English Club
Roy Prince (AB6ND)
on
August 8, 2010
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1946
Once upon a time, 1946 to be exact, about fifteen British Radio Hams would congregate on Ten Meters which was the first band released after WW2. Some were pre war hams and some were newcomers interested in radio.
Sunday mornings would find us discussing the usual things hams discussed in those days and I remember the excitement of finding ways to put war surplus radio gear to good use. Only two of them had a car and only one had a telephone so our Sunday mornings were never at a loss for conversation. We must have bored a hole in Ten Meters. It was dead for DX at the time.
One ham was able to get the use of the Boy Scout’s hut where we started meeting Monday evenings. It enabled us to get together and show little treasures we’d found on the surplus market. You’d be surprised how much radio stuff one could transport to the meetings on a bicycle. All went well and each week we would contribute some cash to the Boy Scouts for the use of their hut.
About 3 months later one ham who shall be nameless (although he became a Silent Key thirty years ago but I still remember his call sign) started organizing it in to a club. So before we knew what happened we had elections for Treasurer, Secretary, and Club President.
That’s when things went down hill. Now, before we could get down to our interest, - ham radio, we had to endure such things as “The Treasurers Report” ( a few shillings we gave to the Boy Scouts !) but it was read in a solemn manner. Next came the “Minutes of the last meeting,” Such things as, Fred reported his success in ridding his 807 transmitter of a parasitic, etc. Next would come the club President, who, being the club President felt he had to make a speech.
By this time we had over 20 people each Monday including five young keen short wave listeners who would gather in a corner learning morse, much to the annoyance of the Club President as they would continue and not listen to his speech.
Gradually the attendance declined and we resumed our Sunday morning getting together on the air but this time on 1.7 mc/s. We were limited to 10 w input on that band but it covered the whole town and outer districts. The club lasted a few more months before being disbanded. One of the last to give up was the club President, who probably made a speech for the last meeting.
This was a very small group at a different time and different country but I haven’t been to a radio club since. To each his own.
73
AB6ND
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English Club
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by K8QV on August 8, 2010
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I suppose there might be a good club somewhere. People who seek recognition and control seem to gravitate to clubs. The club becomes a secondary (sometimes the primary) hobby to radio, or whatever the original interest might be.
After witnessing a few shouting matches and even a physical threat take place at the club meetings, several of us started doing things on our own. We do Field Day (winter and summer), Lighthouse Weekend, Picnics, and antenna parties for those who need them. We just like to eat, have fun, and play on the radios. We even have our own repeater.
We call it "Radio for the Rest of Us."
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English Club
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by AE5QB on August 8, 2010
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What a sad story. I assume you are getting up there in years and yet have hung onto this bitter memory for so long. How very sad. Any club, any organization, is what you make of it. Unfortunately when a number of people form a group of any kind there are formalities that need to be handled. The key to enjoying a club is to gravitate to the parts of it that make you happy. We have members who seldom come to a business meeting but are always on the weekly rag chew. We have others who are organizers and managers and we let them run with the formal stuff. Still others are technical nerds and we look to them to answer questions and solve technical problems. Still others enjoy reaching out to others and they handle the classes and outreach programs. Seldom is everyone together at one time and we all do our own things in smaller groups on occasion. There is no pressure to do anything in particular and I think everyone seems pretty happy just getting involved when they feel like it. Let's face it, some people are sociable and will find ways to make the club experience fun and rewarding. Others are more private and would just as soon lock themselves in a shack and talk to the world more privately. To each their own. Happiness comes from within. We must all find a way to enjoy the hobby that fits us.
73's
Tom
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by K9MHZ on August 8, 2010
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Well....after reading that happy and uplifting narrative, I think I'll go out do something much more fun, like watching the paint fade on the fire hydrant in my front yard.
Good grief.
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by K1CJS on August 8, 2010
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The best sort of a club is an informal club--one with no set organization. Meetings at a local restaurant--or at a willing member's home, no treasury--and no arguments as to how to spend/save money, and only two things on the agenda--having fun and enjoying ham radio.
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by G3LBS on August 8, 2010
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Regrettably I had to move from my five bedroom house in Allegany to a 2-bed condo near Niagara Falls. When I came to America eight years ago I was welcomed into the best radio club of which I've been a member. It met in McDonald's on Saturday mornings in Olean - still does. The talk was of ham radio and women and members helped the least fortunate. It had no president no vice president no secretary and most important no treasurer. In other clubs of which I've been a member in England, groups have continued to drink and shout while guest speakers were presenting. Where I now live, one of the club's weekly nets consists mostly of people calling in from each district saying 'nothing to report'.
