The FISTS Club, (International Morse Preservation Society) was founded in 1987 by Geo Longden G3ZQS of Darwen, Lancs England, after recognising a need for a club in which veteran operators would help newcomers and less-experienced operators learn and improve CW proficiency. During the first year, membership reached 300, most of whom were in Great Britain and Europe.

The North American chapter was formed in 1990 to assist 11 members in the USA receive the newsletter and as a banking convenience. Nancy Kott WZ8C of Hadley, Michigan was named US representative, a position she still holds but she now handles the affairs of over 2,000 members in the Americas.

The New Zealand / Australia Chapter was formed in 1998 to provide a similar service to Australasian members, with Ralph Sutton ZL2AOH as the VK/ZL representative. From a VK/ZL membership of four, there are now over 70 members "Down Under", principally in New Zealand. The New Zealand membership is the largest in any country outside England and Wales and North America.

World wide, FISTS members now number over 4500 members, growing by up to 100 each month. Membership to FISTS Down Under is welcome - click here to Join!

The FISTS Club is one amateur radio's fastest growing organisations. It's an unique club, founded and maintained on solid principles using radio's oldest and yet most reliable communications mode - CW!