[Looking at history and our area’s unique political and religious attitudes.]

Roots. The word is real and a metaphor for the underpinning. Roots are the foundation that hold things together, but seldom does anyone see.

Let us tell you a story about a most unusual and unlikely group of people.

Dr. Michael Gabbert, founding pastor of Evergreen Church, about three years ago had a vision to create an active communication process so that people could interact in emergencies, visit with friends and colleagues, and have a mechanism to keep in touch when they could not get out. That is what community is about.

He requested an associate, Jerry Boyd, ask a couple of older guys about amateur (ham) radio. After a couple of normal meetings, the two former Air Force officers drove to the point. We can build a ham group, but we will not need anymore committee meetings.

First was to develop a training program. We never ask about technical background or skills. Age and sex are not questions. Why? Our objective is to provide communications abilities to anyone who wants it.

My co-author bride of decades is the anti-thesis of technical, but she is very artistically creative. She came into my office one evening when I was practicing Morse code and asked, ‘ Can I do that?’ Okay men, what is your response? Nah, this is a guy thing? Rather, absolutely, you bet. Let me show you.

Being a musician, she quickly grasped the rhythm, tone, and emotion. After just a few weeks, her skills were such that I suggested she take a proficiency test with a local ham group to demonstrate her new found talent. Lets call it a recital.

She did better than me. She only missed one character in five-minutes of code. That will get you a code proficiency certificate.

Then I suggested she study up, take the written exam, and get her ham license. Her response , ‘Oh, OK.’ Whoopee, but now I had to come up with a training process for my decidedly non-technical girlfriend. Being the extremely supportive person that she is, she followed through. We obtained a list of the FCC approved questions and answers. After a couple of weeks she aced the exam. How does that fit with the Evergreen plan?

Anyone can get their license in 4-weeks. Promise, if you do the work. First thing, Morse code is no longer a requirement, since technology has changed. The process is very much like a driver’s license exam, with an approved set of questions and multiple-choice answers. We use the process of read the question, read only the correct answer, note our hint. Repeat a few times and pass the exam. It is that straightforward.

Like all hams, each person obtains her/his own equipment. That is the strength of amateur radio. It is a totally dispersed, distributed system.

The first group to test the system was fairly small. Eileen and John Whitesell and Ron Thornton took the exam and passed with flying colors. John and Eileen live even further out than we do. Three years later, over 145 people are hams, some more active than others. Does it work?

One of the original goals for the communications group was relationships, camaraderie, a care group, or what term you prefer. Consider the community. On the first Saturday of odd months we begin a new class. On the second Saturday of every month we have an old-fashioned Sho-n-tell. On the third Saturday is the second class. The last Saturday is a bye, unless we use it to fill in for weather or some special event. The even month starts with an on-site exam so you are a newly-licensed ham. Again the second Saturday is Sho-n-Tell. We have two family events a year.

Consider another objective, being able to communicate with others. The group has a net at 7 PM Monday, 7 PM Thursday, and Ladies Net is 4 PM Thursday. A net is a proscribed time of communication to evaluate equipment, weather conditions, and skills. There are no you-got-to’s except genteel decorum. Then a spontaneous net to experiment with different conditions, frequencies, equipment is after the Monday net. Finally, many have a mobile set-up. Ragchew discussions can happen anytime two people are on at the same time. What other group has that interaction, because they want to?

With this much activity, what is the likelihood you become friends and associates? I, like others, have had the privilege to experience ham radio while house bound, in my case with heart conditions. I still was able to communicate with great friends. When I went in for surgery, who was there besides family? Dan and Gene, ham colleagues.

I was asked, what does ham radio have to do with Evergreen Church? Nothing and everything. I just illustrated a key factor. We already discussed the camaraderie and living life together. Let us tell a few more stories.

If you do not know Scooter, you will like him. My son-in-law recommended him as an automobile electronics guru.

Because of firewalls and spacing, I took my truck for Scooter to help install my amateur radio and stealth antenna.

Scooter, like many from the seventies played CB radio, would like a ham license, but never had an Elmer to coach him. I got a very cool install. Scooter came to Evergreen that Sunday and took the next ham class. He is a very active part of the group. Scooter has brought in many others.

Another top notch ham is Scott. He and his wife visited Evergreen. They saw a routine, weekly ham notice in the bulletin and decided this was the type folks with which to associate. He had a license at one time, but had no Elmer to mentor. They both took the next class, passed their exams and both are most active.

Is it one and done? Not here. We strongly encourage advancing skills and helping others. Many have moved up to more advanced licenses, including that young Mom of many years ago who liked the rhythm of Morse code. Jerry, one of the hams, could communicated at 65 words per minute with code. Can you do that with your phone? Remember the two from Evergreen who got the group started with a question? Dr. Michael and Jerry both have earned their license and place in the stars.

Covenant or commitment is a criteria to determine if people are up to the task and if they fit. Few covenant relationships are as involved as getting a ham license. The commitment really shows when they acquire the equipment then develop their skills by pushing the microphone key and overcoming mic fright. As Scooter, Scott, Dan, and many others have demonstrated, at Evergreen you have an Elmer who comes along side to help.

It is approaching severe-weather training time. As a ham or pending ham, the Tulsa National Weather Service welcomes you to their Storm Spotter (not Storm-chaser) training during February. We have been many times and highly recommend it, if you live in this part of tornado alley.

Think about it. Many organizations do many things to get and keep people connected. Ham radio, when nothing else works.