If it gets any worse I will consider going over the Falls in a barrel to give them something to talk about.
W2/G3LBS Grand Island NY.
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by KE6SLS on August 8, 2010
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I can only imagine how exciting radio would have been following WWII.
As for clubs, I am a member of my local club, love the members but the business drives me crazy. The club does many things all year long for community service and they also get mentioned frequently in news print and TV "news" reports. This has had a positive effect of bringing in interested persons looking to learn more about ham radio. Another thing I enjoy is the social gatherings our club and neighbor clubs sponsor--field day, picnics, the micro-hamfest and dinner. . . Basically, our club is useful and their monthly news letter helps me keep informed of all my ham brothers and sisters. I'm glad the club is around and still doing well.
Still, the business drives me crazy so I only attend meetings once or twice out of a given year.
73
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by K0PD on August 8, 2010
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I'll leave names call's and Location out of this due to not having all the info as to why the two clubs i joined failed. The first club i belonged to was a rural type setting and really great members who went out of there way to welcome new Hams and grade made no difference. In fact they were the ones that tested me when i was licensed and my upgrades. The meetings were fun informative and we always had a meal afterwards. Why it failed to this day i'm uncertain as i've heard different reasons and i do not believe most of the Hams that were a Part of it are even active any longer.
The second club was doomed to failure for two reasons. One is it was reorganized more out of nostalgia than a real interest. The meetings were boring and tried too hard to follow to the letter the rules set by the ARRL. Also the fact that all of us who belonged were rapidly becoming old birds and were to set in our ways.In so many words there were some who tho they will deny it looked down there noses at new Hams and once i believe it was two CB'ers attended even tho treated nicely one could sense the look down by the members at them and needless to say they never came back.But more than any thing it was our ages and lack of energy that doomed us. The nostagia was wishful thinking and i think all forgot we were all young at that time. And i suspect the lack of the energy of youth and being older and set in our ways will cause the continue down fall of Radio clubs.
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by K9MHZ on August 8, 2010
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>>>>by KE6SLS on August 8, 2010
I can only imagine how exciting radio would have been following WWII.<<<<
Yeah, I think you nailed it. Reading about that 807 transmitter or other club projects, maybe the war surplus gear that they might have gotten, or maybe even something about making the first contacts with their new allies/friends, the Germans or Italians, etc.
With the benefit of his years, he could no doubt relate a very interesting, rich history of ham radio during that time.
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by KC8QMF on August 8, 2010
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I was part of a club once,and for reasons said in the postings before I can't see myself ever going back.
Then I met a group of super ham ops that meet every Saturday morning. Very low key,no attitudes,no BS.
Just radio guys talking about anything and everything!
What fun and pleasure it gives us all to be like this.
Need advice,or help with a radio problem,just ask!!
Put your two cents worth in when ever you like and leave your baggage at the door!
Now that's my idea of a radio club.
Just my two cents worth.
73 Mike/KC8QMF
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by AB6ND on August 8, 2010
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Unlike politicians I won't hide under my desk after writing something.
Come off it 5QB, you must be joking. It's not sad and hasn't left an emotional scar on me. In any case there were no Therapists, Sociologists or any other 'ologists in those days, or at any rate I never heard of one. Yes as you remark I am getting on in years and to really put a date to me I've operated a Quench Gap Spark Transmitter. It was an emergency radio on a ship and although I never communicated with it, I tested it sometimes just for the fun of it and the room filling Ozone fumes.
3LBS no wonder your club was successful, you said "The talk was of ham radio and women" but as there is no comma after women perhaps I misread it.
6SLS yes it was exciting with all the war surplus stuff. It's hard to believe but in many cities there were four or five surplus stores within walking distance loaded with stuff at almost give away prices. Normally the stuff was purchased in bulk and carted away with a truck which the average guy didn't possess.
From time to time we were warned about certain surplus radio stuff which had small explosive devices installed. Hush hush radar gear which may have fallen in to enemy hands if a bomber crashed. Never heard of any ham being injured by it after the war.
One intrepid ham was brave enough to attend the Government Depots selling stuff and was able to buy a large wooden crate with no label. He borrowed a hand cart and pushed the box home. After prying off the lid he found whoever packed the box had put the lid on upside down so the label was inside. The box contained six dozen morse keys.
73
AB6ND
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English Club
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by K1DA on August 8, 2010
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It is a story I seen firsthand myself. Most noteable are the 'Bylaws" genius types who seek to prevent all progress toward a goal for the sole purpose of showing "the others" how "smart" they are.
