Report on the Successful Introductory Day of the Morse Academy

Saturday, January 18, on board the SS Rotterdam

On Saturday, January 18, the introductory day of the Morse Academy took place aboard the majestic steamship SS Rotterdam. This event marked the start of the academy’s third academic year, welcoming a new group of enthusiastic students.

Start and Welcome

The day began with a warm welcome in the beautiful Odyssee Hall of the ship. The prospective students were greeted by the staff of the Morse Academy and had the opportunity to meet each other and the instructors over a cup of coffee.

Opening

Edward Neef (PE1EEF), Chairman of the Morse Academy Foundation, acted as the day’s host and warmly welcomed the guests. He then handed the microphone to the General Manager of Westcord Hotels, the operator of the SS Rotterdam, Mr. Ton Wesselink, for the formal opening of the day. Following this, Klaas Krijnen of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Steamship Rotterdam/Friends of SS Rotterdam gave a captivating talk about the ship’s history.

The Origins of Morse Academy

The Morse Academy is an initiative of PI4HAL, the SS Rotterdam Radio Amateurs Association. Due to overwhelming interest, the activities have been transferred to a separate non-profit organization: the Morse Academy Foundation. The goal is to pass on the knowledge and skills of Morse code and its related practices to new generations.

Course Modules

The foundation provides more than just training in sending and receiving Morse code. With modules such as Operating Practice, the History of Samuel Morse, CW (Continuous Wave) and Technology, and much more, students gain a comprehensive understanding of Morse-related topics. Each academic year concludes with an exam where students earn a diploma and a CW pass. The instructors from the Morse Academy gave a brief demonstration of their course modules.

Awarding Certificates and CW Passes

Under the keen interest of the attendees, the first CW passes were awarded to successful students by the examination committee, consisting of Derk Harms (PA2DW) and Dick Hissink (PA3CW). Several other students received certificates of merit for their academic achievements.

Closing and Looking Ahead

The final motivational presentation was given by Jan Majoor (PD7MA), focusing on the newest "spinoff" of the organization: the "Association of Friends of the Morse Academy." This club organizes exam training, field days, excursions, and much more for (former) students. Interest in participating is high, and the initiative has already proven to be a success.