Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

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Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

lou giovannetti (KB2DHG) on October 2, 2008
View comments about this article!

Hi again my radio friends...

I wonder how many of you are members of a Amateur Radio Club?

I am a member of The Yonkers Amateur Radio Club and have to say that it is a great thing to be a member of a club.

I don't know where I would be without the wonderful support of my local club. We are presently celebrating our 60th anniversary as an affiliated club with the ARRL.

For those of you who are just starting out in this wonderful hobby I recommend taking part in a local radio club. The wealth of information and experience can help you better understand and even save tons of money. Our club has a team of VE's and we give the test on the first Sunday of the month. We have many events from field day to fox hunting and even social events.

Well, if you are as active as I am in this hobby you will find being a part of a club can be a great asset to you.

Just get on any repeater and listen in to some club members. Ask them question about their club and pay a visit to a meeting. Our club welcomes all, members or not.

Amateur Radio has so much to offer and I like to get as much out of it as possible. By being a member of a club I get fellowship and can also give too. I like to mentor the new comers to the hobby. My shack is always open to anyone who wants to experience the many different mods there are to try. I know how intimidating it is for a new-be and by inviting them into my shack and showing them how to operate is a good way to understanding frequencies and operating procedures.

I think it is our obligation to this hobby to welcome new people and demonstrate the wonders of HAM RADIO.

So don't be left out alone. Find a Club and make new friends. Have fun for this is what ANY hobby is all about!

If you are a member of a radio club try building more programs and events to keep things interesting... I also recommend teaching both the test material and even CW.

Yep, A local club can be a very productive asset to you and this hobby...

73 DE: Lou, KB2DHG

Member Comments:

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Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KU4UV on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

If I could find a local amateur radio club that wanted to do a little more than go chase phantom tornadoes or provide "communications" for some 5K run, I would probably join. I have yet to find in my local area though. I should start my own club.

73,
KU4UV
Lexington, KY

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N5HJE on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

What are the suggestions for a good club?

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N0FPE on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I am a memeber of a local club and have been a memeber of other radio clubs over the years. I do not however do many club events or functions. I do not like the politics that seems to creep into every club.
I do work those 5K runs and weather spotting events but OUTSIDE the club. Most clubs, or at least the ones I have been part of are little more than donut and coffee type. And there is nothing wrong with that. I just prefer to have a little more substance. I do however enjoy maintaining the clubs repeater system. The meat and taters of the club so to speak. I have as of yet, had anyone here on eham give a complete discription of the best radio club. each person has their own ideas, and things that are outside that are not concidered. Just like other things in life! Its all a compromise.

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K1CJS on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I would take exception to the point of view of the author--with respect. Clubs today are not the vehicle for the cameraderie and the furtherance of the hobby as they were in the past. All too often these days most clubs are nothing but a collection of people who shun newcomers. In other words, a group of older men who want to preserve their own little corner of ham radio, and nothing else.

Other clubs have strict and unbending guidelines for new members, or are run by one or two people who are hell bent on having things their way.

To make it short and sweet--clubs are NOT what they used to be.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K1CJS on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I would temper my remarks by saying that there are clubs that do welcome new hams and new ideas--but they are few and far between. Too few, and too far between.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KG4RUL on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

From the Webpage of the Trident Amateur Radio Club, North Charleston, SC
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to the Trident Amateur Radio Club (TARC)

We are a broad based club, offering something for everyone, no matter if your interests lie in fellowship, disaster relief, repeaters, Contesting, HF, VHF, UHF, Nets, Satellite or just plain fun, we invite you to join us.

If you are interested in becoming a member click here to download an application form, or announce yourself on the TARC Net. Our club meetings are held the third Monday of each month.

TARC NET - Every Tuesday at 20:00 Local
147.270+ (Summerville)
147.345+ (Adams Run)
442.150+ (Trident Medical Center)
All repeaters have a PL tone of 123.0Hz
NET CONTROL - Bobby - W4KSD

Want to try 10 meters, locals listen on 28.450 most evenings

----------------------------------------

Now what could be more inviting or less threatening than that! AND, the group does live up to the above.

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by NY7Q on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Clubs to me, is like being in a chicken pen with a bunch of old roosters....Lots of pecking order and little room for newbies.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by W6WBJ on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I will NEVER attend another meeting of my local ham radio club! Do you think I want to be bored out of my mind or something?

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N9GXA on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I am a silent member in the local club. I pay my dues (sometimes late), but haven't been to a meeting in years. I appreciate that there is a club because without them, I wouldn't have obtained my license.

This article, along with the comments, got me thinking; I envision that prior to a club forming, a couple, three, four, or five people probably got together with the common thread of ham radio and/or electronics. Maybe they all got together to help some one put up a tower or something. After the job was done, they may have gathered in the shack and thought "this is great, we ought'ta form a club". And that's when it can start going down-hill. The memories from when I last attended a meeting was the necessary (?) protocol of reading the minutes, old business, new business, etc... I wonder if those people were thinking of "minutes" when they agreed to start a club.

Again - I am very appreciative that our local club exists, but I wonder if more clubs would blossom further if they had remained an informal group. Forgive my ignorance and I mean no disrespect to any club, but what are the benefits to becoming a formal club over just a group of like-minded people finding themselves on a somewhat repeating schedule?

73
Paul
N9GXA

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KB2DHG on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

If you can't find a local club you can contact the ARRL. They can give you a list of clubs in your area. OR try to start one up yourself?
I do agree with some of the post that some clubs can get clickish and some clubs can be boring... I happen to be involved in a great all inclusive club that not only has radio related activities but social events and lunch-ins...
Simply a great group of people with a common interest.

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K1CJS on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

".......Again - I am very appreciative that our local club exists, but I wonder if more clubs would blossom further if they had remained an informal group. Forgive my ignorance and I mean no disrespect to any club, but what are the benefits to becoming a formal club over just a group of like-minded people finding themselves on a somewhat repeating schedule?"

Well, there are a few. One, if the group has a repeater system, it allows a legal route of soliciting monies for the upkeep of that system. If the group wants a meeting place, it is easier to find one if the group is an organized group. If the group wants to affiliate with the ARRL, it is required that the group has a constitution and an official membership roster. It is much more likely that the local government will pay attention to and incorporate an established group in their disaster planning.

There are more advantages, too. Too bad most of the clubs around are too self centered to do much more than either get together for 'official' meetings or get together for coffee and donuts and to discuss their recent medical problems.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KC1NCR on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I went to the local Ham Radio club and walked in and sat down and when I left only one person said hi to me. When I went back to the next meeting and tried to talk to people they gave me the cold shoulder. It was like if you are not part of their group you are out.
I have made some very good freinds in the local area thru ham radio. We help each other on ham radio project and other home projects ,like fire wood and the like.
When I lived out west the club I went to was very friendly to new comers and the like.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by WX1F on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Once there was a really large, active Amateur Radio club here in Maine. Membership overflowed with over a hundred members. It was very active in the surrounding community. Then...as the average membership turned 60-65, infighting started. "He said this about you" and "You shouldn't have said that about him". Sides were taken about the new Amateur FCC exams and there were the usual cw arguments. No code techs (mostly CB radio converts) were shunned and most soon lost interest and went back to the old friends on CB. The local repeater fell into disuse and then quit altogether because everyone was too old to climb the tower. Now, there's no club. Just rusting antennas and waterlogged coax on the tower and I don't foresee a club of that size ever forming again. Don't get me wrong...there is a smattering of small clubs here and there but the only thing holding them together is the ham fests they host. And even they have only 1/10 the participation of the past.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by AB9NZ on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Folks,
If you're not interested, or don't have time for a club, see if you can find a ham radio luncheon. I eat a BLT club sandwich with an amazing bunch of guys. It's pretty to cool wash down several hundred years of knowledge with a bottomless cup of hot coffee.
73 Folks, de Tom AB9NZ

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K0WA on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I do not like clubs. Not anymore. I have been a member, FD coordinator, and president of clubs. But, many things ruin clubs. One of those things are people who think they know something and do not...and the second thing is people who are knowledgeable are ignored or even chastised.

I do not want to belong to club that is run by complete know-it-alls or complete idiots. Public Service is fine, but not all the time.

Clubs should be about education, pooling resources, getting along, learning something new, and working together. That is sadly not the case anymore.

Most people have no theory behind them, no practical experience because they wear their shack on their belt, never been on HF, have never built a dipole, and they are not going to do any of that stuff.

Many people will not even talk on the repeater with the shack on the belt. They might as well have joined a bowling team. Clubs should be active every day...either on the repeater on on HF.

Radio should be fun, but a club can suck the fun right out of ham radio because of un-educated people or their rotten attitudes.

I started an anti-club-club. The rules are simple.
See it at http://home.swbell.net/k0wa/old_farts.htm

I know I am jaded....but I clubs today are not like what they use to be...a place to learn, a place to make friends, and a place to experience new things in ham radio.

Lee - K0WA

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KC2RGW on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Club advice 101

The club is what YOU make of it. Our local club was very sleepy when I first got involved. We changed over leadership and are very fortunate to have someone with the time and energy to get things moving. Shortly after I got rooked into an officer's spot.

