Loss of club a reminder to stay active, involved

As a former commercial Morse telegrapher, primarily with the “original” Western Union Telegraph Co., I handled a lot of press copy for newspapers. When the sending telegrapher finished transmitting and there was nothing more, they would say, “end it – 30.” The receiving telegraphers would give the office call letters and their personal sine.

For the “SK” Spokane chapter of the Morse Telegraph Club Inc., at it’s Fall 2012 meeting, the few who bothered to attend voted to sine “30 and NM” (no more). The chapter has officially been dissolved.

This brings to an end any further public telegraph events. To hard-core Morse code practitioners like myself, it is devastating. A club of telegraphers sooner or later was bound to come to an end, but, why now?

The core reasons as it concerns members in and around the Spokane area are a complete lack of interest or a refusal to participate in any club activities.

While there are several more reasons, other than one other SK member beside myself, no one tried to sign up a new member, participate in public telegraph events, submit articles for its once heralded newspapers or serve in office.

The primary purpose of the Morse club was to “perpetuate the traditions of the Morse telegraph profession.” Apparently, the club lost interest in that primary objective.

Those chapter members outside this area who have been active and supportive will have to join a chapter in another location near them or the Grand chapter in the state of Virginia. I myself, for personal reasons, will transfer to a Canadian chapter.

We have had many unusual but exciting telegraph events in Ritzville never attempted anywhere by another chapter. They have been so well received by the public. In effect, this means that the telegraph may be silenced here forever. Sad – very sad!

However, we do have an active and growing Civil War historical reenactment group in Adams County interested in presenting “living history” that welcomes telegraphers.

With my help, one of their members is currently learning to operate the telegraph.

There has been only one other person that I am aware of who has done this.

Now a college student, a young girl in Florida, learned to competently telegraph beginning at age nine, taught by her grandfather.

Lesson learned: If you belong to any club or organization, remember – there was a reason you joined.

I urge you to actively work and participate in that group. If you do not, it too could well bring about its premature “30.”

L.R. Keith, Ritzville