[HCARC] Keeping new hams interested

[Gary J - N5BAA]

Problem is we don't offer much in the way of anything to the new Ham.  Most 
of the club members seem to be content with going off and doing their own 
thing.  I don't particularly like contesting, but do recognize that contests 
are good times where new hams can make contacts and learn.  We recently did 
an inventory of club owned equipment.  Other than the installed radios and 
antennas we have a pretty good mish mash of stuff with no rhyme nor reason 
for it being owned other than in many cases it being having been donated.  I 
have proposed several ideas on what to do with this "stuff".  Would it not 
make sense to sell some of the equipment and then purchase equipment that 
could be lent to new members so they can discover the many facets of Ham 
Radio??  NOPE, these ideas and others fall on deaf ears, probably because 
doing something with the stuff requires an effort, and as you will probably 
see come club election time again - few are willing to make an effort.  As 
my experience with the number of people Dale trains compared to those we 
keep interested in the club, we are doing a miserable job.  It's just so 
much easier to let others do it.  Hopefully those who are willing to help 
the club run, advance, recruit new members, etc won't soon become one of 
those who just have "other things to do".

At least Kerry you are willing to at least make comments on this subject. 
Count using the just the two thumbs you have how many others who have even 
voiced an opinion on the subject.  Sad isn't it??

And to get back to the original start of this thread, we are indebted to 
those who do spend their time providing the service of maintaining the 
repeater.  I just wish we would spend a like amount of time offering the 
Clubs resources to other than VHF/UHF.

Gary J
N5BAA

-----Original Message----- 
From: Kerry Sandstrom
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2014 10:15 PM
To: Gary J - N5BAA ; hcarc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [HCARC] Keeping new hams interested

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



-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2014.0.4592 / Virus Database: 3972/7702 - Release Date: 06/18/14