A club is only what the members make of it and if you really want to make the effort, they can change easily and quickly. Truth is, with jobs and families, it is hard to find the people with the time and energy to make things happen. If you have them in your club, give them a LOT of slack and respect for making the efforts on your behalf. It's a lot of work.

Our club tries to do a monthly presentation. Volunteer basis, getting members to offer up doing presentations on various areas of their own interest and expertise. We've also started doing club kit projects for various things to teach people the basics of assembly and the basic theory in how things work.

We don't limit the topic to strictly ham radio. The topics can be any sort of technology really.

As far as getting to know the members....hams aren't the most gregarious people in person. Oddly for a hobby that is all about talking to strangers, in person I've found that hams in general are not very socially outgoing or lack a lot of basic social skills.

So again, it is up to YOU to drag people kicking and screaming into interaction. This is not a group of people you can expect to automatically reach out to you. Make an effort and you will be surprised at what a little work will gain you.

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by VE6CNU on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

When I think back to my early days in the hobby (early 1970s), things actually weren't that different even then. As a Newbie in 1972, I suddenly found myself editor of the local club's newsletter - with this huge Gestetner and bottles of ink in my basement. Back then there were two distinct populations of hams - kids and oldtimers. People raising families had hectic schedules which pretty much precluded ham radio and the free time necessary to attend club meetings. Every month, the same core group of mostly oldtimers and a few younger guys would show up to the club meeting. I remember begging people on the phone to come out to the club picnic. My point is that the "good old days" weren't much better than today.

Second, I don't think that ham radio clubs are much different than other kinds of clubs. They all seem to suffer from similar symptoms, many of which have already been discussed by others in this forum. So hams shouldn't think that they suffer from a unique "dysfunctional club disease" due to ham-specific genes or personality disorders. It is the nature of clubs, themselves, that lends itself to these difficulties.

Finally, instead of criticizing our clubs, we should be thinking of ways to achieve mutually agreed upon goals. If having fun and attracting new people to the hobby is of paramount importance, then we should frame that in the club constitution and ensure that there are activities and quantifiable goals that are well defined. I believe there are many clubs that exist for historical reasons that should be re-invented with new goals in mind. Since the greatest attendance seems to be centered on flea markets, perhaps this would be a good time for polling the local populations and determining interest levels. If it boils down to the same one or two guys having to do all the work, perhaps it is not worth having a club.

Jerry, VE6CNU

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by WA4KCN on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

The marvelous contemporary democratic politician, father and husband to an ailing wife John Edwards once commented the problem with America is that there is not one but rather two Americas. It can be said this is true regarding ham radio and ham radio clubs. That is, the ham radio culture is quite different in rural American than it is in urban America. In rural America many small towns have radio clubs that are thriving as in days gone by. Involvement in the club is generational with very close friendships having been made along the way. Newly licensed radio amateurs are welcomed with open arms. Activity on the small town repeater is robust and the Saturday club breakfast or lunch is one of the most favored events of the week.

I am currently involved in a local club in Malvern Arkansas a town of 10,000. Club membership is enthusastic and growing. Regular meetings are held along with a Saturday morning breakfest with normal attendance at 25 or more. At these get togethers much of the conversation concerns residents of the community that may be interested in amateur radio and how these people should be contacted. After breakfast many go to the repeater site to perform maintance. The club is currently sponsoring a technician class radio school using the meeting facilities at the local hospital. There are 8 students in the class. I am sure most will become involved to some extent in the local club.

During my 30+ years as a radio amateur I have lived in several rural areas and in large metropolitian areas. I have witnessed the decline of involvement in amateur radio and ass0ciated clubs in large metropolotian areas and have witnessed the continued excitement of radio in more than one rural communitity. There is evidence that the future of ham radio and ham radio clubs rests in rural America.

73 Russ
WA4KCN

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by G3LBS on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

When I came to live in America 6 years ago I knocked on the door of a trailer with antennas outside and the 86 year old ham gave me insulators and cable, helped me put up a G5RV,and wrote out a list of local 2m repeater details. I meet him and his friends every Saturday morning in MacDonalds - there is no President, Secretary, or Subscription, and therefore no Treasurer. One ham gave me an SB 200, another a Cantenna. Another used his van to help me fetch a 160lb transformer.
They declined a real stripper so I bought them all super wire strippers for Christmas - and I use my tennis ball launcher to put up antennas for them - some outside co-operative care facilites. For many of them, ham radio is their only contact with the outside world.
All hams are equal.
Buffalo Gil W2/G3LBS

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by NK2U on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Your exuberance is commendable and would say I was like that when I first got licensed. I was a member of MAARC (Manhattan AVenue of the Americas Radio Club) for 3 years. Although some of the meetings were very informative and the members for the most part very nice; there was an overwhelming political tension in the club. Furthermore, there were control operators who acted like repeater cops who would butt in and infom you that you made such and such infraction like not iding enough, not signing off properly etc. Needless to say, this club, along with almost all clubs in NYC have imploded.

Since then I have not felt the need to belong to a club but if I hear of a "diner mode" (guys going to a diner on a moment's notice) I go and eat with the guys.

de NK2U

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N3ZY on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

My job and church responsibilities preclude me from attending the club meetings on Thursday nights here in Birmingham. But when I do show up, they are welcoming and friendly. The Hams here are active and willing to help at a moments notice. As for those that want to escape politics, I think the only way to do that is to forsake all human contact.

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KA1DBE on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I am a member of a club. The Virginia Beach Amateur Radio Club (VBARC) www.w4ug.com . I am really amazed at some of the comments here. I have never been to a club meeting, VBARC or otherwise, where I have been treated as an outsider. Maybe it is just the "Southern Hospitality" that makes it different. Our club always tries to stay up to date and progressive, Every meeting has an interesting program, A Strong VEC program, and good friendships. It isn't about power or status, it is about fraternity. Just my 2 cents.

73's,
Jeff

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by W6WBJ on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Back in the '70s I joined a radio club. At either my first or second meeting, the Board of Directors asked me to become station trustee. I thought they asked me because I am so highly-intelligent, but they actually had a different reason.

We had H.F. rigs that you had to tune up. You remember, don't you: peak the grid and dip the plate? Not too difficult to understand, right?

The previous trustees had resigned because one member of the club refused to learn how to tune up the H.F. rigs. He was constantly operating the club station because he had no station at home, and he would just crank up the grid drive until he thought he was on "full smoke". Needless to say, he was constantly flattening 6146s. Nobody could convince him that he didn't know how to tune up the rigs, and every time you'd try to tell him, he'd get really mad. That was the only reason the Board asked me to be trustee. They didn't want to deal with him any more. They wanted me to deal with him, but they didn't tell me so when they asked me to become trustee.

I didn't last very long as station trustee.

This was the same Board of Directors who would "volunteer" the entire club to provide communications for the March of Dimes Walk-A-Thon, but they refused to do any of the grunt work. They would make the rank-and-file members do all the hard work, while they stayed in the communications area, talking on 2 meters and flirting with all the March of Dimes ladies. And if you refused to help them with the Walk-A-Thon, you were "toast", as far as that club was concerned.

I'd never get involved in a club again.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by AB9FH on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

The cat, having sat upon a hot stove lid, will not sit upon a hot stove lid again. But he won't sit upon a cold stove lid, either - Mark Twain

I don't blame anyone for not going to another meeting of a club full of rude and/or irresponsible people.. but I can't rationally explain why he would never go to any club meeting.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N4ZFQ on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I've tried the club route. I can't handle the "excuses" crowd. If you want to hear "ALL" the reasons they CAN"T do something, just go to a ham club meeting. It's amazing how some folks can involve themselves in a hobby, then find every reason in the world not to participate. It's really depressing, so I stopped going.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K9FON on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

YES i am a member and an officer of our local grass roots radio club. The club i belong to is great, we meet once a week at a local mom and pop family eatery and have lunch, coffee, BS, talk about the WX or anything for that matter. We have a meeting once a month on the second Saturday at Fire Mountain(its another local family eatery) which draws a HUGE crowd. In fact, our room we reserve is getting too small! We discuss buisness matters and such but our meetings are pretty laid back and open. Its all fun! Nobody tries to run the show, and there are no problems at all. Everyone gets along and we have fun. That's what the hobby is all about anyways.

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by NL7W on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I have been clubbed one to many times!

