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Re: [RC] What's in a name? - Joe LongOn Sun, 2 Nov 2003 13:58:28 -0800, "David LeBlanc" <dleblanc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: ... It isn't about making anything easy for anyone. Has nothing to do with it in my mind. It has a lot more to do with not having a first class and second class within our organization. Has to do with the message it sends to tell a full member of the American ENDURANCE Ride Conference that they're not an ENDURANCE rider. Well, I guess it's because joining an organization does not make one an endurance rider. Successfully completing an endurance ride, whether or not one is a member of the AERC, does that. I joined the Huntsville Amatuer Radio Club before I got my ham license. I did have a CB license, and used CB radio a lot in those days. So, did membership in HARC make me a "ham?" Nope, I had to pass the exams and get my ham license from the FCC to do that. Of course, just like with the AERC, I got a lot of welcome and encouragement from the hams in the club even before I got my ticket. But then, I didn't go around whining that "I got a CB radio, and I joined the club, and you guys don't think I'm a real ham!" Maybe because I knew I wasn't until I got that ticket. Hmmm ... something else from HAM radio to think about. I started with a technician class license, which had very restricted privileges. Later I advanced to General, then Advanced class, gaining privileges with each move up. I never did get to Expert class, though -- the code-speed test for that was 20 words per minute, and I didn't use morse code enough to ever get that fast. So did I think I was being discriminated against because the Expert Class guys were allowed to do things and use spectrum space that I was not allowed to use? Hell, no! They earned it. And all someone who is riding LD rides, and wants to become an endurance rider, has to do -- is ride an endurance ride. No one is telling them they're not allowed. -- Joe Long jlong@xxxxxxxx http://www.rnbw.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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