[SOC] Off Topic: Ideas for club programs

[Bill Cunningham K4KSR]

Hi Mike,

A few thoughts with direct reply.

First off, don't lose too much sleep trying to fix a club if it doesn't want
to be fixed.  I've had many years experience with all manner of volunteer
organizations and find that what may have started with enthusiasm eventually
becomes unwilling to do a lot.  So, do what you can.  Enjoy what is
enjoyable and don't frustrate yourself.  BTW, I very purposely do NOT belong
to a club because that would entail obligations I don't need. You may find
some of the members have external constraints that limits their
participation.

Now some topics you might try.

1.  Stealthy and covert antennas.  I'm something at a master at this, living
in a neighborhood with very restrictive CC&Rs.  The real story is not about
antennas, but about camouflage and dispersion of evidence and distracting
the eye and all sorts of things.  Simply put on your spy detection hat and
reverse engineer.  Or pretend you are a WWII spy trying to survive.   As for
the old hats, eventually they will be forced to more assisted living in some
form.  So maintaining some ham activity should be important.  A whole
feature on loading gutters and downspouts, perhaps??

2. How about some midpoint between digital and old fashioned CW?  Like how
to use computer keyboard to simply key a CW rig?   What kind of interfaces?
This brings up a point about the age of the computer at hand.  The newbie is
less likely to have a parallel output.  Even a club project so that ALL
members can send via keyboard.

3.  Back to the antennas.  A demonstration of EZNEC would open the eyes of
many, old and new.

4.  Does your club do Field Day with any seriousness, or do individuals do
Class 1D, 1E?  There a couple of things here.  1E is a blast with a K1 and a
7 AH gel cell.  It's possible to have competition within the club.  Another
thought is the extra hours gained by delaying your start time.  N4BP is a
master at this.  The trick is rapid set up.  If you have a big operation,
this is one class of problems.  If you operate Class 2A or Class 2B, it is
about instant operation.

5.  Really ambitious.  Form teams with newbies and old farts on each team.
Then have a scavenger hunt/junkbox building contest to see who can get a
simple homebrew rig on the air with lowest investment.

I'm out of ideas.

Good luck.
>
> I recently joined a club which is in obvious need of help.  The business
> meetings are FAR too long and the programs are nearly non-existent.  Last
> meeting we had a program set up on digital modes, but by the time the
> business meeting ended, the program only had about 15 minutes to run.  On
> top of that, a lot of the 'old hats' were totally turned off by the
digital
> stuff.
>
> I think we've got a good mix of folks... old hats and newer guys,
(although
> at 41, I'm probably one of the youngest members) and some of the guys have
a
> lot of interest in getting this thing working.  We've got some politics
too,
> but it's fairly minimal and I think we can put a stop to that too with
some
> work.
>
> (Okay... I'm rambling!)
>
> Anyway, what do you guys think would be some good topics for programs?
> Perhaps 30 minutes in length, interesting to both the old timer and the
> newbie.
>
> Thanks for the help,
>
> 73
>
> -- de WM4B
>
>
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