I am a new ham, as of March 2007. My call sign belonged to my uncle, who passed away in 2004. He was the founding president of the Downey Amateur Radio Club. For years he tried to get me to study CW to become a ham, but I could not quite get around to it. I am not a techie, so I was intimidated by "all that electronics stuff." I love Gordon West's study books. They became my bedtime reading. I'll stop with the General ticket, though.

Since April of this year, I have become a member of ARRL, the Pasadena Radio Club-W6KA, the Los Angeles County Disaster Communications Service, and a volunteer with the Kaiser Permanente Amateur Radio Network, helping to test the net on the fourth Wednesday of each month. So far, I've only done the 2 meter test.

It was a real pleasure to visit W6KA's 50th Anniversary Special Event, although, as a new Technician, I was too shy to try the HF, even with the friendly hams right there to help. I regret not giving it a shot. We heard a guy talking about his service during WWII as a bomber pilot.

On Sept. 8, I attended my first HAMCON in Torrance, California, and thoroughly enjoyed it. My uncle was right: hams are the greatest people on earth! Everyone has been so friendly, helpful and...uh...tactful -- and patient with my goofs. I encourage all new hams to let go of the wall and get out there on the ice and skate! If you slip and fall, some helpful guys (and gals) will lift you up and get you going again. Learn by doing. This is a great hobby. And, unlike stamp collecting, it's one that can save a life.