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N0MUD on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Well yes, I am president of a little club that has about six members and we also have two repeaters, one 2 meter and one 440. I have the 440 repeater in my radio shack and the 2 meter is in another members radio shack. When I moved back to Colorado in 1997, I joined a local club so that I could make some friends. Yes I did make some friends but I am no longer a member of that club. I went to a meeting one night and stood up and asked why the club doesnt have a club house where we could set up a radio system mainly for the new members so they would have a place to go and operate until they get their own system set up. It's also a place where the older guys could go and do a contest and again show the new hams how to do a contest. Well one of the old(er) hams stood up and said that way back many years ago the club had a place set up to do what I was wondering why they don't. The club has two call signs and no one could tell me why either, which was another reason for running a contest from the club shack. I was told there was no one making use of it so it was shut down. Now a time frame wasnt given but I am assuming it was in the 70's or maybe 80's. Well I was pretty much told to just sit down and be quiet there is no interest by any club members. Now this was late 90's maybe 98/99 timeframe for me. I maintained my membership up until about 3 years ago and I just quit the club. Yes I could have tried to further get a club house but I just decided if there was no further interest why should I try to get any further interest. Yes when I first joined the club I made many friends whom I still have. I see the club going downhill. They are having problems finding someone to do the club newsletter, I've been to their yearly hamfest. When I first went it was huge but it is starting to drop off. They are not selling as many tables as in the past. I think hams are reading between the lines and seeing problems with the club. This month is the month for new people to apply for upcoming open positions in running the club.

Oh well, that's life. 73's Mike, n0mud

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KC4GNX on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Just a few thoughts here to add to the article...

I've not been a very active ham, but I have belonged to three clubs over the past 20 years. One had the political aspect and the other was a delight. Currently, the club I've been checking out seems to be a great group of guys that are very willing to help their community (both public and ham).

Ham radio covers a lot of territory and offers a lot of options. When in an organized club, it's not possible to do something that every single member will want to do.

The success of any club/mission/goal is the lack of self-interest. Self-interest leads to jealousy which then eats away at the core of a club. It takes good leadership of a club to insure that self-interest doesn't manifest itself ripping something good apart. At the same time, the club needs to try to explore areas that most find of interest. Those members/visitors that do not find interest in the club's activities in time will either adapt or drop out. There's no need to turn it into a bashing match.

I have seen in clubs where self-interest extends to always volunteering other members to always deal with tasks or problems. Self-interest also includes members that take it upon their self to commit the club into something without the approval of the club.

I guess in an ideal world, a club should be welcoming of all hams, but make it more of a challenge to become a member of the club. If a club "profiles" members like being former CBers, etc., then the club is narrow minded. Instead of looking at the negative in a ham radio operator, perhaps see it as an opportunity to cultivate a newbie with the best practices as a ham radio operator.

Bottom line, if you're unwilling to nurture the spirit of ham radio, then you really don't have much room to complain.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KE7UFQ on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I am a new ham. The Snohomish County Hams Club www.wa7law.com had a class and then test that I took and graciously gave me a membership to the Club when I passed. Just this past weekend I went to the first meeting I have been able to get to and I had a good time. Yes, it is mostly retired guys, but at the end they asked if anyone would be willing to Elemer newbies and then asked if any newbies would like to be Elemred. People signed up for both sides.
Nobody ran up to me and talked to me, but everyone I introduced myself to was cordial and chatted for a bit. If you go to any kind of event and stand in a corner, your going to be a lonely person.
I didn't sign up for Elemer help, but I will next meeting. I have some questions on HF and I would like to see HF in action, so I am going to ask a few people if they would show me.
So far, my experience with the club has been positive and I really hope it stays that way.

73
Jamie KE7UFQ

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KA5ROW on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I am always at work. We rotate shifts + move up a day each week work 12 hr turns 4, 6 and up to 12 day in a roll count drive time, that's 15 hr. a day, when you talk to your wife it is by phone. Never home at the same time. And when you get that one day off it might rain that day for the month. But there is always next month. In short NO. I only had enough time to make 12 HF radio contacts this year. Maybe next year I can shoot for 20 HF contacts.

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KK9H on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Yes.

I am a member of the North Shore Radio Club in north suburban Chicago. This is a very active club of about 150 members that has excellent and informative monthly meetings. It also participates in Field Day, JOTA and Kids Day. It provides logistical communications for the MC200 Relay Race and North Shore Century Ride events. It has weekly nets that include information of local interest, the W5YI Report, Newline and the RAIN Report. The club sponsors FM repeaters for 2M, 220 and 440. It also sponsors D-Star repeaters for 440 and 1.2 GHz along with an APRS digipeater and 10M propagation beacon. Sorry to sound like an advertisement, but this club actually does all these things and more.

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K7ESU on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

“I'd never join a club that would allow a person like me to become a member.”

Quoting Groucho Marx

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by W7ETA on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

It certainly would be worth while for a novice ham to try the local club sponsoring VE tests, or club the VEs belong to.

Thnaks for providing the article.

73
Bob

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K5FH on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

K0WA:

"I do not like clubs. Not anymore. I have been a member, FD coordinator, and president of clubs. But, many things ruin clubs. One of those things are people who think they know something and do not...and the second thing is people who are knowledgeable are ignored or even chastised."

Yep...been there, done that.

I was a member of a radio club 25 years ago that disintegrated because of ONE individual (a newbie who upgraded from CB) who did exactly what you describe. You know the type - the highly enthusiastic guy who just got licensed last week and thinks he knows not only everything about Amateur Radio and also everything about how to run an Amateur Radio club.

Pretty soon the divide-and-conquer power games started. "He said this about you," "So-and-so tried to do this without telling us," etc. It quickly degenerated into what we euphemistically referred to as "We vs. They." Older, long-time members who wanted nothing to do with these silly cliquish games stopped coming to meetings and eventually stopped renewing their memberships. And it went downhill from there.

Looking back on the experience it's obvious that it's a big mistake to put a lot of emphasis on transacting club business at general membership meetings. Most of the minutiae involved in running a club doesn't require direct participation of the general membership, so keep this separate. The officers should meet separately, preferably on a different night than the general membership meeting, to transact the majority of club business. The general membership should be welcome to attend and participate at the officers' meeting if they desire, but make it clear that the purpose of the officers' meeting is strictly to transact club business.

At the general membership meeting, give a cursory report of what went on at the officers' meeting. A written synopsis in handout form will usually suffice.

The only exceptions would be officers' elections and those decisions that require participation of the general membership, i.e., large capital expenditures or motions to volunteer the club's services for a public service event. In all cases, though, keep the time allotted to these activities to a bare minimum. Nobody wants to come to a general membership meeting to hear arguments about what color to paint the clubhouse, and nobody likes to be "volunteered" for an activity without being consulted beforehand.

General membership meetings should be primarily for social activities and the welcoming of new members.

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by WX4O on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Same here... Ares, Races, Weather watchers.
If there is a weather or emergency I participate.
Otherwise no thanks.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by PLANKEYE on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

THIS IS MY BOY BUFFALO GIL W2/G3LBS:

When I came to live in America 6 years ago I knocked on the door of a trailer with antennas outside and the 86 year old ham gave me insulators and cable, helped me put up a G5RV,and wrote out a list of local 2m repeater details. I meet him and his friends every Saturday morning in MacDonalds - there is no President, Secretary, or Subscription, and therefore no Treasurer. One ham gave me an SB 200, another a Cantenna. Another used his van to help me fetch a 160lb transformer.
They declined a real stripper so I bought them all super wire strippers for Christmas - and I use my tennis ball launcher to put up antennas for them - some outside co-operative care facilites. For many of them, ham radio is their only contact with the outside world.
All hams are equal.
Buffalo Gil W2/G3LBS

_________________________________________

THIS IS PLANKEYE:

I hope folks take a real good look at Buffalo Gil's Post.

Buffalo Gil, that was COOL!!

PLANKEYE

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by WA8MEA on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I would take exception to the point of view of the author--with respect. Clubs today are not the vehicle for the camaraderie and the furtherance of the hobby as they were in the past. All too often these days most clubs are nothing but a collection of people who shun newcomers. In other words, a group of older men who want to preserve their own little corner of ham radio, and nothing else.

Other clubs have strict and unbending guidelines for new members, or are run by one or two people who are hell bent on having things their way.

To make it short and sweet--clubs are NOT what they used to be.
------------------------------------------------------
AMEN! But this is also the case for churches, civic organizations and other hobby clubs.

Why ruin a nice gang of friends by turning it into a club? Call it a "group". People are less apt to get upset over a "group".

In our county, we have a club and a "group". The club has had problems over the past three decades because of the exact things mentioned in the above message.

The "group" meets for dinner at different restaurants every Friday night. Some in the "group" belong to the club. Some don't. The "group" has been alive and well for over two decades.

Now who do you think has the most fun AND also does more for the ham community?

You guessed it. The "group".

The Secret of Happiness

by AI2IA on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

How many times must it be repeated?
HAM RADIO IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT FOR YOURSELF.

As for ham radio clubs, it follows:
HAM RADIO CLUBS ARE WHAT THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS MAKE IT FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FELLOW MEMBERS.

Refuse to accept these principles and be doomed to never being happy in ham radio.

Know your limits. Don't take on more responsibilities than you can handle.
Know yourself. Don't skirt taking on a responsibility if you can handle it. Remember that good is never done except at the expense of those who do it, and those who do it deserve the reward.

Be the best ham you can be. - Ray Mullin, AI2IA

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K6CRC on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

a Ham said "The marvelous contemporary democratic politician, father and husband to an ailing wife John Edwards"

Have you been following the news on him? He has gotten the "Wonderful Democratic Man" disease passed on through the party, curable only by a regular dose of affairs with bimbos.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KC4GNX on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

K5FH,

What you describe sounds like a democracy. Although it would be nice in a perfect world, but not everyone's self-interest can be involved. The old saying comes to mind; to many chefs in the kitchen OR to many chiefs and not enough indians.

