97.1 Basis and purpose.-
The rules and regulations in this Part are designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles:
(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.
(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.
(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communications and technical phases of the art.
(d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.
(e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill.
None of these items say "this is a hobby" nor do they allude to "just having fun." I am not trying to say that its just serious in nature, but there is a considerable amount of personal responsibility and focused effort implied by the above points. Think seriously about the phrase "This is a HOBBY people." It's not "just" a hobby, although there are many things that you might do with Amateur Radio that don't focus on the above points. The above points are the "reason" why the FCC lets you have a license and allows us to use the frequencies. If we don't focus on fulfilling the responsibilities and charter of these points with some effort, we are just riding on the heals of the hard work of others, who do, in fact, have these things at the forefront of their efforts to do good things with Amateur Radio.
We need to have discussions and we need to focus on the things that do have meaning related to the 5 points above.
Gregg Wonderly W5GGW
On 10/23/2011 3:33 PM, Kevin Deane wrote:
As much as I enjoy the banter, animosity and sometimes really brilliant posts, I want to remind everyone that this is a HOBBY!
Amateur Radio.
Shut up and have fun, some of you take this WAY TO SERIOUSLY.
Kevin KF7MYK
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