TZUTC: -0500   
   MSGID: 581.fidonet-ls_arrl@1:2320/33 2914be55   
   PID: Synchronet 3.20a-Win32 master/777fb6d8b Jun 13 2023 MSC 1929   
   TID: SBBSecho 3.20-Win32 master/777fb6d8b Jun 13 2023 MSC 1929   
   BBSID: TBOLT   
   CHRS: ASCII 1   
   (CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MESSAGE)   
      
   On the 10th day of Hamming, my radio gave to me:   
      
   10 Different Wouff Hongs, 9 modes on digital, 8 the Hamfest Start Time,   
   7 Nights Of Net Logs, 6 Meter Clean Sweep, 5 Band DXCC. Four sets of   
   antennas, three different radios, two license upgrades, and a license,   
   callsign from the FCC.   
      
   Founded by T.O.M. ("The Old Man", W1AW, Hiram Percy Maxim himself), The   
   Royal Order Of The Wouff Hong is a "secret society", with the "device"   
   to be used as a mode of discipline and correction on "lids" (ham radio   
   operators with poor on the air operating habits). No explanation or   
   details are known on how the discipline, or the mode of discipline, is   
   to be administered to the miscreant amateur radio operator...but I hear   
   that "Vaseline is optional" (hi hi).   
      
   You must be a paid up ARRL member...either for the current year, or an   
   ARRL Life Member...to participate; and the initiation ceremony is done   
   only at ARRL Division or National Conventions.   
      
   There are no dues, no officers, and no politics in The Royal Order Of   
   The Wouff Hong. And, there's nothing degrading or vulgar during the   
   ceremony. You will do a lot of laughing...plus, all of the participants   
   get a very nice certificate afterwards. I personally have gone through   
   it twice, and look forward to doing so again.   
      
   As for the laughter; for both the Wouff Hong Ceremony, as was for this   
   net...you better "have an empty bladder", as it were, before the   
   ceremony starts. While that wasn't my problem, I laughed until I hurt,   
   and thought I was going to cry...if not wet my pants!! (hi hi).   
      
   **   
      
   On the 11th day of Hamming, my radio gave to me:   
      
   11 New Harmonics, 10 Different Wouff Hongs, 9 modes on digital, 8 the   
   Hamfest Start Time, 7 Nights Of Net Logs, 6 Meter Clean Sweep, 5 Band   
   DXCC. Four sets of antennas, three different radios, two license   
   upgrades, and a license, callsign from the FCC.   
      
   While not all ham radio operators will get married and have a family...   
   especially a large one...and the total of harmonics may be more like one   
   or two, instead of eleven; the bottom line is that we need to get new   
   blood into the hobby...to replace those who are leaving the hobby by   
   either letting their licenses lapse...or they die (becoming Silent Keys).    
      
   I've personally been at license exam sessions, as a VE Session Liaison,   
   as well as an administering VE, where the entire family (father, mother,   
   and children) have all gotten their Technician Class license in the same   
   day...talk about spreading the happiness around of the new licensees!!   
   It was truly a joy to sign the CSCE's of the newly licensed family of   
   hams!!   
      
   Basically, the youth of today are the amateur radio operators of   
   tomorrow. In short, if we don't replace these operators that are no   
   longer in the hobby, attrition will kill ham radio...no pun intended.   
      
   **   
      
   On the 12th day of Hamming, my radio gave to me:   
      
   12 Hours at Field Day, 11 New Harmonics, 10 Different Wouff Hongs, 9   
   modes on digital, 8 the Hamfest Start Time, 7 Nights Of Net Logs, 6   
   Meter Clean Sweep, 5 Band DXCC. Four sets of antennas, three different   
   radios, two license upgrades, and a license, callsign from the FCC.   
      
   Always held on the 4th full weekend of June each year, ARRL Field Day   
   is a chance for ham radio operators to set up portable operations in a   
   wide variety of locations, running on emergency power for 24 hours,   
   and to show the public, that truly..."when all else fails, ham radio is   
   there".   
      
   A similar event, known as Winter Field Day, is held during the latter   
   part of January...usually the last full weekend of the month. Further   
   details are available at https://www.winterfielday.com, and on Facebook   
   at https://www.facebook.com/groups/winterfieldday/   
      
   **   
      
   That concludes The Triple Play. I hope you've enjoyed it!!   
      
   Daryl Stout, WX4QZ, Little Rock, Arkansas   
   --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32   
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (1:2320/33)   
   SEEN-BY: 1/19 123 15/0 16/0 19/10 37 90/1 105/81 106/201 116/17 18   
   SEEN-BY: 123/10 130 131 142/104 153/7715 154/10 30 40 50 700 203/0   
   SEEN-BY: 218/700 840 220/90 221/1 6 360 226/18 30 227/114 229/110   
   SEEN-BY: 229/112 113 206 307 317 426 428 470 664 700 240/5832 266/512   
   SEEN-BY: 280/5003 282/1038 291/111 301/1 317/3 320/119 219 319 2119   
   SEEN-BY: 322/0 757 335/364 341/66 342/200 396/45 423/81 460/58 633/280   
   SEEN-BY: 712/848 2320/0 33 105 304 401 3634/12 5020/400 5075/35   
   PATH: 2320/33 105 154/10 221/6 1 320/219 229/426