Important message about transponder use

Just got the following from Gordon Boettger. Please pass along as
appropriate. Fred

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Folks,
Just spent the day at OAK ARTCC. They keep emphasizing that for
safety reasons all gliders "should" (highly recommended) squawk around
the RNO area. They said that chunk of airspace still scares the hell
out of them. They mentioned that they're still seeing a lot of
nonsquawkers out there. When they're dealing with nonsquawking
targets that suddenly disappear from their screen near an arriving/
departing aircraft, it not only makes them really nervous, but their
workload goes up and makes their job much harder. Although I wasn't
dealing with NORCAL, OAK ARTCC handles all arrivals in/out of RNO
above FL190. The approach plates for all the approaches into RNO have
a large note saying "EXTENSIVE GLIDER OPERATIONS UP TO FL180" but that
doesn't guarantee anything. I CANNOT OVEREMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE NEED TO SQUAWK WITH MODE C WHENEVER AIRBORNE when flying from
airports around the Reno area. It's pretty simple. Turn the bloody
transponder on before takeoff just as one would the radio and leave it
on. That way you won't forget it airborne. Plus, that will allow us
glider guys that have a PCAS device or FLARM to see those that don't
have FLARM or PCAS. There's no excuse anymore for not having and
using a transponder. It doesn't matter if you're flying a 1-26 or an
ASW-27. If you don't have a transponder yet, GET ONE. If we have
another glider swapping paint with someone, we'll be having some major
problems with soaring in our future.
I'm not sure what's going on with the squawk code issue, but whether
it's 1202 or 0440, whatever you have dialed in they'll see you. My
routine is to always call NORCAL on the radio too and make sure I'm in
radar contact. After all, although I have my transponder on doesn't
mean that they necessarily see me or my altitude. It might not be
working properly. I usually get a mode C check while I'm talking to
them. I'm always aware of their arrivals (north/south) into RNO and
if I ever get near their departure/arrival corridor, I state my
intentions. They seem to really like that.
Please pass this on to as many people that you know.
Thanks,
Gordo