Net result is clubs spring up with NO set organization, just a bunch of guys who get along, and the "bylaws types" don't get invited. So be it. What's the point of throwing around Robert's Rules when nobody comes to the meetings any longer, bylaw boys?
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by N6AJR on August 8, 2010
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well several clubs I belong to are each differen. Let me start by saying I am just about totally disabled and so not your basic active member.
club one is local and small and like most clubs it spends most of the time injoying roberts rules of order. But there is sill a lot of good frindship to be had.
second club is on I visit, its a good club in a town about 60 miles fro here, but they meet at a bar/resturant and they have absoutly the best food, every meeting is a 7 course meal, served family style, shrimp, spegattie, rost beef, and more and all the fixins.. the club is ok too.
third club is one we (I) started for use in getting a club call and the 4 of us are great friends and we often go to lunch together so we love our "meetings" at most any local resturant.
The fourth club I belong to is the Northern California Contest Club and I really enjoy those meetings. A couple of things go towards those great meetings. First is they always do food. this is usually a nice resturant in the area ( northern california) which varries from month to month, or they will order in pizza or something.The elected officers put out a lot of effort on behald of the club, and the members help each other too. They always try to have some type of program and it is most always contest related. They have a great variety of members from all facets of life, doctors, lawyers, authors, technical folks, some of us old retired guys and computer guys and lots more. Our common interest is contesting in all its many facets.
So to have a good club, I see several interesting corolations, you need folks with a common interest, you need to have folks willing to take on the month to month part of running a club, having good food helps keep attendance up, and having an intersting program helps.
So some clubs can be fun, and some not so much. I guess it all depends on the members.If your club is not doing well, what have you personally done to make it better, after all it is Your club too!
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by AE5QB on August 9, 2010
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OP, so what was your point in this story? To bash clubs, inspire everyone to - just get along, or what?
I think this story is a great illustration of what is wrong with Ham Radio today. To a large degree, we are a bunch of old f arts who try to live in the past and become bitter when we can't. "By God if the club, errr world, would just be what I want it to be, it would be a perfect place." Thankfully there are enough willing to give a little and can see some value in many of the changes that have occurred. Ham radio today has expanded to include so many different facets that anyone even remotely nerdy should be able to find a part that fits. So what if some of the $25 a year it takes to belong to a club is spent on something we don't favor, that doesn't make "The Club" or those who run it evil. Whenever money is involved and different personalities take on the task of managing it, there will always be conflicts and in the end someone has to prevail and someone has to step aside. That is life! If the only way a club can be good is for it to function and spend its money the way WE want, then WE become the problem. Club membership is like a marriage. If you go into it planning to give 60% and get 40% you will live a long and happy life together. If you go in looking for 50/50 or better, then you will spend all of your time trying to figure out why you are the victim and why nobody appreciates your ideas.
I still say this is a sad story and don't see the point of it. Can we move on to something more positive about this great hobby, please. If you don't want to join a club, so be it. But for goodness sakes, let bygones be bygones and don't throw out the baby with the bath water. Clubs are good! They are what makes every hobby flourish.
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by K9CTB on August 9, 2010
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For buying or subscribing to something - I've forgotten what - I received an accurate reprint of the January 1942 QST magazine. I think it is the only issue of any magazine I read completely from cover to cover. The patriotism hams had in those days must have been something to take part in. I'll bet that after the ban on the bands was lifted, there must have been a lot of excitement. I would like to read the entire QST from cover to cover from, say, June of 1946 and compare.
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by G0GQK on August 9, 2010
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Don't know about many radio clubs but lots of clubs are like that. Caravan clubs have to have their traditon, park the 'vans in a circle, all measured precisely, have a flagpole erected, and then hoist the Caravan Club flag. Unlike Americans we British don't do the "flag" thing. Then the members all eat and drink and when nobody is looking peer into other members 'vans to compare the quality against their own.
The only time I visited a radio club I sat listening to a boring diatribe given by a bloke with a boring voice, I went into the radio room to listen what was going on the radio and was accosted by a young chap who vehemently objected to me smoking so I returned to my car, went home and never went back. And they wanted £2 a night for this !
G0GQK
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by K9MHZ on August 9, 2010
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AE5QB......SHACK!
In a previous life, that meant: "dead on", "LGB right through the front door", "look at that secondary"...
OK, OK....for today: "extremely well put; well done."
Best,
Brad, K9MHZ
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by K1CJS on August 9, 2010
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Why do people have to see and say only the negative things about an article? Yes, It is true that this article is somewhat bleak, but it does serve to bring to the forefront a problem that most clubs never recognize within themselves--or simply refuse to recognize.
