01/04/2010 | K6KPH I think it's time to let everyone in on a little secret about why we at K6KPH participate in SKN each year. Sure, we love Morse code and we enjoy the opportunity to work a lot of stations, especially in the late evening hours when K6KPH is not normally on the air. But the real delight is watching Denice Stoops at the key. She was a commercial operator at NMC and KPH for almost 20 years before ever getting her ham ticket. When we participate in events like SKN it's like she never left the job. She laughs out loud with the fun of it, stomps the floor in anticipation of the next call and hollers back at the receiver just as she did as a commercial op, all the while sending perfect code. This year, in addition to her famed chrome bug, she brought a special straight key mounted on the sole plate of an antique iron! We want to thank all the stations that called. We tried to work everyone but if we somehow missed you we look forward to trying again next year.

VY 73 and best New Year's wishes to all.

Richard Dillman,
Chief Operator,
Maritime Radio Historical Society -- W6AWO