[HCARC] Keeping new hams interested

[Kerry Sandstrom]

Gary,

First of all "doing" means doing the things that the individual is 
interested in, not necessarily the things you are interested in. The 
important thing is "doing" something related to ham radio and not just 
watching someone else "doing".  If you are interested in something I am 
doing and want to tag along, that's fine.  If, on the other hand, you 
expect me to do something you are interested in and I am not, you got 
the wrong guy.

The club members have many diverse interests.  Not all of us are 
interested in contests in general or Field Day in particular.  To expect 
everyone to participate in Field Day with the club because you want them 
to is unrealistic.  I am not interested in contests and I usually have 
something else I'm doing field day weekend.  Same thing applies to the 
club station.  you have been fortunate that Gale has been interested in 
opening the club station and demonstrating various things.  For me the 
club station is too far away, I have better equipment and antenna at 
home and I'm not even remotely familiar with how to operate the 
equipment at the club station.  There is no reason I can imagine that I 
would go and operate the club station.  I am not the right choice to 
open up the club station and help anyone operate it.

It takes all kind of people to run a club.  Everyone is different with 
different interests and capabilities.  There are some people who enjoy 
running a club and there are some who would never run anything.  There 
are some who like to set up and maintain a repeater while there are 
others who could never do that.  There are some who like to build things 
and describe them to other club members and there are some who don't 
think they could ever build anything.  It would be a terrible world if 
we were all the same.   Fortunately we are all different.  You shouldn't 
expect every one in the club to have the same interests as you and want 
to participate in everything you want to participate in.  It just won't 
happen.

Kerry






On 6/18/2014 4:45 PM, Gary J - N5BAA wrote:
> "  We talk too much about the "things"
> aspect of ham radio and not enough of the "doing" of ham radio"
>
> AN INCREDIBLY INTERESTING COMMENT - NEXT YEAR YOU SHOULD STAND UP IN 
> FRONT OF THE CLUB AND DISCUSS FIELD DAY (or any other thing that 
> requires some participation by club members - ask Terry Hipskind).  IF 
> WE CAN"T SUPPORT FIELD DAY THEN WHAT DOES THAT SAY FOR HELPING THE 
> "DOING" VS THE "STUFF" PART OF HAM RADIO???  I HEARD MORE PEOPLE 
> TELLING ME LAST MEETING THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO BE ATTENDING, THAN 
> I HEARD WOULD BE ATTENDING.  Heck, I even offered free brisket to 
> bring some people and still have no idea how much brisket to bring.
>
> When was the last time that a club member opened up the club radio for 
> Techs to operate - I know when it was and who opened the station - I 
> was there and Gale Heise was the Control Operator - OVER TWO YEARS 
> AGO!!   Enough said.
>
> Gary J
> N5BAA