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 Previous: Hollingsworth Preaches Courtesy, Common Sense at Richmond Frostfest |  Next: The K7VVV Solar Update |
By Mike Dinelli, N9BOR
February 13, 2003
The story of Grosse Point Lighthouse 2002, with apologies to Austin Powers, international man of mystery.
 The Grosse Point Lighthouse |
Yep, it's true: chicks dig Morse code. I must admit that it has been a challenge convincing my wife of this fact, but we proved it at Grosse Point Lighthouse!
The Metro Amateur Radio Club (MAC) is located in north suburban Chicago. Over time, as with many clubs, we found our membership numbers dwindling, so three years ago we decided to inject some life back into the ol' gal. We prettied up and expanded our newsletter, developed a Web site, offered introductory ham radio classes, started a weekly slow-speed code net and hosted a number of special event stations. Thanks to those initiatives, we have nearly doubled our membership.
We strive to make our operating events unique and appealing. This insures they are well attended by our membership and makes other hams want to work us. Activating area lighthouses has proven to be one fun way to accomplish this. Since we locate in public places, we not only attract the amateurs in the community, but the nonham population is exposed to what we do. We also seize the opportunity to train our newer members by having them assist with station setup and operation.
August 17 and 18, 2002 was International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend (ILLW). Radio amateurs around the world activated more than 300 lighthouses for this event. It seems that hams just love to talk to other hams operating from lighthouses. Imagine being on the receiving end of a pile-up and only having to drive a few miles to do it. For this event, we operated from the majestic Grosse Point Lighthouse (USA-359) located on the western shore of Lake Michigan in Evanston, Illinois.
 The MAC special event team. |
On the day of the event, our setup contingent arrived at 11:30 AM and within an hour we were receiving incoming signals from Dave Sher's, W9LYA, workhorse IC-735 transceiver. After checking the vertical antenna's resonance, we were ready for a test. Jim Quinn, K9JQ, answered our short CQ and said that we were booming--it's always a pleasure working MAC members from our special events stations. After signing with Jim, another MAC member, Dick Sylvan, W9CBT, called us.
We were located in the garden directly behind the lighthouse with a panoramic view of the lake. The setting is beautiful and combined with great weather we were blessed with many visitors. We set up speakers to enable visitors to hear both sides of the conversations and, as I conversed with Dick, several excited young ladies rode up on bicycles.
Steve, N9WAT, handles public relations with our visitors,
and I noticed smiles on every side. I tried to concentrate on Dick's flawless
CW, but I removed the headphones to hear the conversation around me. "Are
you really talking to someone with Morse code?" asked one of the young
women. "Yes, we are," Steve answered. Just then, I heard Dick send a
question mark, but I had no idea what he was asking. Oops! I threw the cans
back on my head.
 Phil Lazar, K9PL, makes another contact. |
It should surprise no one that an Internet and cell-phone-jaded public would find Morse code fascinating. Most nonhams do not realize thousands of radio amateurs use Morse everyday. They cast a glare of skepticism when you tell them we're "talking" with someone in Paris, right now, using that little antenna over there. Ham radio is cool, but many people do not know it (yet).
A little later, an 8-year-old boy named Alex rode up on his two-wheeler. He'd heard strange beeping sounds and was seeking their source. "What are you doing?" he exclaimed with bright eyes.
 Mike, N9BOR , teaches a curious boy how to send Morse. [W8UFO photo] |
After a brief explanation, we invited him to learn to send his name in Morse code. Upon successful completion of his task, Alex was awarded with a MAC Certificate of Achievement. His dad signed the visitor log and asked about our fall ham radio classes. Soon, there were five young boys huddled around Steve, N9WAT, and a code practice oscillator he built into an Altoids tin. They all took turns sending their names with the straight key. Throughout the day, several newly licensed hams stopped by and requested help in learning code. It was astounding to see licensed hams that had never witnessed telegraphy in action. We had a difficult time convincing one visitor that the computer was only sending the code and not decoding it.
This year's Grosse Point Lighthouse event will be remembered not by the number of contacts we made, nor the DX we worked. The images left are of a sunny day, a beautiful setting, the time spent with friends, and the bright eyes of visitors seeing ham radio for the first time.
A special thanks to our gracious host, the Evanston Lighthouse Park District, who invited us back for next year's International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend. That offer is difficult to refuse!
Mike Dinelli, N9BOR, of Skokie, Illinois, has been a ham since 1980. He is currently serving as Secretary of Metro Amateur Radio Club (MAC). His interests include boatanchors, contesting, DXing and CW ragchewing. You can reach Mike at n9bor@qsl.net. The author would like to thank Philip Lazar, K9PL, for his assistance in editing this article.
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