Instead of settling for 40 messages during your next ARES drill, set a goal of 1,000 and see what creative solutions your team develops to meet the challenge. Look for ways to improve productivity, efficiency and reliability. Don t settle for the status quo constantly look for and implement ways to improve your procedures. Introduce new technology. Experiment with how image communications, or wireless data or even a new invention can improve your services and skills.
Amateur experimentation is alive and well, contrary to widespread rumors.
There are many research projects underway right now. I am aware of projects in areas like high speed digital communications including data networks, digital voice and digital television, high-speed computer generated CW for meteor scatter, satellite communications, and extraordinary weak signal work being done by hams in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Our uniqueness has been reduced to a commodity available to everyone. If we do not focus our service on attributes that meaningfully distinguish us from the rest of the crowd, then we may not remain viable. If we do not, then we are failing to serve the public and the public will demand our spectrum allocations for other uses.