[SMCARA] Re-focus

[Tom Shelton]

During the discussion on by-laws, I mentioned that I would step-up for the
position of president, but that I would just be a figure-head.  

 

Anyone who knows me knows that that comment was hyperbole and that I just
can't help myself from being involved.  

 

Dan and I continued the discussion off the reflector, and here are a few
excerpts - In short, my hats in the ring.

 

As President, I would focus on getting our new hams active and on the air.
Meetings would feature different modes and how they're used, different entry
level equipment available - with demonstrations and hand's on play time -
different antennas from home-brew to commercially available with pros and
con - how to set-up your home or mobile station.  I'd like to see more
community support and would ask the club to sponsor a pizza party (or other
social get-together) for volunteers - and their families - after each
community support event.  I'd also pump up the Elmer program in the club.

 

I also have a few ideas on why the new people aren't active:

 

Because the FCC made it much easier to get a license, people don't have to
earn it (at least without as much effort as before) and if you give
something to someone then they don't appreciate it as much.  Step 1.  Stop
giving free membership to people who take the class and pass the test (same
for radios, but as I understand it, that's gone away).  Step 2.  Charge for
the classes (I don't think that $50 is out of the question - include study
book and test fees and split additional funds over the cost of the book/test
between club activities and class room support).  On a side note - I really
prefer the ARRL study guide over the W5YI guide.  

 

Right now (IMHO) the new hams see the club as a social organization, so I
would want to re-focus it towards being a General Ham Group.  For example -
Field Day should focus more on operating than on dinner, testing, side
meetings, etc.  The site I operated from last year cost me $60 to operate
there - but I and one other guy made over 1,000 contacts just on 75M phone
(over 13,000 for the whole site, with over 800 just on the GOTA station).
Give people a choice - if they provide a radio or antenna or other
equipment, or do set-up/tear-down, then they can operate and come to dinner
- if they don't, then they'll be a cost associated ($10?).  No test session
at FD - but certainly have a GOTA station going.  Just going to back to
people appreciating things more if it costs them something.

 

Make ARRL membership mandatory.  Well -   at least strongly encourage it.
Maybe at every meeting have the ARRL members stand up to be recognized.
Perhaps give a discount to the annual SMCARA dues for ARRL members ($5
off???).  Have ARRL member only activities.

 

I'd rather have a lower number of members who are active than a huge number
who are there for the parties, but inactive otherwise.  

 

I know some (or all) of these will be unpopular with some (or most) people -
but let's open a dialogue and discuss it.  Share your thoughts, step up and
volunteer for a position or to sponsor an activity.  

 

Tom Shelton, ND3N

Ham Radio, Motorcycling, and a Loving Wife who lets me play with both

What more could a man need