Perhaps clubs should offer a suggestion/comment box where the member's can at least have a voice, but the elected officials of the club ultimately hash out the decisions separately from the regular club meeting.

There's a lot more to loose than gain when a club can keep things together.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N7YA on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

K6CRC, I'll have what John Edwards is having!! :-)

As for clubs, ive beloned to a bevy of various clubs over the last 25 years...i think they were always places for huge, stinky guys to go and rant about politics, but i guess i just dont have that much patience for it these days.

I belong to a couple of internet-formed clubs that dont do meetings, and a couple of mail-in things like ARRL, AWA, and the like. I am probably going to do a year of QCWA because when i was 16, i got my first ticket and always said i wanted to be a ham long enough to reach that milestone...this is 25 years this month, so im looking into it. Not sure what the QCWA can do for me, or what i can do for them...not even sure ill stay a member, but a promise is a promise. Its worth a look anyway.

73...Adam, N7YA

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K6CLF on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I am a member of the Mt. Diablo Amateur Radio Club and we are host club for Pacificon, the ARRL Pacific Division hamfest. We also have an active ATV community and one of the world's greatest repeater sites. My only wish is that some of the old timers were more willing to Elmer us newcomers in things like CW. I hear so many talk about "keeping CW alive" but will not walk the walk. Getting started in CW can be intimidating, and the Do It Yourself method is tough. This is definitely one area I could use some help. We are 320 members strong, I thought that with that depth of talent someone would be willing to help.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N6AJR on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I am member of a local club with probably 30 members, and the same 10 or 15 guys show up for the meetings, don't do much , but it is me out off the house with my friends, on night a month, and a couple of the folks have become good friends.

I am also a member of the Northern California Contest club, and wow what a dynamic bunch that is. Need help, holler at a meeting or on the reflector for some help and folks turn up. the average age in the club is probably late 30's or early 40's and we even have a couple of youngsters. one of the young fellows ( in his early teens) tapes the meeting's discussion or topic for the club on his digital camera. We have Dr.s and lawyers and such, we have old retired guys, we have qrp'ers. and we have multi multi QRO'ers, and lots in between.

I really enjoy the activities with the NCCC. ( I am still disabled and can't do much my self, but I make a great cheer leader and or supervisor, Hi hi.) look for our booth at Pacificon, and Visallia, and see you this week end in the california QSO party, one of our primeir functions.

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KI4CRA on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I belong to and am past president of the Vero Beach Amateur Radio Club, Vero Beach, Fl. Yes we are a relatively small community 20k population. Our club welcomes all new comers. When we start our meetings, after the pledge.(yes we do that), and before the reading of the minutes, we go around the room and introduce ourselves. When we have someone new, we have him/her stand or sit which ever that person feels comfortable doing and tell a little about themselves. What they like doing in the hobby, modes,building antennas,etc. After the meeting, many of us will go over to said individual and get a little more in depth information.

We don't always have a monthly program, but when we do it is usually something that a lot of the membership is interested in,ie; EchoLink, packet, building J pole antennas, something that is of interest to most everyone in the club. Those that do not want to stay for the program are free to leave, there is no requirement that you have to do what we say or else.

We have VE testing every third Thursday of the month, a week after our monthly meeting. Also, every Thursday a lot of us local hams, both members and non members get together at our local Bob Evans for brunch. We usually have at minimum 12 show up and have seen up to 30 at the brunch. Our meetings are generally the same,any where from 12 up to 30, usually we have about 20-25 show up for the meeting.

Yes we do do the March of Dimes Walk for Life, we have a couple of other yearly events we always do. We have added a new event this year, a 100 bicycle race. This year it being our first, we did OK, but we have plans on making it bigger and better next year. So yall cmon down and check out our little club, we welcome any and all who want to check us out.

73 de Mark
AI4HO
Past president
Current Community Events Chairman

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KR4WM on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Whoo boy, where do I begin? We had one guy who talked the local city government into donating $6000 to our club. He decided he wanted to keep $3000 of it for himself. Instead of prosecuting him, the club absolved him of guilt in the theft. I left the club, disenchanted with a bunch of wimps who would not stand up for themselves.

The president of the club made a fairly high rank in the ARRL structure shortly afterwards. He was key to the guy being absolved in the theft. Dave ***** was the club president's name. I informed the ARRL of what he did, they didn't care, so I left the ARRL until he was no longer in my division's rank structure. He eventually moved to Arkansas. He can stay there as far as I'm concerned. I've got no use for anyone who would coddle someone who would steal major bucks from a club I'm a member of and not do anything about it.

I was county EC for awhile, and all I got was a ration of crap from somebody who thought they were going to run my show for me. I got little/no backup from above. So no more ARRL rank involvement here. I'll help on a per-incident basis if asked. I'm still a member of the ARRL, but only so I can get QST.

A couple of years after Dave ***** was gone, I got back involved in the club. We had an incident where someone forged a CSCE (documented on the FCC website), and this person wanted to join our club. He physically threatened our VE team. He also left physically threatening voice mail for Riley Hollingsworth (documented on the FCC website). He lied about being a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient in a sworn statement mailed to Riley! (That's a federal crime in case you didn't know it.) The club voted not to allow him in. Fast forward about 5 years. A new club president hooed and hahed, and said he'd resign if we didn't vote the guy in, and further, because he was black, that we'd be open to a discrimination lawsuit if we didn't allow him in. So he forced a revote, and the guy got voted in. I knew the guy was bad news, so again, I left the club rather than have to sit in a room with a known troublemaker. I also demanded a pro-rated refund of my club dues until the end of the year. I haven't gotten that refund yet! About three months later, the guy got jacked up on a felony domestic abuse charge. $10,000 bond, so it must have been serious. It was documented on our local prison rapsheet website. THEN the club then booted him out!

I will not tolerate being forced to entertain criminals! So no, I do not plan on getting back involved in my local ARRL-associated club. I've had enough! A small group of good, honest folks started a separate club, and I'm thankful to be involved with them. No commitments, just fun operating events. No scheduled meetings, no dues, donate only if you want to. Look up callsign NE4SC. You won't find a nicer bunch of people!

I've done all the time I'm gong to do with ARES, RACES, MARS, Red Cross, NTS, and local government, and the only thing I'm interested in nowadays is plain ol' operating, building this and that, a little VHF contesting, and having a good time. Don't ask me for any time committments for EMCOMM! You won't get me roped into that again! And if you want to know what I think about "training requirements", you'd better get your asbestos earmuffs on! I was a 20 year career firefighter, and I don't want any more stinkin' training!

73, -KR4WM

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KB5DPE on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

"...but what are the benefits to becoming a formal club over just a group of like-minded people finding themselves on a somewhat repeating schedule?"

If you're a "real" club, you get to collect DUES!

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KC4GNX on October 2, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

KR4WM,

Good grief, what you described would certainly leave anyone bitter about ham clubs.

First thing that came to mind is, when you are dating everything is great...once you get married it goes down hill. Seems the same thing applies to "some" ham clubs.

I agree with you on most of your points, harboring a dishonest person is no good. It's one thing if it was an honest mistake or some extreme extenuating circumstances (life and death situation), but just to come up with a con-job to get $6000 and act as a broker and keep 50% as a commission, that's just plain wrong.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N7YA on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I understand why you would refrain from giving Dave ****'s callsign...but give us the name and call of the $3000 man. I want to have a heads up if he comes to town.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KI9A on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

"If I could find a local amateur radio club that wanted to do a little more than go chase phantom tornadoes or provide "communications" for some 5K run, I would probably join. I have yet to find in my local area though. I should start my own club."

Instead of starting your own club, why not step up and promote other interesting ideas within that existing club???

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KI9A on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Plankeye sez:

"THIS IS PLANKEYE:

I hope folks take a real good look at Buffalo Gil's Post.

Buffalo Gil, that was COOL!! "

Well said, Plank!!!

73-Chuck KI9A

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K1CJS on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Well, since we're telling stories, I have two. One club I was a long time member of had land and a clubhouse. One club member spearheaded negotiations with a tower company to get a cell tower put up, providing the club with a 'lifetime' income. The club didn't watch its membership closely enough and got infiltrated by hams from another area about 50 miles away and taken over--because of the income. Now, the older members don't go to many meetings and the out of towners are in control of the club. Many long time members have quit in disgust--including myself.

Another club in the area is controlled by one person. Although there is a 'board of directors' and officers, this one person pulls all the strings. So, its either do as he wants or leave. I left.

All too often today there are things happening that are motivated by greed, greed of two kinds--either greed for money or greed for control. Its too bad that some people can't get along with their fellows, and that some people think they're the only people who can do anything or get anything done, therefore it must be done their way. THAT is the thing that ruins the club experience for most other people.

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by NA4IT on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

http://www.mcminnarc.com

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by WR5E on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I have been a member of clubs here in the US, but not anymore.

