About the Club

The First Class CW Operators' Club (FOC) is a British based CW club, originally founded in 1938. The club has a limited membership of 500 world-wide. The club strives for excellence in operating, combined with a social way of life, both on the air and together with family and members at events throughout the world

The Essentials of the Club

One of the club's past members, W4TO summarised the essentials of the organisation in one of the monthly news-sheets. An excerpt is reproduced below:

"FOC is more than a club; it is a way of life, a camaradarie. It is an organised effort to that which is good for all by example. FOC means more than a clean CW operator capable of transmitting 60 wpm in Old-English characters with a 6" brush. FOC means a clean signal, a willingness to QRS to 3 wpm for the struggling beginner, a helping hand for the aspirant down the street, a feeling of one-ness who would like to see the level of amateur radio rise. FOC is not an award, it is a goal."