Riley Hollingsworth's Ten Personal Suggestions for Amateur Radio Operators

1. Be proud of what you have and let your feelings be known. Let the public know what you are, what Amateur Radio is, and why it's valuable. Let your feelings be known to Congress, to the FCC, to the media, to your states and to emergency agencies. Sprint does. AT&T does. Motorola does.

2. Operate as if the whole world is listening. It is!

3. Take nothing for granted. Bill Gates can't, and you can't either.

4. You're at a crossroads now. An old Chinese philosopher (or my grandmother--I can never remember which! ) said, "Be careful what you wish for. You may get it." Seize the moment, and make this your finest hour. Ham radio has been at a crossroads before and has thrived. Continue that tradition.

5. Make sure that, on your watch, Amateur Radio never becomes obsolete.

6. Teach the new licensees all you know. We've needed numbers for a long time.. Respect this wonderful legacy known as Amateur Radio that our mentors and Elmers gave us. Every time you key the mike or hit the key, think about what a legacy you were given and your duty to pass it on.

7. Enjoy ham radio. Celebrate it. But realize it comes with responsibility. Every gift of lasting value always does.

8. Stay away from arrogant, negative operators who know all the answers. They just haven't thought of all the questions. Encourage them to take their anger and hate to the Internet. Every minute they are on the Internet is a minute they aren't on Amateur Radio.

9. Never allow Amateur Radio to become the audio version of The Jerry Springer Show.

10. You may not always agree with the League, and that's fine. But I'm standing here before you tonight talking about enforcement because they never gave up. Take care of the one voice you have. You must never doubt that a small group of dedicated people can change the world. They just did.