I relocated earlier in the year from northern CO to northern VA. There was not too much involvement in the northern CO area due to having relocated from overseas about 2 years earlier (where I was very much involved with a club when overseas even being an officer several times to include president). I was very much involved with two clubs when in TX prior to going overseas (also being an officer in several capacities). Lots of time and energy was involved after returning back to the US trying to gets things going maintaining stride with the family, the job, and the house and property. Ham radio was not too much involved then due to time.

New to the northern VA area recently, I searched among the local 2m and 70 repeaters to "see what was going on" with the hams in the area even with the thought of getting involved with a club again due to my sons having an interest in amateur radio lately; one is already licensed. I listened a lot and transmitted some on the local repeaters. I "joined in" with one group on one repeater during the drive-time hours only to be turned-off after a short bit by the attitudes from the so-called "experts." There was another group, actually a club, on another repeater where I felt it being a bit more down to earth or laid back. I found out later that feeling was just a perception.

I was invited to visit an upcoming club meeting during one of the chats on the club repeater one morning. That next meeting saw my oldest son and I trekking to the club meeting. I was finally able to see the faces behind the voices that had been heard the previous weeks on the repeater. My oldest son and I talked with quite a few of the persons there and had a great time; it was a pleasurable experience. So, I joined the club as a family membership when there that first time.

Maybe about 4-6 weeks after joining, there was a hamfest in a nearby town. Some of the club's members talked about going to this hamfest to sell stuff in the tailgate area. I went to the hamfest with my middle son (not yet licensed). Shortly after arriving, and still early enough that it was not crowded too bad, I visited the area where the club's hams had set up; they had several large tailgate spaces. I introduced myself and my son when talking with each one since no one really had known me from having recently joined the club.

I was quickly turned-off by the attitudes shown by the club's hams there at that hamfest -- the same attitudes that has turned my off of ham clubs in general here in the US; I am repulsed by the "experts" pontificating their attitudes. Halfway through that hamfest, I vowed to myself to never have anything more to do with that club. I have not returned to the club for a meeting, nor have I gotten back on their repeater. No one has contacted me either (having provided address and phone numbers when signing-up at that first meeting). The 2m/70cm rig in my car has remained about 99% silent during the drive times since that hamfest some months ago. I don't plan on getting involved with a club here anytime soon; I will remain a solitary "clubless" ham for a quite a while longer enjoying amateur radio with a good friend (in KS) and my sons.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K6CRC on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

If you REALLY want to have a successful club, then require every member to read "How to win friends and influence people" and similar books.

From that you may learn some stunning facts.

Listening is a skill
People want to help if they think the help is appreciated
It is OK not to have the same opinion on a given topic
You do not know everything
No one likes a jerk
Act and dress appropriate for the situation
Do not try to be something you are not
Do not take yourself so seriously

In my short tenure in the hobby, those simple rules would have made some of the clubs I visited functional.

Come to think of it, they also make a marriage, job, community, and a country functional.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by W5GNB on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Clubs are fine for those who want to socialize and expound thier VAST knowledge which is Far above and beyond all others in the club. Or perhaps they want to pound thier chest about the latest Contest they were in. Chasing foul weather or saving the world when "ALL Else Fails" is noble in thought but GEEZE... Let's get real......

In my area, the club is full of a bunch of folks who actually Do Nothing and couldn't copy an SOS on CW if thier life depended on it. Those few who might be able to copy the SOS are far too old to hear a reply......

Anyway, Clubs are not my cup of tea!

73's
Gary - W5GNB

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by AD5TD on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Clubs are much the same everywhere you go. The same core of people do ALL the work. Getting people to help out is the biggest chore. I'm just about feed up with it.

Has anyone really read this far?

by N8NSN on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I wonder how bored a person has to become to read this far in a trailer thread following an article...

Clubs...

My observation here in the "Mecca" of Amateur Radio Service (Dayton, Ohio) is rather disheartening.

DARA has had a GREAT DEAL of political problems over the past several years. Nearly a decade of mis-management and, poorer yet, people skills have all but rendered the club extinct on a few occasions. Well, several people have mentioned to me (over the air) that the club has new life and has become, once again, a great club to affiliate ones self with. I have not experienced that at all. I have one good friend that has heard the same sch-peel (club, new life, better & etc.). So, he joined a couple years ago... This year he has decided to let his membership expire and not renew.

Don't get me wrong... I think DARA does a GREAT deal of work for the yearly Hamvention. However, beyond that, if you are not with the "in" crowd, DARA pays absolutely NO ATTENTION to newcomers. It doesn't even matter if a person has been an Amateur Radio OP for many years. If you are "new" to the club... you are going to have to go out of your way to "befriend" someone high up in the "ranks". The whole Hamvention thing has made a lot of nobody's into arrogant snobs in many cases. Politics make MANY organizations die out. Hamvention is likely the only "thing" that keeps DARA alive.

My own personal experience with DARA is that over the past year I have e-mailed the group with a few questions about various club and radio related issues and the like. WELL, NOT ONCE, have I ever gotten any response. That is really sad. SNOBS ! I would not join, now, even if they offered me a free membership along with a position on the "board". Pfffft , who was it that said, "I would never join a club that would have me as a member"? Was it ole Rodney Dangerfield?

DARA has recently "hung a lot of new metal" in the air at the club station and I really wanted to be involved with that in ANY capacity. But, I will be damned if the option arose that I would continue to desire to involve myself with DARA, in any capacity, ever again... People who ignore others who aren't "part of the clique", most times, miss out on some new blood that could actually do some good for the group.

If someone from DARA reads this... I think the person(s) that maintain and over see "your" website are really lacking the skills necessary to promote the growth of "your" club. When "your" current members continue to resign or simply not re-up their membership... There is INDEED some mis-management still rearing it's ugly head in the organization. My $10.00 a year is better spent elsewhere.

RE: Has anyone really read this far?

by WB4TJH on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Clubs are what you, the members, make of them. But when I see the backbiting, two-bit politiking, and little cliques beginning to form that exclude others, I hit the door, and don't look back. I have no use for petty, self-important, self righteous people. Unfortunately, that seems to be the way a lot of clubs, not just radio clubs, end up.

RE: Has anyone really read this far?

by WC1I on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I had the most interesting reactions reading the responses to this article. On one hand I was reminded of why I dropped out of amateur radio years ago. On the other, there were responses so warming that they invoked some of the feelings that recently revived my interest.

Summarizing them, positive and negative, I come to the same conclusion I've reached in the past - because amateur radio is fundamentally tailored to individual interests, all group activities (e.g., contesting, emergency & public service, events, WHATEVER ... including clubs) inevitably and invariably involve controversy. There can be no consensus when no-one controls or dominates the agenda - and I don't mean the club agenda. It's fundamental to amateur radio and it's not necessarily a bad thing.

So, if one poor soul's sole interest in radio is optimizing the covering of rubber duck antennas, all the blowhards in the world huffing and puffing about theory and CW skills simply don't matter a whit. And I say more power to Mr. Rubber Duck.

Clubs often compound the problem. While they clearly provide learning opportunities and participation, they also concentrate all these highly-individualistic folks in a small place. The results are pretty predicatable, and by all reports, just about universal.

I've been involved in a number of highly-organized extra-curricular activities over the years. The best experiences were in narrowly-focused groups with very, very specific goals, run by experts. If I join another club, it's going to have to meet those criteria. Few radio clubs qualify.

RE: Has anyone really read this far?

by W7ETA on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Volunteer organizations always have managerial problems.

To make it worse, there might be a negative correlation between being a ham and interpersonal skills.

But, that doesn't mean there aren't great clubs; new hams might benefit a lot by joining a club; there might be a great local club just doing VE, or QRP?

Only way to find out is to try one.

73
Bob

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K4MC on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I live and work in the central Florida and belonged to a club that was ARES, an active service related club.

Long story short, a board member from the local socially oriented club joined, then, while attending his first meeting, conducted a coup with the help of a state level ARES member. He attempted to seize ownership of the county owned repeaters, frequency coordination and control of the organization.

After much anguish, all the members formed a new organization, non-ARES affiliated, with the support of the county, who was also able to retain possession of their equipment.

After some time, we were able to regain our frequency coordination and we still support the county EOC.

The member we had initially welcomed with open arms was left with an ARES affiliated club of one, no dedicated equipment, and no new coordinated repeater frequencies.

We lost a lot of the good will we felt toward the other club and in having to fight for our survival, our service to our community suffered during the turmoil (which was at the start of a hurricane season).

Bottom line: Clubs can be enjoyable, but the politics is never far behind and can put a real damper on the enjoyment.

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KE4ZHN on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I got involved with one radio club and have since sworn them off for good. Way too much politics. There always seems to be some soap opera style drama involved in a club. Im happy to help a fellow ham any way I can whether its fixing their computer, putting up antennas, fixing an amplifier but leave the drama and politics at home. I dont need a club or its associated headaches to do this.

