From: cheese@runx.oz.au (Mark Cheeseman)
Subject: Dress right or don't use these repeaters!
Organization: Your Computer Magazine, Sydney, Australia
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 92 12:10:32 GMT

I just saw this on the Fidonet HAM conference, and thought I'd post it for
the edification and amusement of all here...
======================================================================
The following story is from the September 1992 issue of Solid 
Copy, the monthly newsletter of the Richmond (VA) Amateur 
Telecommunications Society, Inc.  Permission is granted to 
reprint or reproduce this story provided credit is given to "RATS 
Solid Copy".
==================================================================
(Editor's note: The following story is not fiction.  According to 
the source of the report, it is a true story.)
 
DRESS RIGHT OR DON'T USE THESE REPEATERS
    If you are going to use the Mt. Diablo (Calif.) Amateur Radio 
Club repeaters, you may well have to invest in more than a good 
transmitter and receiver.  You might consider a visit to your 
local clothing store.
    At it's July 15 meeting, the Rocky Ridge Repeater Group 
(RRRG) unanimously passed a dress code.
    The motion was made by Tim Barrett, WD9BIV, and was seconded 
by Jay Caldis, KT6Y.  The motion left RRRG members attending the 
meeting speechless and the item passed unanimously.
    The RRRG is responsible for the operation and maintenance of 
several repeaters, which includes FM voice types plus ATV.  But 
it seems that it's the ATV repeater that the dress code was aimed 
at.
    Barrett said he was prompted to make the motion because of 
what's he's viewed.  "I've seen too much in the way of rag-tag 
clothing and it's about time we cleaned up our act.  After all, 
we are hosting PACIFICON '92 and we don't want to look like a 
bunch of slobs."
    It appears that image is what Barrett is after.  "It's a well 
known fact that when you are dressed properly when operating the 
radio you sound better, you feel better and your image comes 
across cleanly.  In addition, you are much less apt to end a 
sentence with a preposition," Barrett concluded. 
    Paul Girard, KC6TZU, chairman of the repeater group, said 
that the dress code would apply to anyone using the club 
repeaters on 144, 222, or 440 MHz, plus ATV.  
    "We are a high image, high visibility club, and we just can't 
allow our people to look slovenly," Girard stated.  "A beer belly 
should be exposed in the bathtub, not on ATV.  The quality of our 
ATV picture is better than most commercial stations. You 
certainly don't see commercial announcers with their belly 
buttons exposed."
    What does the code call for?  "Well, for the men it basically 
it means wearing a shirt with a collar while transmitting," 
Girard says.  "It also means that the females using our systems 
should be properly attired.  That is, appropriate modesty is in 
order.  Hats may be worn, providing they are in good taste and 
don't squeeze or unduly heat the brain cells."
    The dress code, which will be enforced, is believed to be the 
first of its kind passed by an amateur radio club or repeater 
group in the Unites States.
    "I am sure that we will all ultimately benefit from the 
valuable wisdom of a dress code," Girard said.  "It sometimes 
takes a while for the sage advice of WD9BIV to sink in, but 
ultimately it makes sense."
    Girard said he was appointing Barrett to the position of 
Dress Code Enforcement Officer for the remainder of the RRRG term 
of office.
    The code was described on the group's repeater net on 
Thursday, July 23.  The code was endorsed by 99.8% of those 
participating in the net, Barrett reported.
    The sole dissenter was Donald Smith, W6NKF, who promised to 
bring a law suit in Federal District Court for abridgement of his 
rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
    Smith was reminded that the RRRG is a democratic 
organization, and the vote to impose the dress code was a 
decision of the group.  He was not present at the July 15 meeting 
when the dress code was passed.  (Tnx N7PTM)
====================================================================

What were *you* wearing last time you were on air???


-- 
Mark Cheeseman, Your Computer. cheese@runx.oz.au  Fido: 3:712/412.0 
Phn: +61 2 353 0143  Fax: +61 2 353 0720  AMPRnet: coming RSN!
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