TO: ALL ARES OPERATORS IN DISTRICT 3 (OFFICIAL)
ALL AMATEURS IN WEST VIRGINIA (INFORMATION)
FROM: WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED AND WOOD
COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICES (ARES)
ARES DISTRICT 3 BULLETIN NR 07.28 DATE: July 15, 2007
SUBJECT: ENCOURAGE - DON'T GET IN A RUT.
Encouragement is necessary in any activity or function we participate in. Without encouragement, some projects or activities would never get off the ground. With today’s technology, the younger generations is starting to learn about computers in grade school, and are able to operate them efficiently by the time they graduate from High School. For this reason, the older generation Amateur Radio Operator needs to encourage the younger HAMS in new and better ways to communicate. A good example of "NON"-encouragement is an older generation Amateur from one of our neighboring states who holds a leadership position, and does not want the Amateurs under his supervision to use Packet Radio for Emergency Communications. His excuse, "it's not real time". Not real time? I've got news for this guy. After a few years of providing emergency communications via packet radio, we have proven it to be "REAL TIME". I really think this guy's clock has stopped, and can only hope that he might put a new battery in it and get with the program before life passes him by. Not encouraging new HAMS to find and use different, and sometimes better methods of communication, is merely delaying what is inevitable. Learn and enjoy amateur radio and its new era of technology. (Reprinted, with modifications of ARES Bulletin 98.17 by Duane Jones, N8LDM)
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV
WV ARES Assistant Section Coordinator
WV ARES District 3 Emergency Coordinator