All too often theres members of the club after a power grab or some self important idiot bent on doing things their way only. You have the old members who shun any and all new members also. I much prefer to make friends via the radio and do our own thing as we see fit instead of some clipboard wielding dictator wannabe. Life is too short for this nonsense.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K9FON on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

It seems like some of the bigger clubs inb the larger citys have members who do seem to shun new members. There is a club in Fort Wayne that has radio club meetings during the week once a month. I was invited to one of the meetings and well, ill never go back. I was pretty much ignored and treated like an outsider by the older guys. I think this is why some clubs are dying off. Remember guys its just a HOBBY!!!

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by WU5E on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Yes, I a member of a club , Temple ARC in Temple,TX
I understand most people anti club view. Are you a team member? of anything? I'm a team member I'm proud of it. I see there is a decaing feature of ham radio and we don't fix it there will only be old farts. I like our club fosters the young hams and elmers them to better a ham.

Pick up a mike and call CQ you might meet a new friend.

73's de Jim
WU5E

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by WD8NVN on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

When the nit-pickers and know-it-alls start their thing, I leave.

Excuse yourself. Accuse yourself!

by AI2IA on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Read down this long and sorry thread of losers. How many blame themselves for not being in or sticking with a club? How many? Any?
It is always "they" were this and "they" were that. Wake up! Through your fault, your own fault, you lose out on wonderful experiences, friendship, memories, the rewards of working with, learning from, and helping others.
Get out of the rut! The only difference between a rut and a grave are their dimensions. Admit to yourself that you need to improve. Reform yourself. Never mind "the other guys." Bite the bullet. Get into a club or back into a club. Hang in there. Roll with the punches. Don't be thin skinned. Take the hits with a smile and maybe a shrug, but grow! It is never too late to become greater than you seem. Grow! You can succeed at it, but only if you give it an honest and determined effort. It's tough going. Can you make it?

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KG4RRN on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I have belonged to a few clubs.
It is always the know it alls who try to run the show with all nodding approval or saying "aye" .
Just be yourself and dont know it all, dont worry none of them did either, so relax, and enjoy the social aspect of just getting together. Tomorrow is another day, make a new friend and invite them to lunch, you'll be glad you did. I sure am. Now I get invited to lunch .
73 all,
Bob KG4RRN

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KL7IPV on October 3, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Check out one of the best clubs I have had the privilege of belonging to:

http://www.LVRACV.org

We are growing monthly and have great meetings.
Frank

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by G3LBS on October 4, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Maybe incentive licensing has encouraged club hierarchies? All hams are equal.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N7YA on October 4, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Hey Frank, you guys still over at the Nevada Power building?

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by NN4RH on October 4, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

If anyone doesn't like the existing clubs full of Old Farts then they are free to split off and form their own new clubs.

Then 30 years from now THEY will be the next generation of Old Farts.

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K8YZK on October 4, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I am sure there are some good clubs out there, but from my experience there are more bad. Seem when someone is elected to a BoD Post it goes to their head. They suddenly become all knownledgable and all powerful, and everyone else is just dumb, even if they can't put a pl-259 on the end of a piece of coax.

RE: Excuse yourself. Accuse yourself!

by K1CJS on October 4, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

>>>"......Wake up! Through your fault, your own fault, you lose out on wonderful experiences, friendship, memories, the rewards of working with, learning from, and helping others. Get out of the rut! The only difference between a rut and a grave are their dimensions. Admit to yourself that you need to improve. Reform yourself. Never mind "the other guys." Bite the bullet. Get into a club or back into a club. Hang in there. Roll with the punches. Don't be thin skinned. Take the hits with a smile and maybe a shrug, but grow! It is never too late to become greater than you seem......."<<<

What you seem to be saying is go join and do the work but you shouldn't want to participate in the rewards. In other words, Ray, you want us to go join a club, get involved, take all the crap the 'elite' members shovel out, do the things nobody else wants to do, and in general be sheep willing to be lead down any path the higher ups in the club would want to lead us down? Sorry, OM, that isn't the way a club is supposed to work. As a matter of fact, very few clubs work the way a club is supposed to work--that is why ham clubs, hamfests, and other activities clubs participate in are going down the tubes.

The definition of a club is a collection of people who have a mutual ideal and are organized together to try to attain that ideal. The operative word here is TOGETHER. Officers are supposed to try to direct the club and its members, but there is NOT supposed to be a tiered system in a club such as you are proposing by your words. Too often today that is exactly how a club is organized, and that is the reason those clubs are dying out.

RE: Excuse yourself. Accuse yourself!

by K1CJS on October 4, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

What I am trying to say is that too many chiefs (as in directors) and not enough indians (as in workers) is not the definition of a successful club, but all too often is the definition of most ham clubs.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by PLANKEYE on October 4, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

THIS IS K6CRC:

If you REALLY want to have a successful club, then require every member to read "How to win friends and influence people" and similar books.

From that you may learn some stunning facts.

Listening is a skill
People want to help if they think the help is appreciated
It is OK not to have the same opinion on a given topic
You do not know everything
No one likes a jerk
Act and dress appropriate for the situation
Do not try to be something you are not
Do not take yourself so seriously

In my short tenure in the hobby, those simple rules would have made some of the clubs I visited functional.

Come to think of it, they also make a marriage, job, community, and a country functional.

__________________________________________

THIS IS PLANKEYE:

This gentleman is SMART!!

WE ALL can learn from his words.

If we listen.

Thank you Sir for your post!!!!!

PLANKEYE

RE: Excuse yourself. Accuse yourself!

by PLANKEYE on October 4, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

THIS IS RAY MULLIN AI2IA:

Read down this long and sorry thread of losers. How many blame themselves for not being in or sticking with a club? How many? Any?
It is always "they" were this and "they" were that. Wake up! Through your fault, your own fault, you lose out on wonderful experiences, friendship, memories, the rewards of working with, learning from, and helping others.
Get out of the rut! The only difference between a rut and a grave are their dimensions. Admit to yourself that you need to improve. Reform yourself. Never mind "the other guys." Bite the bullet. Get into a club or back into a club. Hang in there. Roll with the punches. Don't be thin skinned. Take the hits with a smile and maybe a shrug, but grow! It is never too late to become greater than you seem. Grow! You can succeed at it, but only if you give it an honest and determined effort. It's tough going. Can you make it?

_________________________________________

THIS IS PLANKEYE:

I have nothing to say.

You still owe me Breakfast Raymond!! Your Buyin Though!!!

You Son-Of-A-Gun!!

PLANKEYE

RE: Excuse yourself. Accuse yourself!

by N7YA on October 4, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

THIS IS RAY MULLIN AI2IA:

Read down this long and sorry thread of losers. How many blame themselves for not being in or sticking with a club? How many? Any?
It is always "they" were this and "they" were that. Wake up! Through your fault, your own fault, you lose out on wonderful experiences, friendship, memories, the rewards of working with, learning from, and helping others.
Get out of the rut! The only difference between a rut and a grave are their dimensions. Admit to yourself that you need to improve. Reform yourself. Never mind "the other guys." Bite the bullet. Get into a club or back into a club. Hang in there. Roll with the punches. Don't be thin skinned. Take the hits with a smile and maybe a shrug, but grow! It is never too late to become greater than you seem. Grow! You can succeed at it, but only if you give it an honest and determined effort. It's tough going. Can you make it?"

Ray, I understand where you are coming from, i agree partly. However, i can only speak for me so i will. As far as clubs go, there are many great clubs out there that have a solid and enthused member base that would be a great benefit for new folks and old alike...there are many more who have a gaggle of old whiners and power trippers. Not wanting to hang out with that kind of demographic hardly deems me thin skinned. If im in a room full of jerks, ill roll with the punches...right out the front door and write them off as not worth the time. So i just cant seem to find a reason to blame myself for anything in that situation...yes i can "make it", but why?

So if you consider smalltown politics and smelly old extremists who ignore new hams and only come for the free cofee and doughnuts to be a wonderful experience, friendship or reward...no problem, its just not for me.

I suspect you belong to a club you really enjoy being a member of and cant see why many of us who have attended the 'other' club meetings do not share your enthusiasm, i understand this. As Frank said, we have a really good club here in town with the LVRAC, but i just dont have the time to attend due to my night time work schedule...buit i have been to too many stinkfest gossip meetings over the years to not place hamclub meetings at the top of the list.

The best ones are when a small group of hams coordinate on the air and meet for coffee, THOSE meetings are usually very enjoyable and informative and do much to strengthen the bonds of ham radio comraderie. So before writing everyone off as sorry losers, try to understand the various reasons for the decisions people make to do or not do something...even though you are probably correct on a few of them.

If you or anyone comes through Vegas, coffee is on me (not literally, of course)

73...Adam, N7YA

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KD8FJH on October 5, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Ask not what your club can do for you. Ask what you can do for your club.

RE: Excuse yourself. Accuse yourself!

by KE4ZHN on October 5, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Ahhhh our good friend Ray, the leading ARRL cheerleader of them all is now going to call anyone who had a crappy experience with a club losers. Look in the mirror Ray, you belong to the biggest loser organization in amateur radio history. An organization of self important dictators who think they know whats best for you because they feel hams are too stupid to think for themselves. In Rays case they are probably right. Ive made many friends via amateur radio and guess what? None of it was club related or ARRL related. So before you open your pie hole, why dont you use what few brain cells you have left that havent been retarded by your heros at the league. If you enjoy being a sheeple at some club bully for you. Many do not. Does that meet with your approval or should I call your hero David Sumner on the phone and ask him if its okay?

