[RVRC] FW: Please take the time to read this email
drew Moore
drumor at optonline.net
Sun Nov 18 17:43:56 EST 2012
OK Paul, fine business. It's extremely possible that an increase in dues or the implementation of an assessment may result in a loss of members. There is as Marvin would put it "there is a Malaise, or lack of interest throughout amateur radio clubs" these days. I've noticed it worsening over the last 10-15 years. It usually is the result of clubs not having interesting programs where the members share information, have guest speakers and are visible to the community. Attending cookie cutter meetings dampens the interest of many sane members. It's going to be a struggle to get basic operations restored let alone any enhancements.
73
Drew
-----Original Message-----
From: rvrc-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:rvrc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Paul Nannery
Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2012 3:39 PM
To: RVRC mailpost
Subject: Re: [RVRC] Please take the time to read this email
Drew and members,
most if not all of the email from cvra are things our true and tech committee have been saying for a few years. Drew the issue with back up power. We do not need internet up for the repeaters to be on the air. That is for off site linking as for power the report submitted last year covered a genarator with auto start and switch over but we have yet to agree on a way to raise funds. To even keep the system on the air. We need more regular members we need more help from all members to keep the club going. To all that don't know we are in for a rough road if we don't address our issues that most of the club wants to ignore. Its the time of the year we could do a coin toss but we would need members to help with his if we were to try it just an idea.
Just one more thing our system relays on 12volt power we just reduce the city power so it is possible for some to go with their car and jumper cables to charge the backup system. if anyone is willing to do this the system would stay up longer both my self and Craig are very busy during storms and the days after so some one willing to help wit this would would be a help
Paul
Kc2vrj
On Sat, Nov 17, 2012 at 9:58 PM, drew Moore <drumor at optonline.net wrote:
Paul,
I’m just opening the door for people to start thinking of ways to
accomplish our objectives. That’s why I’m asking for them to think out
of the box. A coin toss works well for Fire Companies and first
responders by tossing to help Amateur Radio may not get the same response. However, it’s a good idea.
To attract new members the club has to be able to offer the applicant
something. Money is so tight these days people don’t spend as freely
as they did in the past. Expenses at every turn is rising but salaries
are not budging, so everyone is financially strapped.
If they ask the members about features of the repeaters very few
members know anything about the new configuration because it’s not
presented to them in a way they can grasp the materials. If you ask
them about asterisk most will shake their heads. K2ETS’s technical
committee puts educational material on their website so members can
easily find information about the new technology. See
http://k2ets.com/asterisk.html to get an idea of what I mean.
Even with a generator we need a UPS to hold the default configurations
in the computer when a power source is applied. In the past we were
able to get members to donate UPS units. At most we may have had to
buy a deep discharge battery. A depleted battery was often the cause of the UPS seeming to fail.
The circuitry was often beefy enough to survive.
Many members of the club for the last 20-30 years have responded to
accomplish work on the repeater and at the site. When the tower was
bent like a pretzel they got it all up and running. The members were
of course were younger and we could always find someone to climb the
tower and install antennas and hardline. There have been hundreds of
work parties before your time. Now many old timers don’t come because
they haven’t a clue what the environment is like today and no one is
explaining the changes. However, they’ll come out again when help is
needed and enough notice is given. There are 4 people on the temporary
technical committee and the only one that has been working at the site
is Craig. WA2AM is very technical and no one has contacted him or
attempted to involve him. Pete is not so technical but as Bob said in
his letter to W2CRA you don’t have to be an engineer or rocket
scientist to help out. Your job keeps you on the road to PA and you
spend considerable time on the road. Others have to be nurtured
because you just don’t have the time anymore and getting your repeater working the way you want it is using up whatever spare time you do have.
73,
Drew
p.s. you really should turn your spell checker on you cell.
From: Paul Nannery [mailto:kc2vrj at gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2012 8:38 PM
To: drew Moore
Subject: Re: [RVRC] Please take the time to read this email
Justine more thing our system relays on 12volt power we just reduce
the city power so it is possible for some or to go chafe the system
with their car and jumper cables. If we assigns one willing both my
self and Craig are very busy during storms and the days after so some
one willing to help wit this would would be a help
On Nov 17, 2012 6:29 PM, "drew Moore" <drumor at optonline.net wrote:
Members,
Below is an email Bob Grear, KA2OEE, President of W2CRA- The
Cherryville Repeater Association sent out to members of the club. This
could be any of the local clubs in NNJ.
