Ham Holiday 2022 will host a "Wouff Hong Induction Ceremony" on Friday evening,
22 July, following the Friday night banquet. If you wish to join this
noteworthy body of amateur radio operators, you may register on the "Ham Holiday
Registration" page (
https://hamholiday.com/), scroll down to 'Wouff Hong' and
sign in. You must be not only a licensed amateur radio operator, but also a
member in good standing of the American Radio Relay League. 'Walk-in' candidates
for "Wouff Hong" membership are also welcome and may register at the 'greeter's
table'.
The ceremony will begin around 9:30 PM and takes about one hour.
Current members of the "Wouff Hong" are also encouraged to attend. For current
members, if you wish to get the new style "Wouff Hong" certificate, you may
register at the 'greeter's table'; a new certificate will be created for you and
available for pick-up at the CORA/Ham Holiday prize table on Saturday.
Now, what is a "Woff Hong"?????
A Wouff Hong is a fictional tool used to "punish" Amateur Radio operators, who
demonstrate poor operating practices, unfriendly attitude toward fellow
amateurs, and who dare to put our hobby in an unfavorable light.
Legend has it that the Wouff Hong was invented by Hiram Percy Maxim (founder of
ARRL), W1AW, under the pseudonym, "The Old Man," just as amateurs were getting
back on the air after World War One.
Early in 1919, "The Old Man" wrote in QST "I am sending you a specimen of a real
live Wouff Hong . . . Keep it in the editorial sanctum where you can lay hands
on it quickly in an emergency." The "specimen of a real live Wouff Hong" was
presented to a meeting of the ARRL Board and the Board voted that the Wouff Hong
be framed and hung in the office of the Secretary of the League.
On display at ARRL HQ today, the Wouff Hong is a constant reminder to Amateur
Radio operators to be mindful of their operating etiquette and good relations
with members of our hobby.
