[amsat-bb] Re: This Is a HOBBY people

[Gregg Wonderly]

On 10/24/2011 11:44 AM, Diane Bruce wrote:
> On Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 05:21:34PM +0100, Gordon JC Pearce wrote:
>> On Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:05:22 +0200
>> "i8cvs"<domenico.i8cvs at tin.it>  wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Hi Kevin, KF7MYK
>>>
>>> The official Definitios given by IARU ( the International Amateur Radio
>>> Union) for the Amateur Service and the Amateur-Satellite Service are the
>>> following :
>>
>> And here you make an excellent point - there's no use trotting out the FCC regulations, because they are irrelevant.  If the FCC and ARRL want to turn amateur radio into "all emcomm, all the time" then that's great.  Don't pollute *my* enjoyment of the hobby with that rubbish, though.
>>
>> The IARU trumps the FCC.
>
> Amateur radio is a fun hobby, don't pretend it is a police ancillary
> service, that was never the intent. If you happen to be with
> radio and you can help it is your obligation to help.

The Amateur Radio service is the service.  The FCC regs say that.  I you take 
your equipment, knowledge (knowledge is required) and skills to use as a hobby, 
more power too you.  But Amateur Radio is not "just a HOBBY".  There are 
services which you can and should provide as your skills and knowledge allow you 
to.  Making a choice to not participate in the service part, is your choice, no 
one can make you do that.  But, how other amateurs see you and treat you may be 
driven by your desire to "just have a HOBBY" and ride the coat tails of the 
others who are making the service really be a value to your community.

EMCOMM is something that we all have opportunities to help with.  Many times, 
you may not be needed.  But, it's another aspect of your skill set that you can 
improve on through experience.  If you just want to rag chew and consume a 
frequency, then you can do that.  But it is little effort to occasionally sign 
up for an EMCOMM or community event and provide some help so that others who 
want to sit down and ragchew and enjoy the HOBBY part of their lives can do that 
too.

Gregg Wonderly
W5GGW