RE: Excuse yourself. Accuse yourself!

by PLANKEYE on October 5, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

THIS IS RAY MULLINS AI2IA:

Read down this long and sorry thread of losers.

____________________________________

PLANKEYE SPEAKS THIS:

Ray, this is a sentence from one of your posts here.

READ DOWN THIS LONG AND SORRY THREAD OF LOSERS.

You are a true motivator Raymon, especially for new Hams.

Keep up the Ham Spirit!!!

Good Job Ray!

PLANKEYE

You still owe me breakfast!

You son-of-a-gun!!

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by PLANKEYE on October 5, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

THIS IS BUFFALO GIL:

When I came to live in America 6 years ago I knocked on the door of a trailer with antennas outside and the 86 year old ham gave me insulators and cable, helped me put up a G5RV,and wrote out a list of local 2m repeater details. I meet him and his friends every Saturday morning in MacDonalds - there is no President, Secretary, or Subscription, and therefore no Treasurer. One ham gave me an SB 200, another a Cantenna. Another used his van to help me fetch a 160lb transformer.
They declined a real stripper so I bought them all super wire strippers for Christmas - and I use my tennis ball launcher to put up antennas for them - some outside co-operative care facilites. For many of them, ham radio is their only contact with the outside world.
All hams are equal.

Buffalo Gil W2/G3LBS

___________________________________________

PLANKEYE:

Thanks again Buffalo Gil!!

PLANKEYE

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N1EY on October 6, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I see K1CJS's point. I was at several bicycle events over this past year. I met several kids that had parents who were hams and/or they had a tech license.

They were very discouraged from joining the local club or participating in any activity.

We had one ham that has grown up to be some what of a troubled individual. Many people harassed him because he was young and had the right answers. He is some what bitter.

One of the clubs in the area has a growing membership, but most of it new members are over 40. Most of the officers in the surrounding clubs are 50+ in age.

One fellow told me that no one under 40 would be interested in radio. This attitude permeates the whole atmosphere of the clubs, which should be the primary recruiting tool, today. There are no other mechanisms for recruiting that would be effective as a club.

bill

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by W9OY on October 6, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Club?

Isn't that what all the do-gooders use to beat the hell out of your ham radio enthusiasm?

73

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N6HPX on October 6, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Unfortunately due to my travels I am not a member of any club directly but do attend many of the meetings in some areas, like San Diego,Singapore,Guam, and even PARA in Manila area. I feel that just attending and showing you got concern for the groups is enough if you can attend. Its also a good place for finding Elmers to those problems you might have been facing on the airwaves.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by W4LGH on October 6, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Starting with the "Ultimate" Ham Radio Club, called the ARRL, which is the biggest JOKE in Ham radio, the rest of the clubs, usually follow suit.

I gave up ALL memberships in ALL clubs, starting with the ARRL and working down thru the local clubs. I am still a member of one local club, only to offer monetary support, as I have NEVER been to a meeting.

I liked the description in an earlier post, a Ham Club is like being in a Chicken Pen. To much pecking order for me too! I did have some good fellowship there, but was time to move on.

So, I belong to nothing, resigned as EC of ARES, canceled membership in the ARRL, and stopped going to any local meeting. I play radio when I want to play radio, will still help with relaying any emergency traffic, but will NOT do it formally anymore.

When politics enter the scene, its time to move on. I have more politics in DC than I can stand, so I don't need to add any additional!!!

73 de W4LGH - Alan
http://www.w4lgh.com

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by AA5JG on October 7, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Both of the local clubs in my area have a focus (APRS, Storm Spotting) which is very different from my interests (DXing, contesting, VHF SSB) so why should I join them? We have nothing in common with each other.

73s John AA5JG

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by W4LGH on October 7, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

AA5JG said..."Both of the local clubs in my area have a focus (APRS, Storm Spotting) which is very different from my interests (DXing, contesting, VHF SSB) so why should I join them? We have nothing in common with each other."

That pretty much seems to be the theme of most clubs today, APRS, ARES, SKYWARN, Emergency Communications. And if you haven't noticed, that is also the main theme of the ARRL!!

Nobody wants to get out and do anything fun, and life is to short to take Ham Radio so seriously, besides, it is a HOBBY and hobbies are supposed to be fun!

I am NOT a newbie by any means, but most of the clubs are still controlled by Old Blood. They have already been there done that several times, and not willing to try it again. I have been around the Ham Radio block a few times myself, but when its not fun, I walk away from it and come back later.

73 de W4LGH - Alan
http://www.w4lgh.com

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by HAMDUDE on October 7, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

who need's an organized club? just go to 3945.00 on 75 meter phone, you will instantly be judged, they already have a president, a retired cop from new jersey, N1FLH, and an assortment of other frequency officer's, which will be more than happy to insult you and any of your friend's, teach you how to be the worst ham possible, treat you to foul language, teach you how to have no regard for the fcc, how to qrm established net's and group's, how to use echo mike's to qrm, courtesy of a ham in vero beach, and if you're real lucky, a ham hillbilly near jacksonville will tell you how to con a free amplifier. you get all of this for FREE, no due's, no meeting's, no egotistical election's, how can you beat this? remember if you're anti-gay, watch out...

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N6HPX on October 7, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I hardly attend any meetings and most of the groups I know are into the new D-star system and I have little interests in that. I am like the previous gents in which I have more interests in SSB,PSK and alot of DXing. Unfortunately there are 2 clubs near my DU address and still havent attend those as well.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KL7IPV on October 7, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Adam,

We now meet at the Salvation Army Building, 2900 West Palomino which is between Rancho and Campbell Streets and north of Charleston Blvd.
7PM on the third Tuesday of the month. Next meeting is on Oct 21.
Frank

Who is this PLANKEYE character?

by NK2U on October 8, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Who's this PLANKEYE character???

THIS IS PLANKEYE:

This gentleman is SMART!!

WE ALL can learn from his words.

If we listen.

Thank you Sir for your post!!!!!

PLANKEYE

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by NI0C on October 8, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

One of the most vibrant radio clubs in the St. Louis Missouri area is the Mississippi Valley DX and Contest Club. Thanks to the efforts of W0DRT (sk), our membership and attendance is way up.

The membership is diverse, with brand new hams and No. 1 DXCC Honor Roll'ers sitting next to each other at monthly meetings that feature interesting programs. There is an informal group of retired members who help out local hams (not necessarily club members) with their antenna installations.

73,
Chuck NI0C

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KE7FEH on October 9, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I have been a member of different clubs but found them to be somewhat "cliquish" with a samll group of old timers(Code as apposed to No Code Folks) hanging out with themselves and talking about their pains and medical procedures etc. Leaving the rest of us fending for ourselves. They are nice people though just not for me.

RE: Excuse yourself. Accuse yourself!

by WC1I on October 10, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

"The definition of a club is a collection of people who have a mutual ideal and are organized together to try to attain that ideal. The operative word here is TOGETHER. Officers are supposed to try to direct the club and its members, but there is NOT supposed to be a tiered system in a club such as you are proposing by your words. Too often today that is exactly how a club is organized, and that is the reason those clubs are dying out."

Very, very well said.

The only thing I'll add is a comment from the chancellor at my daughter's college graduation. Paraphrased, he addressed the graduates by describing how students these days learn - multitasking, texting while they're listening, learning things out of order, reading the books backwards and from the middle out, dragging in all kinds of information from the outside world, and in general turning the academic world and its assumptions about learning on its head. He said the faculty was first driven crazy by it, but was ultimately humbled by it and learned from it themselves. The graduating class is brilliant and accomplished.

Teaching and learning have changed fundamentally in the last decade or so. I resisted the idea myself for a long time, but have come to see that it is so. The same goes for social contact and participation in activities like hobbies and their clubs. The club structure is not well-suited to amateur radio going forward. Those that try to maintain an authoritarian stance are sealing their own demises.

I'll go further - assuming amateur radio survives, there are implications for structured activities outside of clubs, such as emcomm groups and repeater coordination groups. A few years from now, when the seemingly fractious, ad-hoc, adaptable, multi-linked youth of today are running the show, there won't be any more patience for, or adherence to authoritarian standards in these areas than there is for, say, music license rights.

Look to sophisticated interactive gaming (World of Warcraft will open your eyes as to the collaboration possibilties) and online communities for a hint of where radio will have to go. And they're just getting started ...

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by KR4WM on October 10, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

N7YA on October 3, 2008
I understand why you would refrain from giving Dave ****'s callsign...but give us the name and call of the $3000 man. I want to have a heads up if he comes to town.

He's silent key (throat cancer) as of about two years ago, so it won't be of any benefit to divulge that. Karma has a way of catching up to those who do honest people dirty. -KR4WM

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by AA4Q on October 10, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Could it be that the social network that the "club" provided have merged into online forums such as eham.net? and we, all of us posting here ARE "members" of this "club"

The infrastructure that clubs provide in some places, such as a club station was never really needed in the US (compared to say eastern europe) when I got into ham radio in the 70's, but now that I'm stuck with stealth antennas, a real Big Gun contest station club station would be a lot of fun!

