[W3GV] OPEN HOUSE

[Michael Brumberger]

GM…I have volunteered to be Chairman of the Open House Committee. The open house will be sometime in June. Date to be determined. That is just 2 1/2 months away.

At the RAE meeting on April 4 at the RED CROSS Building at 7:00 PM, I will be asking for members to join in this committee. It is a fairly large undertaking, and I will not be able to do everything that will  need to be done to make this a success. 

I need someone who has knowledge of the “Ham Population” of the surrounding area. Familiar with the members or are inactive, and those who have given up their membership in the last few years.This person might also be asked to assist me, and any other committee members, in brain storming the wording of the invitation, and having them printed and mailed.
 
There is a list in the Club house of over 300 Hams in the Erie area. I don’t it is feasible, nor cost effective, to send 300 invitations to the open house. This list needs to be reduced to a reasonable number, utilizing whatever knowledge there is, of those on the list that might possibly be interested in attending.  I feel we should put in the invitation the fact that we now have a new Amp., Tower, and Yagi, available for use by any member. A nice dangling carrot I think.  

I will also need someone, (or “ones”), who will assist in final clean-up, immediately before the open house, of the inside of the building as well as the grounds, (first impressions are important). set-up of tables and food, handling the grill, etc.

I  intend to try to get free “advertising” by contacting the media in the immediate area. TV and Radio Stations. Newspapers…Any other suggestions?  Doug has volunteered (was railroaded) to be the liaison between the club and the media, (might see him on TV?) to explain what Ham Radio is, how it’s main purpose is emergency preparedness, and public service to the community.(Skywarn, RACES….). The pleasure and excitement of having a “cutting edge” hobby for a lifetime. The  excitement experienced when working a “new one”, etc…The ability to meet and make new friends through the use of our local repeaters....

 I will also try to get permission to post in the local schools , YMCA, (any others?), flyers telling of the open house. We might look at buying x number of “give-a -ways” to the first x number of NON Members to show up. (Cap, Coffee Mug, ???).

I will leave other areas and ideas to be discussed at the meeting.

Please step up and participate in what is an important effort to make our membership grow, by getting the word out to Hams who are not, or no longer, members.  By attempting to show the young school children the excitement, pleasures and, with the ability to now begin using Digital Modes (similar to texting?…) at the club, and with new computers and Internet access, how Ham Radio can be an exciting extension/addition to their need to COMMUNICATE! CONSTANTLY, by any of several methods available. (TEXT, E-MAIL, SKYPE, (Anything but face to face!)

If the RAE is going to grow and continue to thrive in future years, we need to introduce and encourage younger people to get interested in the hobby, get their ticket, and hopefully become members. Let’s face it. The average age of our membership is up there. We need new and younger members. We need new members from the area's existing Ham community. We need inactive members to take a renewed interest in their club.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

73’s..Mike…WB3DEL