TOLERANCE AND A WELCOME MAT -- AN EDITORIAL April 15, 2000 marked an important milestone for Amateur Radio in the United States. It was the first time in over 60 years that US Amateurs can operate throughout all the HF bands without having passed a Morse code test at 13 WPM or higher. In 1937 the FCC upped the code speed to 13 WPM from 10 WPM.

Many of the new upgraded hams will now be using the HF bands for the first time, and it appears there will be a lot of them from reports of crowds at recent VE sessions nationwide. They will be operating both phone and CW, and some of them won't know what life is like on HF. They may not realize that one doesn't call CQ on HF by tuning to a quiet spot and announcing that they're "Listening on frequency." They won't know much, if anything, about band plans, about nets, about working "up", or a host of other things. They will need help, just as badly as you and I needed help when we first went on HF. They will need to learn things that have never been part of any FCC test. They will need guidance, not hostility and transferred anger from those unhappy with the new FCC license structure.

Please, oh please, be generous with your help! Be tolerant of their mistakes and be friendly and tactful when you offer suggestions for improvement. Please, put out the welcome mat for them. Let them know also when they've done something right, not only when they've done something wrong. We certainly don't want a bunch of grouches turning them away from ham radio! It's going to be our task to Elmer them into Amateur Radio. Let's all provide them with a warm ham welcome.

-- Frank Fallon, N2FF ARRL Hudson Division Director / [email protected]