of The Wouff Hong is a "secret society", with the "device"
    to be used as a mode of discipline and correction on "lids" (ham radio operators with poor on the air operating habits). No explanation or
    details are known on how the discipline, or the mode of discipline, is
    to be administered to the miscreant amateur radio operator...but I hear
    that "Vaseline is optional" (hi hi).

    You must be a paid up ARRL member...either for the current year, or an
    ARRL Life Member...to participate; and the initiation ceremony is done
    only at ARRL Division or National Conventions.

    There are no dues, no officers, and no politics in The Royal Order Of
    The Wouff Hong. And, there's nothing degrading or vulgar during the
    ceremony. You will do a lot of laughing...plus, all of the participants
    get a very nice certificate afterwards. I personally have gone through
    it twice, and look forward to doing so again.

    As for the laughter; for both the Wouff Hong Ceremony, as was for this net...you better "have an empty bladder", as it were, before the
    ceremony starts. While that wasn't my problem, I laughed until I hurt,
    and thought I was going to cry...if not wet my pants!! (hi hi).

    **

    On the 11th day of Hamming, my radio gave to me:

    11 New Harmonics, 10 Different Wouff Hongs, 9 modes on digital, 8 the
    Hamfest Start Time, 7 Nights Of Net Logs, 6 Meter Clean Sweep, 5 Band
    DXCC. Four sets of antennas, three different radios, two license
    upgrades, and a license, callsign from the FCC.

    While not all ham radio operators will get married and have a family... especially a large one...and the total of harmonics may be more like one
    or two, instead of eleven; the bottom line is that we need to get new
    blood into the hobby...to replace those who are leaving the hobby by
    either letting their licenses lapse...or they die (becoming Silent Keys).

    I've personally been at license exam sessions, as a VE Session Liaison,
    as well as an administering VE, where the entire family (father, mother,
    and children) have all gotten their Technician Class license in the same day...talk about spreading the happiness around of the new licensees!!
    It was truly a joy to sign the CSCE's of the newly licensed family of
    hams!!

    Basically, the youth of today are the amateur radio operators of
    tomorrow. In short, if we don't replace these operators that are no
    longer in the hobby, attrition will kill ham radio...no pun intended.

    **

    On the 12th day of Hamming, my radio gave to me:

    12 Hours at Field Day, 11 New Harmonics, 10 Different Wouff Hongs, 9
    modes on digital, 8 the Hamfest Start Time, 7 Nights Of Net Logs, 6
    Meter Clean Sweep, 5 Band DXCC. Four sets of antennas, three different
    radios, two license upgrades, and a license, callsign from the FCC.

    Always held on the 4th full weekend of June each year, ARRL Field Day
    is a chance for ham radio operators to set up portable operations in a
    wide variety of locations, running on emergency power for 24 hours,
    and to show the public, that truly..."when all else fails, ham radio is
    there".

    A similar event, known as Winter Field Day, is held during the latter
    part of January...usually the last full weekend of the month. Further
    details are available at https://www.winterfielday.com, and on Facebook
    at https://www.facebook.com/groups/winterfieldday/

    **

    That concludes The Triple Play. I hope you've enjoyed it!!

    Daryl Stout, WX4QZ, Little Rock, Arkansas
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)