[BC] SBE Membership

[Steve Ordinetz]

Ronald Johnson wrote:

> 
>
> Most station mangers/owners considered SBE as an anathema to their
> autocratic rule over engineering employees and their endanger their fiscal
> existence. 

I don't know about that.  Every employer that I worked for as an engineer reimbursed me for my membership dues so they couldn't have been all that threatened by it.  I did let my membership lapse when I semi-retired since I didn't think the Signal and a bunch of junk mail from everyone they sold my address to warranted paying $65/yr for the privilege.  Our "local" chapter spans 3 rural states, and rarely met. 

>
> Many of us, including myself were amateur radio operators prior
> to choosing our broadcasting vocation. How many of us played hooky to take
> our FCC exams?
>

Excused absence.  My father (who thought this was a phase I'd soon grow out of) took a day off work to drive me to Boston to take the test for my 3rd (I was a junior in high school at the time).  By the time I'd gotten my 1st I was already gainfully employed.  Never had a ham license, nor particularly wanted one.