"Clubs" put up repeaters, which were very active in the 70's, now, coming back into radio after a few year lull I find SILENCE on repeaters. I just got back from a week in FL and turned on the HT every day and only ONCE did I hear another station, and he was just IDing.

so Clubs that once were great put up the repeaters, and clubs that are dwindling maintain them, but there seems to be not much to build the infrastructure for the next generation.

I tend to be a joiner, Not counting eham and other forums, I am a dues paying member right now of 3 local Ham Radio clubs, plus ARRL. And, in my late 40's, typically one of the youngest guys in the meeting.

in my other hobby, I am an officer in 2 clubs and dues paying member of 5 or 6 other clubs and associations (also about 20 free online forums) (this is a hobby that DOES require club-maintained infrastructure), and I find it SCARY how hard it is to get anyone to do anything or help out at all. When I look around at facilities, buildings, berms, pits, signage, mechanical implements, etc built in the 40's and onward by volunteer members, (when Phoenix was only a fraction of its current population) and today I can't get 3 guys to come out and pull weeds or repair things. I wonder if there is any future.

AA4Q

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K4VIC on October 10, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I've been a member of the local club ever since I got into ham radio. Ever since 9/11 occured the emphasis there has been on emergency communications. Don't get me wrong, EC is a vital part of ham radio but its reached the point here that its just about all the club does or talks about. That combined with a lot of politics and back biting has just about taken the edge off club participation for me. Yep, I still support and will support the club financially as I use the clubs repeaters frequently, but my interest in club activity has just about gone away. Anyway, I'm "barred" from most of the EC activities because I have never taken some prerequsite NIMS and other courses. So what the heck. Ham radio is a hobby and I still have fun in a lot of other areas of the hobby. Seems to me that ham radio isn't the "fraternity" that is used to be.

73, Vic - K4VIC

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K1CJS on October 11, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

>>Could it be that the social network that the "club" provided have merged into online forums such as eham.net? and we, all of us posting here ARE "members" of this "club"<<

An excellent point. Here on this website are the same people who you would find in a club. Even the subscription fee can be likened to dues. The only real difference is that there is no control (voting) being sought from the paying members. The staff do things as they see fit--just like the control 'clique' of a club.

The only point really in question is 'Are we all members of this club?' Here you would get an argument, there is two different ways of looking at it. Participation? Yes. Dues paying? No.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K1CJS on October 11, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Vic, that is the one point that is hastening the demise of the club structure and in turn destroying them. The all important ARES/emcomm participation. Is it really necessary to be involved in emergency communication in order to preserve ham radio? The opinion on this is split, and there is hardly any middle ground.

My ARRL section is in the middle of a section manager election. One condidate, the incumbent, is trying to get a point across that emergency communication is not the do all and end all, that there is room for the other aspects.

The other candidate, a former section manager, is rabidly emcomm, and in the past has virtually ignored the other aspects of ham radio--but is softening that attitude in his bid to get elected once more.

The insistance that ham radio has got to stress emcomm in order to get anything from the government--or as some would insist, just to keep the frequency allocations we now have--is being a bit short sighted. Even though the individual governments control their territorial use of the frequencies, ham radio allocations are world-wide.

The powers that be have used--and are continuing to use 9-11 to try to turn ham radio into a one purpose endeavor. They are trying to turn ham radio into something it isn't. It is first and foremost a hobby which has emcomm uses. It is not first an emcomm vehicle which has some some trivial use as a hobby when not being used for emcomm.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N6HPX on October 11, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

Some of the many groups I associated with in the past and 2 clubs I originally joinned were mixed on there activities. Loke one person was in NTS and others were into the Walk-a-thons or other activites. For me I enjoyed the comments on Rag Chews or DXing or someothere groups. Many groups I think now days are focused on the New D-star stuff and thats not my bag at all since I dont consider computer radios Ham radio stuff. But thats the way clubs are or should be. A mixed bag instead of just one item. I do remember being with a group who was into the emergency stuff and they had about 20 members but only met on certain times and not with the regular club members.

73's from Hawaii
maritime mobile

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by W6WBJ on October 13, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

A few years ago I joined my local ham radio club, but I was appalled at how the ARES/RACES guys dominated the meetings with their interminable discussions of emergency communications and bored everyone to tears. They kept doing this until virtually no one attended the meetings anymore.

Then a new Board of Directors was elected on the platform that discussion of emergency communications would take place only at Board of Directors' meetings and not at general membership meetings. All went well for about 3 months, until the emergency communications guys somehow muscled their way back into the membership meetings and again started talking interminably. Now almost no one attends membership meetings again.

IMHO, those emergency communications guys are ruining ham radio!

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N6HPX on October 13, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

For the groups I use to belong to we usually had round table discussions on various topics but usually had the ARES/RACES SM do his thing but with some discreet. He usually looked for Volunteers but not a priority in our meetings.

One member as mentioned usually gave off the info of how many NTS he sent very good comments there and then the general info came at the end of the regular meetings not during the program. Which made everyone happier.

I sometimes volunteered to help the SM as he was a friend but still like doing the DX and Ragchews much more than the others.

In DU1 we have meetings as well but usually its at a resturant and they usually comment on whats new in the NTC and PARA Programs seldom anything on ARES.

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N4LEC on October 13, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

For those of you who fall into the "nope, been there, done that" group, consider this: nothing changes if nothing changes. One of our local clubs has put in new leadership and turned things around over the course of only a few months. Meeting turnouts are up, membership is up, and people are talking. New hams are being recruited and other clubs are starting to take notice.

But it didn't happen in a vacumn - hams who care stepped up and did what hams do best: they started talking, and the talk turned into action.

If you've not been to a club meeting in a while, go. If your club needs new ideas, look around and see what you can do to help - there's probably more than a few others just waiting for someone to take that first step.

73 - Larry - N4LEC

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by NV2A on October 15, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I belong to a great club in Buffalo NY area. Just a great bunch of guys, but even these guys needed to get to know you before they start back-slapping and guffawing with you! Not everyone is able to be polly-anna in the presence of strangers. Give any new club 3 or 4 meetings for you to fit in before making the determination that the club stinks.

I get to laugh at the club I belong to and that's what I'm looking for at a club meeting, not to solve all of Amateur Radio's problems with the FCC. We also have our Antenna Busters Brigade that help a lot of members with getting their antennas up and working.

If you are in the Buffalo area, have an interest in DX'ing and looking for a club then drop me an email and I'll send you the particulars.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by AJ4DW on October 16, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

I've heard a lot of negative things about clubs in this thread... I belong to a great club, the Columbia Amateur Radio Club http://www.W4CAE.org/ in South Carolina. There is a great concentration of Elmers in that group and the club welcomes newcomers with open arms. The meetings are every first Monday, usually with presentations and there are informal meetings every Saturday morning at the local BBQ joint... which is also the Board of Directors meeting once a month... which *everyone* is invited to attend, BTW.

There is a monthly Saturday "Roger's Workshop" where members teach or help... we had one recently where we all put together our own RDFs, another, which I gave, about stealth antennas. Our next one will be another hands-on meeting where we'll be installing new radios in our emergency response trailer. This weekend a bunch of us will be assisting the local scout troops in their Jamboree on the Air ("JOTA").

Having been a member of a number of different clubs throughout my long and checkered career (motorcycle clubs, student organizations, professional organizations, etc) I can agree that some clubs stink, and some are mediocre, but many are great. Don't be put off by a bad experience. A club is a great way to learn about the hobby and meet people with the same interests as you. It's the same way on the bands... there are groups of idiots and there are great guys and gals, it's just part of dealing with other people.

73 de Carl AJ4DW

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by K1CJS on October 18, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

The good clubs (the ones with varied interests and a strong mentoring program) are few and far between. Too many clubs these days are just the opposite of that--a single interest or maybe two, and members who aren't too open toward people coming in and offering to help.

If you can find a good, open club where outsiders are welcomed and made to feel a part of the group, by all means join! Too bad those clubs aren't so numerous these days.

Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N0VPD on October 19, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

no. the radio club in my town are made up of a bunch of selfish self centered morons who think their poop dosent stink. i wouldnt give them the time of day.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by N6HPX on October 20, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

One of the clubs I joinned over 27 yrs ago was into mostly HF activites and it was great one to be with they did alot for the clubs and they even held exams for future Ham and taught the classes to up grade. There was a 2nd club involved in mostly the repeaters and they too had the same type of programs at times as the other. Mainly in the interests of repeaters, but they had there ways over the other. We tried once to merge the 2 as associates but no one wanted it.

Some clubs as mention have there people they want and those they dont. I think its the wrong way and many do too as it keeps our groups from growing and this downsizes us in all ways.

RE: Are You a Member of a Radio Club?

by WA3YAY on October 20, 2008 Mail this to a friend!

As a wiser man than I once said..."I wouldn't belong to any organization that would have me"

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