If you haven't heard more than enough already, here's some comments from our West Texas SM on the subject. Please note that John's small budget as an SM ran out mid summer and that he made his December road trip on his own nickel. Coy ----------------------- Coy, I am forwarding this to you for your consideration. One of the advantages of being in a non-policy making position. I have several meetings scheduled this month but none of them are ham-related. My January schedule usually involves a bunch of cold, hungry cattle. They are more interested in cow feed then no-code. I spent the first two weeks of December on the road, visiting with six different clubs. I never received a question from the floor concerning the no-code issue. The threat from BPL was the single most discussed topic and most groups were very well informed on the issue. The only mention of no-code came as I was visiting with a gentleman after one of the meetings. When he prefaced his remark to me by stating that he was very opposed to no-code, I thought, " Here it comes", but he surprised me. He wanted to discuss the need for clubs such as his and the ARRL to become involved in follow through training of the new hams that will be entering the system AFTER the elimination of the code. Bottom line seems to be that out here in arch-conservative West Texas, no-code and restructuring doesn't seem to be a hot button issue. Most realize that there will inevitably be changes. I know that you have received input from throughout the Division, some of it pretty adamant, but my experience in recent travels is that it is no longer as a devisive an issue as was thought. Incidently, the ham quoted below is not an ARRL member nor does he even reside in the West Texas Section. I will reply to him and also CC Roy. Tell K5UR that " Pecan John" says hello. 73, John AE5B On Mon, 5 Jan 2004 22:17:45 -0600, "Mike Shelby" <mds@htcomp.net> wrote:

MR. Dyer, Sir please vote for NO MORSE code exam in your January> meeting , Thank You Mike Shelby KD5LDW

-- ARRL West Gulf Division Director Coy Day, N5OK 20685 SW 29th St Union City, OK 73090-9726 n5ok@arrl.org 405-483-5632