[Elecraft] Elecraft Digest, Vol 256, Issue 20

[Glenn Maclean]

I have to say. The on going Morse Code Class I teach at a local bar because the owner is a ham and welcomes the class. I am little by little getting more students that see our table and are curious. I give them my spiel about ham radio and why Morse Code. Which is when boom boom the lights go out Morse Code will always come through! Then the next thing I know I end up with a new student who wants to become a ham! The new students are in their 20’s - 30’s
Glenn Maclean WA7SPY
Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 30, 2025, at 09:03, elecraft-request at mailman.qth.net wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
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>   1. Re: Effective ways to introduce amateur radio to newcomers?
>      (email)
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2025 11:12:55 -0400
> From: email <email at nr3i.org>
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Effective ways to introduce amateur radio to
>    newcomers?
> Message-ID: <7beb844a-160f-4775-a305-bb3ddb9d052b at nr3i.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
> 
> Why ?? (Why is it necessary that we talk other people into ham radio in
> the first place??)? WELL, In the USA, the average age (determined by my
> browser) is 65 years old.? That means in 20-30 years, that 800K number
> will be 400K without adding new (younger hams) ???
> 
> My kids are in there 30's (and have let the license lapse - but plan on
> renewing ??)
> My wife is not active...
> I know a number of hams in retirement communities that are not active.
> How many of the 800K are active ??
> 
> I have a friend (Scout admin I work with/for) that had a novice in grade
> school, she let it lapse a number of years ago.? I have been giving her
> Tech class info and she may have time to do the zoom class...? She did
> like CW (still knows it).? I may give/lend her my "old" NorCal 40.? It
> would be nice to have a kit again ??? for new hams.? The NorCal 40 is
> simple to use and a single band dipole is simple to "throw" into a tree...
> 
> 73, Steve WB3LGC
> 
>> On 7/26/25 18:57, David Gilbert via Elecraft wrote:
>> 
>> Exactly.
>> 
>> Trying to talk people into being interested in things we're interested
>> in for the reasons we're interested in them is a foolish endeavor.?
>> Evangelism is boring and off-putting.? The best we can do is describe
>> what ham radio can offer and let people decide if that has any
>> interest for them.
>> 
>> If we have to convince somebody that ham radio is interesting to them,
>> then it probably isn't and even if they go along it won't last.
>> 
>> Which brings me to this question:
>> *
>> Why is it necessary that we talk other people into ham radio in the
>> first place?? * There are supposedly close to 800,000 licensed hams in
>> the U.S., which is a bigger market and a bigger pool of like minds
>> than LOTS of other activities.? Is there some sort of collective
>> insecurity complex going on every time this comes up? And it comes up
>> with annoying frequency on almost every forum.
>> 
>> Dave? ?AB7E
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On 7/26/2025 2:27 PM, Fred Jensen via Elecraft wrote:
>>> They almost all view ham radio from a utilitarian perspective, not as
>>> a hobby ... they have hobbies and interests. Probably the largest
>>> non-work interests were in the outdoors.
>> 
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> End of Elecraft Digest, Vol 256, Issue 20
> *****************************************