As President of a TEACHING CLUB, which is affiliated with the league, and as
an instructor, I am in complete agreement with Frank
Falons' position of asking long time SEASONED LICENSED AMATEUR RADIO
OPERATORS to take this opportunity to not only increase or ranks, but
instead of jumping all-over a new-comer's face with acid, take the different
approach of being a teacher.
In Africa, when there was a shortage of reading teachers, the motto was:" EACH
ONE TEACH ONE.". And as a result, literacy was spread, albeit slowly, still
there was progress.
Today, with the new re-structuring of the licensing format, I would urge that
this also be our motto, as this will provide unity in the ranks, and lore camaraderie,
as well as make new friends. As an instructor, I have gained more than the
satisfaction that I trained a person, I also gain new friends and friendships
that will last a life-time.
Please remember that We started out with little knowledge of operating
procedures and/or technical knowledge, too. I'm sure at one point or another,
somebody took each one of US aside and pointed us in the right direction.
Now, more than ever, We need the SEASONED LICENSED AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS
to be THOSE NEEDED 'ELMER'S' that are always in short supply.
I would like to thank all the ELMER'S who helped me along the way, including Ben
WA2WEY, Cal WB2OEY, Joe N2JO, Tony AE2G, Kate AE2Z, George AE2O, George WB2WKV,
Harvey K2CJP, Arnold W2OEJ, Howard W2QUV, Mike WY2U, and all the rest for their
taking me aside and point MY feet in the right direction. Now, as I take my
place by their sides, I too, say:" WELCOME TO A WONDERFUL HOBBY."
Now on to other things:
The NASSAU COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS has levied a [$170.00] ONE-HUNDRED-SEVENTY
DOLLAR FEE to conduct an EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS DRILL.
It's bad enough that the COUNTY does NOT ALLOW us to collect dues, and that our
operation budget is provided by VOLUNTARY DONATIONS FROM THE MEMBERS, Our meager
resources have forced us to operate in more than austere conditions.
We feel that this is an un-necessary hardship which is being imposed on the
smallest club in the section, when OTHER CLUBS are not being charged by ANY
level of government for their sites.
THIS IS AN EMERGENCY DRILL THAT CAN BENEFIT THE COUNTY IN TIMES OF DISASTER.
LONG ISLAND IS NOT THE SAFE BASTION FROM MOTHER NATURE THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
THINKS IT IS. How can we show preparedness without this important drill?
Many of our members VOLUNTEERED AND PARTICIPATED in the LONG ISLAND MARATHON
COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK, with our own equipment, and time, never asking to be reimbursed.
Without AMATEUR RADIO, this event could not even LANCE G. AUE / KA2EJD
President- N.A.R.C.
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