[Rover] A Central Repository for Newbies? - Repost

[Robin Midgett K4IDC]

Hi Austin,
As a fellow rover, I applaud your efforts, and support what you're 
trying to do. It seems you have good ideas for furthering the hobby 
and bringing new blood to VHF+ contesting. You might also consider 
contacting the Fourlanders VHF contesting team..they LOVE new rovers. 
http://w4nh.org/

One thing..if you're going to inspire people, please get the 
terminology right. Our hobby has been diluted more than enough 
already, no need for more ignorance. We don't go rovering..there is 
no such word, as it is just plain wrong; we go roving.
A painter paints, a fisher fishes, a rover roves, they do not go 
paintering or fishering or rovering. Got it?


At 04:28 AM 12/7/2010, you wrote:
>[I just learned that my earlier post showed up as blank on the 
>reflector.  This message was posted on the VHF and VHF Contesting 
>reflectors as well.  I apologize for the length, but I am interested 
>in feedback.  Thanks!]
>
>It is my opinion that the Rover Contesting and the VHF/UHF/Microwave 
>Weak Signal Communities have a shared vested interest in encouraging 
>new hams to become interested in our areas of interest. I know that 
>this was a topic at this past year's Central States VHF Conference, 
>and I am sure it has been a topic elsewhere as well. How do we 
>recruit new hams?
>
>I recently moved to the state of Alabama and decided that I wanted 
>to become a serious Rover here in the Southeast. There isn't a club 
>down here like I was blessed with up in Wisconsin (the Badger 
>Contesters) to help "elmer me." Luckily I found a few hams in the 
>area (Les Rayburn, N1LF especially) that took the time to encourage 
>me and offer guidance as the South East is a very different beast 
>than up in Wisconsin (terrain, activity, etc). In addition, I spent 
>a lot of time on the web searching and searching.
>
>During a presentation about recruitment efforts at Central States, I 
>was inspired to think about ways that I could "give back" to the 
>hobby.  First of all, I am pushing hard (with the help of several 
>others here in AL) to increase activity on the bands here in 
>Alabama. I took a new ham out with me in September to introduce him 
>to rovering, and I have already lined up another non-VHF contester 
>to observe in January. The Alabama Contest Group has invited us in 
>to join their ranks and to start building a VHF/UHF/Microwave focus 
>group within their group. So if there
>are any AL hams on here looking for like minded hams in the area, give
>me a shout.
>
>But I keep thinking that more needs to be done. I was lucky when I 
>got into the hobby back in 1996. I had members in my local Amateur 
>Club that were into Weak Signal work and they introduced me to this 
>side of the hobby. I owe them and the Badger Contesters up there 
>many many thanks! But what about those new hams out there that don't 
>have such friendly "elmers" in their clubs?
>
>I think about all of the great resources and information that is out 
>on the web... but it is scattered and frankly not the easiest to 
>find. Don't get me wrong, that isn't a slam against anyone. I 
>appreciate the information that is out there. But I have forgotten 
>more than I can remember as to these great sites. I almost literally 
>have to stumble back on it. So I was thinking. What if there was a 
>Central Repository? A central website that either had the 
>information, or at least had the links to all of this great 
>information in a user friendly format with the newbie in mind? A 
>place with an easy URL to remember for that new ham that is curious 
>about how to get started?
>
>I have been wrestling with this idea for awhile now. I went ahead 
>and took the initiative to register the domain 
>"RoverContesting.com". Is this a way that I can give back to a hobby 
>that is near and dear to me? Please understand that this isn't a 
>lame attempt for stardom or glory. Nor am I looking at this as a 
>money making opportunity. That isn't my goal here. If others are 
>interested in helping me build (information gathering, link 
>gathering, and your general HTML elbow-grease) the site, I will 
>gladly accept it. I have no problem admitting my HTML skills are 
>still stuck in the 90's.
>
>Before I put the time and effort into it though, is this something 
>that is of interest to the community? Do others believe that this is 
>a valid need and would welcome the effort? You will not offend me if 
>you say no. If something already exists out there that I am not 
>aware of...AWESOME!! I am merely seeing a need from my own personal 
>experience and offering to help do something about it.
>
>I am respectfully curious as to your thoughts.
>
>73,
>
>Austin, K4AMK
>www.k4amk.us
>austin at k4amk.us
>
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Thank you,
Robin Midgett K4IDC