[HCARC] Elmer Possibilities

[Marilyn Vordenbaum]

I share my thoughts about Elmer Selection in order to provide “food for thought”.  This is not gospel.

A new ham needs helps.  Help can be found in an Elmer.  One of the opportunities and challenges is to find an Elmer who is patient, kind, and informed. The first place to look in HCARC is kerrhams.org to view the list of those who will personally and privately take the time to help.  This person need not know all of the answers but should have the ability to know those who might be more proficient in different areas of the hobby that could be contacted privately by the new ham to seek specialized information.  The personality of the Elmer and the new ham is probably one of the most important factors.  This factor is not something that is in an ARRL resource manual. I think the Elmer can become a lifelong “friend” or a brief helper.  Personal communication with an Elmer through private email, phone, shack  visits as well as visits to N5HR seem to me the way to proceed. Visits to various shacks would be a valuable resource that an Elmer could arrange for a new ham.

I might think of other things later but at the moment this could be helpful.

73,
Marilyn