At our last RVRC meeting we couldn't even make a quorum so no official
business could be conducted. The dwindling numbers of members
attending meetings has been going on for some time now so it isn't
just HS Sandy. We have a number of issues being addressed and we need
the input of all the club members to get through theses economically
difficult times. Keeping the
repeater(s) on the air can be expensive. We are in the process of
submitting a claim for the damages we have incurred in the recent
storm to our insurance carrier. In any event we are going to incur
some unexpected expenditures and we'll find a way to raise the funds.
Once we raise the funds we have to be careful of how we restore our network.
We should address contingencies and we need people thinking out of the box.
Some realities we experienced is that when we have destructive storms
and we are in a JCP&L coverage area there's no telling how the
duration of the outage. Our current backup system was ineffective
since we experience outages well beyond the 8 hour of emergency power.
The Asterisk network's dependency on internet services and power.
Perhaps we should look at a fallback solution where everything can be
switched to RF power employing a generator and a rechargeable battery
option. Rich, KB2LLM has some great contingency ideas he wants to institute for ETSNJ.
We need a way to attract new members and keep them interested. The 2
guest that were at the meeting were looking for class instruction and
help in understanding how to use their VHF.UHF and HF equipment. Many
members offered help and John AB2XH offered to meet with one of the
guest and help him understand the Q&A of the study guide, great.
There's a lot of experience in the group. Because we have no current
training classes I referred the guest to W2CRA's group via K2PA.
I know many are concerned as to what the dues will look like for 2013
especially since they will be due by January1, 2013. There's talk
about an assessment. N2VM suggest we set the dues rate at a higher
amount for 2013 and revert to the $36 amount in 2014 (e.g. at $72 for
2013 and $36 January 1, 2014).That way we'll know what potential incoming amounts to expect.
Knowing that it forces us to determine exactly what we need for
operating budget and what we have avail for capital expense for 2013.
Any additional needs will have to come from fund raising activities. I
think we should charge new members $20 for 2013 with proration. That's
a start in so many different ways.
Anyhow here's Bob's letter below Please take the time to read it and
recognize that's it's not unlike what we are fast approaching.
73
Drew
W2OU
Dear CRA members:
?
Over the last couple of week, I have been exchanging e-mails with some
of our members regarding the state of CRA, the .375 machine, the web
page, and our dwindling membership turnout.? This has touched a nerve
with me, as I have been a member of CRA since 1981, and I am frankly
both distressed, and angry about our current situation!
?
Folks, this club has been around a long time, and I am proud to be a
member and officer of a club with a great history of community service
and amateur radio spirit.? I am NOT proud of where we stand right
now.? Our repeater needs work, our web site needs to be revised and
updated, we direly need someone to publicize the club in traditional
ways, and we need to recruit new members!? The Executive Board has
discussed each of these topics repeatedly over the last two or three
years, and we are not making progress!?
?
Executive Board members have been taking on increasing responsibility
for running the club's routine activities including the hamfest, the
community service events, the awards/holiday dinner, and even the
education and testing we sponsor.? The entire two member Technical
Committee is made up only of Executive Board members.? We have no
standing committees at all and when I or Michael before me have asked
for volunteers for committees or work parties to assist the technical
committee, we have rarely had anyone raise a hand to offer
assistance.? It is as if the members attending the meetings are
totally deaf!? What will it take to get the members to step forward and take part in the necessary functions of the club?
?
The few non-board members who turn out for club meetings don't seem at
all motivated to volunteer to make CRA grow and prosper!? Yes, we need
to recruit new members, but the existing members need to get involved
in the process!? Yes, we need to fix the repeater "once and for all",
but to do that, the existing members need to get involved to make it
happen!? How much longer are YOU, the members, going to expect someone
else to step forward and do it?? CRA cannot exist much longer if YOU,
the members, don't take on the tasks of doing the club's work!!
?
I know all of us are not as young as we used to be, but I am not
asking you to put up towers at Field day, or for that matter do a
whole lot that involves physical labor!? All of us had to have enough
of a technical understanding to pass our license exams!? Most of us
know how to turn a screwdriver or take a voltage reading with a
meter.? People, you don't need to be an engineer with an advanced
degree to help with the repeater repairs!? You don't need to have a
degree in public relations to contact the news outlets to announce club events!? Any one of us can do that.
?
Where do you stand in all this?? I want to hear from you!? E-mail me!?
Call my home phone (908) 231-0746.? Talk to me on the air!?
?
We are at a critical point in CRA's history.? Let's all step up and
fix what is broken.? Put aside your differences with personalities and
volunteer for the greater good of the club!? Let me hear from you!
?
Sincerely,
?
Bob Grear, KA2OEE
President, Cherryville Repeater Association II
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