The Boston Amateur Radio Club is holding an innovative, fun contest for its members, billed as an “elevator speech” contest. Club president Eric Falkof, K1NUN posed this question to the membership: “Suppose you are holding your HT in hand while going down an elevator, and someone gets in and sees you and it. They say, ‘What’s that?’ Do you get flustered and say you’re not authorized to give out that kind of information, or do you say it is a ham radio?”
Falkof is encouraging BARC members to write a short explanation that can be given in under 30 seconds so that that “inquisitive [person] will leave with a newfound respect and admiration for ham Radio.” K1NUN adds that the average person might speak between 100 and 150 words in a 30-second period of time.
Boston ARC members are asked to submit their entries by November 25. The entries will be published in the December issue of the BARC’s newsletter, The SPARC after which they will be voted on at the Club’s December Holiday Party.
“The talk should not too long, and not too short, but just right,” adds Falkof. “If that person wants to know more, you’ve accomplished your purpose.”
—The SPARC, October 2004