• I must remember that hearing is a gift, while listening is learned.
• I will always rank listening as paramount in all I do in Amateur Radio.
• I will always abide by the “TLS” rule: Think, Listen, Speak.
• I will develop and depend on my natural listening abilities.
• I will listen in order to learn correct procedure and protocol.
• I will take notice of the topic and protocol before jumping into a net.
• I will always remember: the bands are never dead for the expert listener.

• Mastering on-the-air the protocol will take precedent over equipment operation.
• Prosigns, Q signals, phonetics and abbreviations will be my second language.
• I will learn the basics of traffic handling, net operation, and emergencies.
• I will learn the proper operation of my radio gear and take measures to insure a clean signal.

• I will study the pivotal roles the ionosphere and propagation play in radio.
• I will learn how weather, time of day, location, time of year affects radio
  signals.
• I will learn the meanings of bandwidth, beamwidth, ground effect, aurora, scatter,
  ducting, skip, MUF, RFI, solar flux, and E-layers.

• I hold that compromise and resourcefulness are Ham traditions.
• I will remember that “making-do” can often be the easiest route to
  operating.
• I will always remember that being on the air is the true spirit of Hamming.

• I will commit to self-study of Amateur Radio – from technology to protocol.
• I will openly share the knowledge I gain with anyone who is interested.

These things I hold to be true for all radio amateurs – now and in the future

– “A Grateful Operator” via WorldRadio News.

From Hamfesters
Radio Club, Chicago. [www.hamfesters.org]