Kevin Otte

HUM 100 (MW section)

E. Wallack

Midterm Examination

March 1, 2000

This is in response to the concept of Pilgrimage on p.167. This may go slightly outside the scope of the question in "The Write Idea".

Every year I attend the Dayton Hamvention, a gathering of amateur radio operators (hams) from all over the world. The Hamvention takes place on the next to last weekend of May at Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio. At this gathering, people meet to exchange technical knowledge, various wares, and general goodwill. There are many exhibitors inside the arena building as well as hundreds of hams in the open air outside the arena buying and selling their old equipment. Although by definition the Hamvention is a hobbyists gathering, it has many of the elements of a religious pilgrimage.

Ham radio operators can be found throughout the world. They come from all age groups and walks of life. These people participate in ham radio because of the pure enjoyment of gaining knowledge and sharing of technical skill. Over the years a camaraderie amongst these operators has developed. This camaraderie and goodwill is demonstrated in abundance at this gathering.

Early pilgrims had the benefit of guidebooks that "...instructed the believer in proper dress and equipment..."¹. At this modern gathering place, a program² listing all the things to see and do during the weekend is published and given to each attendee when they enter. A document that is more like the ancient guidebooks can even be found on the World Wide Web³.

Due to the proliferation of technologies such as the cellular telephone and the Internet, communication to points all over the world has reached the masses. Not so many years ago, only technically minded people, such as hams, could speak to the far away corners of the Earth. The journey to Dayton each year can be seen as a way to keep the spirit of ham radio alive, much in the same way early pilgrims traveled far to keep their faith alive.

Many manufacturers of ham radio equipment use the Hamvention as a vehicle to introduce their newest products. Radio enthusiasts often make their major equipment purchases as a result of these demonstrations. As mentioned before, there is also a massive sale of older used equipment outside the arena in the open air. You could say that these enthusiasts are acquiring relics to take back to their home land. A number of shipping companies even set up booths to ensure attendees can get their treasures home if they cannot transport their recent acquisitions themselves.

The elements described here liken Dayton to pilgrimages both ancient and modern. A group united in a common interest gathering in a place to celebrate it together is a very powerful experience. The last reason the Hamvention is much like a pilgrimage is that each person gains something different from the experience. Inside amateur radio there are different interests: those who talk to as many foreign countries as possible, those who tinker with every last component in a radio to make it work better, and those who simply want to promote goodwill, just to name a few. Although there exists such a wide array of interests within amateur radio, the common unity of being a ham remains.

I attended my first Hamvention in 1997. My father had been attending the Hamvention with his friend for many years before that. Every year when he left, I would joke about stowing away in his luggage so that I would be able to go. My parents did not want me going because I would miss school. I had very few classes that year, and I was able to make arrangements to stay caught up, so I was finally able to go. I was very excited to be going, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I first walked through the gate. There were tents, tables, parked cars, and people everywhere. If it were anywhere else, I could have been witnessing a mob scene, but here everyone was polite, cordial, even outgoing. We walked around for awhile with a group of Brazilians we met while waiting for the gate to open. I was thoroughly amazed at the magnitude of what I was experiencing. During the remainder of the weekend I talked with many other hams about the interests I had in ham radio, acquired many "relics" to bring back, and absorbed myself in the spirit of friendship that flowed freely throughout the place. It is an experience I recommend to anyone at least once, even if your interests are not technical.