[NJARC] A few thoughts on the repair clinics and the News letter.

[Thomas Lee]

In the two years that I have been a member there was only one class taught 
to the beginners/new members at the repair clinics.  Can’t a schedule of 
classes be made for new members and be held at the monthly meetings or the 
repair clinics?
Being that the repair clinics are far and in between how are new members 
supposed to get hands on experience?   I understand the clubs resources are 
very limited but when you open the clinics to the public at the cost of the 
members it just does not’t make sense.
I have been to a few repair clinics  where “the public” have brought in 
their radios for repair, and most are not interested in joining, or 
learning.  They just want a working set to enjoy or sell on eBay or some 
other avenue.  Why should the club support that at the cost of its new 
members, and that of the old member’s time when its resources are so limited 
and would have been better served by concentrating on its new members and 
old ones?
As for the broadcaster being put online for free then just what would be the 
advantages of joining?   The swap meets are open to the public.  The repair 
clinics are open to the public, and you can have your radio repaired for 
free.  If the news letter can be read online why join when you can get it 
all for free?
I think it is all well and good for the public to be invited to the repair 
clinics, but if they bring in a radio for repair, they should be charged 
some kind of fee, and those monies collected should either be added to the 
clubs treasury to fund future programs and or have the member who is 
spending his time on it compensated in part to discourage people who just 
want a free repair and then go sell it somewhere.