HI folks, Just curious how many folks here are active traffic handlers or have been in the past. IF you were and are no longer I"m curious as to what caused you to become inactive. AS an area net manager and regular liaison to region and area nets I've noticed participation is a lot less. I also note fewer people generating true third party traffic. YEs I've heard the arguments that with the internet fewer people need to use it. HOwever I maintain that almost every ham has family or close friends who aren't connected. I'm a big booster of the system as I believe it's still the best training opportunity we can get as hams. WHen the rubber meets the road and we're called out to serve our communities we may have battery packs and what not but if the operating skills aren't there only half of the job is done. Therefore the fall off in participation concerns me Hence a little informal survey of memberships of a couple of ham lists I'm on. Email me off list if you prefer. 73 de nf5b Richard Webb Electric Spider Productions "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." --- Benjamin Franklin, NOvember 1755 from the Historical review of Pennsylvania