FISTS
| FISTS | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The International Morse Preservation Society |
| Founded | 1987, in England |
| Founder | Geo Longden, G3ZQS |
| Motto | Accuracy Transcends Speed; Courtesy At All Times |
| Organization | |
| Chapters | Americas, Europe, Down Under, East Asia |
| Americas membership | Lifetime and free of dues |
| Americas newsletter | Keynote |
| Online | |
| Website | fists.org |
FISTS, also known as the International Morse Preservation Society, is a worldwide amateur radio club devoted to Morse code. It was founded in 1987 by George "Geo" Longden, G3ZQS, of Darwen, Lancashire, England, with the idea that experienced CW operators should help newcomers learn the mode and improve their skills. The club has several regional chapters, and its emphasis is on friendly, accurate operating rather than speed.
History
Longden borrowed the club's name from the banner of an older CW club, TOPS, which read "Where FISTS Make Friends." In CW slang, an operator's fist is their personal sending style, so the name suits a club built around good sending and friendship.
FISTS grew quickly. It had about 300 members in its first year, mostly in Great Britain and the rest of Europe, and members soon joined from other continents. As the club spread, regional chapters were formed to handle newsletters, membership and awards closer to home:
- The North American chapter, now FISTS Americas, began in 1990, originally to help a handful of US members receive the newsletter.
- The Down Under chapter for Australia and New Zealand was founded in 1998 by Ralph Sutton, ZL2AOH.
- The East Asia chapter was formed in 2004 by Taiwanese and Japanese members, so that members in the region could be served in their own languages.
- FISTS Europe continues the original club in the UK and Europe.
Longden has since become a Silent Key, and the club holds an annual operating event in his memory.
Aims and membership
The club's stated goals are to promote the use of CW on the amateur bands, to encourage newcomers to the mode, and to build friendships among members. Its motto, "Accuracy Transcends Speed – Courtesy At All Times," sets the tone for its on-air activity. Where the Straight Key Century Club is built around mechanical keys and CWops around high-speed operating, FISTS focuses on helping operators of any speed, and it has no speed requirement for joining.
Each member receives a permanent FISTS number, used in contacts and for awards. Membership arrangements differ by chapter. In the Americas, residents of North, Central and South America can join by sending their call sign, name and mailing address by email to the chapter's membership manager; membership is now lifetime and free of dues, with the newsletter, Keynote, provided as a download. The chapter describes its only requirement as a love of Morse code and a concern for its future.
Activities
FISTS activities vary by chapter. The Americas chapter, for example, runs:
- Code Buddies, which pairs newcomers with experienced members for practice and on-air contacts, in keeping with the club's founding purpose;
- FISTS Friday, a non-contest day after the US Thanksgiving holiday when members are encouraged to make at least one CW contact;
- two annual memorial events, one for G3ZQS on the first full weekend of September and one for Nancy Kott, WZ8C, who served for many years as the club's US representative, on the third full weekend of April;
- a range of awards, including the Century Series, Platinum Series, QRP, Millionaire, Perpetual Prefix and Spectrum awards.
New Americas members who complete a ten-minute CW contact with another FISTS member during their first full year can claim a FISTS key patch by sending the contact details and a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the awards manager. A free program, the FISTS Log Converter, written by a FISTS member, tracks award progress and can send award logs to the awards manager. The chapter has also run regular sprints; check its website for the current schedule.
The Americas chapter publishes a list of suggested FISTS calling frequencies on the HF bands, where members can be found outside organized events; check the chapter website for the current list.
FISTS has also distributed practice material over the years, including the K7QO code course on CD.