Yet another selection from the upcoming The CW Geek’s Guide to Having Fun With CW. Comments encouraged!
- FISTS
- The FISTS Club, (International Morse Preservation Society) was founded in 1987 by the late George “Geo” Longden G3ZQS of Darwen, Lancashire England, after recognizing a need for a club in which veteran operators would help newcomers and less-experienced operators learn and improve CW proficiency. During the first year, membership reached 300, most of whom were in Great Britain and Europe. Nancy Cott, WZ8C, formed the North American Chapter in 1990, and was the president of the group until sadly she became a Silent Key in 2014. There are also FISTS chapters in Australia and Asia.
- FISTS sponsors a variety of activities, including the CW Buddy program, operating activities, including a quarterly sprint contest, and operating awards. Dues in the U.S. are $15/year. For more information, visit www.fists.co.uk, www.fistsna.org, www.fistsdownunder.org, and www.feacw.net.
- North American QRP CW Club (NAQCC)
- The NAQCC is similar to FISTS in that they exist to promote the use of CW, and sponsor a number of operating activities and awards, but differ in that they also promote the use of low-power (QRP) operation and simple wire antennas. There are no dues to join NAQCC. For more informations, visit www.naqcc.info.
- Straight Key Century Club (SKCC)
- Formed in 2006, the SKCC’s focus is on the use of mechanical keys, including both straight keys and semi-automatic keys or “bugs.” Like FISTS and NAQCC, they offer a variety of operating activities and awards, and like NAQCC, membership is free. For more information, visit www.skccgroup.com.
- CW Operator’s Club (CWOps)
- CWops was launched in January 2010, and has since grown from a handful of members to nearly 1,000 members today in more than 70 countries. They sponsor several contests and the CW Academy that teaches newcomers and veteran hams the art of CW using a novel “virtual” training environment that allows an instructor to work with hams located thousands of miles apart. Dues are $12/yr, and you must be sponsored by current CWOps members. For more information, go to www.cwops.org.
- First-Class Operator’s Club (FOC)
- Founded in 1938 in the UK, the First Class CW Operators’ Club (FOC) promotes good CW (Morse code) operating, activity, friendship and socializing. Its membership is currently about 500. To join the FOC, you must be able to operate at 25 wpm or more and be nominated by a current member, and then be sponsored by four current members. Their website notes that you, “may feel free to ask members for information about the club, actually asking to be nominated is frowned upon.” For more information, go to www.g4foc.org.
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