If someone can't stand back and look at themselves in a mirror, seeing both the good AND the bad, then those people really don't deserve the accolades that are being given them. Sure, clubs are generally good--but the bad exists is some of them. Bringing it out and exposing it is the first step in trying to reduce it--or eliminate it altogether.
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by AE5QB on August 9, 2010
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K1CJS
I hear what you are saying. However, I think you will agree that finding the bad in something is very very easy and there is no shortage of help. That is why I think we need to focus on finding and bringing to light the positives.
One club that will never fail to recruit membership is the BMW club (B itch, Moan, Whine) club. There are chapters in every company and every organization. BMWing is easy; participating and finding solutions is extremely hard. Armchair quarterbacks and backseat drivers are a dime a dozen. They never fail to make their voices heard - once they leave the organization they are BMWing about.
The OP doesn't state if he ever ran for office at this club and tried to change things - I am guessing not. Because then he would be opening himself and his ideas up to criticism. I am guessing he would say something like, "What's the use of trying to change things? The good ole boys club doesn't want to hear my ideas anyway."
If we're not part of the solution, then we're part of the problem. A cliche I know, but so very true. We have plenty of problems these days. What we don't have is enough leaders willing to stand up and make the effort it takes to help improve things. Political rant alert - I hope this changes in November.
I hope everyone has a great day and tries to smile once in a while. For many of us getting up there in years, it won't be too long before we can't anymore. Let's try leaving something positive behind like getting more young-uns involved in this great hobby.
Take care!
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by WB4DAD on August 9, 2010
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Our club meets four times a year for business reasons (not well attended) but we also meet every Saturday morning for breakfast, and almost always we have a full house.
Guess that compares pretty closely to what this article says.
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by K1CJS on August 9, 2010
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Tom, You also make valid points. It does sound like that the author may well have been in an officers position--from the way he relates the club experience to the end. In any event, the article does bring out one side of the club, and that may well be taken as trying to improve things. 73!
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by AB6ND on August 9, 2010
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Hi. I've never volunteered for, or been in an officers position socially, I'm a happy follower. Will that bring me comments about shirking my responsibilities?
I had no idea there were such strong feelings about clubs. As for being anti club, far from it. I should have ended with "To each his own" and left it at that.
The comment "Haven't been in a club since" was just something I said in passing. I'm sorry if it sounded similar to a young teen age girl stamping her feet and saying "Mary's my best friend, I'll never speak to her again!
73
AB6ND
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by W3DBB on August 10, 2010
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by K8QV:
"I suppose there might be a good club somewhere. People who seek recognition and control seem to gravitate to clubs. The club becomes a secondary (sometimes the primary) hobby to radio, or whatever the original interest might be."
I agree with K8QV. This sort of behavior is prevalent and certainly not limited to the ham radio hobby.
Most won't tolerate it and participation in the membership organization suffers.
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by K0BG on August 10, 2010
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There are leaders, followers, and distractors. Where you fit is strictly a matter of participation.
Alan, KØBG
www.k0bg.com
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by KG4RRN on August 10, 2010
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Yep, those comments are likely immortal.
I have seen that in other clubs too, the nerdy ones stick with other nerds, the outgoing types love to be the center of attention, and the geeks like to explain complex mathmatical formulas and try to get others to solve their problems.
I am currently the VP of a club and we get together maybe 3-4 times a year at best. The club I attend is in another state, so its a train ride, to get there, but all the more enjoyable, because it's like a vacation and camping trip, with ham radio all rolled into one.
I have matured in this hobby and now know that the know it alls are the ones to avoid, if possible.
The ones that don't know anything are teachable.
The rest follow along...or get out of my way.....
See... I'm the outgoing type...
Stay cool~
Bob
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by AB6ND on August 10, 2010
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Hi 4RRN you've hit the nail right on the head. I'm a happy Nerd. In fact I'm a long time Nerd, having been one before the term was coined.
I was called a Square (a term now out of date the same as the Spark TX) because I didn't follow Male Fashions and wore the same sort of tie while the fashion went from wide to narrow and back to my sort of tie. I didn't buy a Nehru jacket either.
My rig is a 23 year old Ten Tec Delta plus a Drake 2a I purchased in 1965. The other odds and ends are home built. My antenna consists of bits of wire I move around from time to time. Never operated or had a rig capable of operating above ten meters. I'm a resident of 'Squaresville.'
Due to a hearing impairment which has developed during the last 15 years and distorts voices, I operate CW, which I enjoy in any case.
73
AB6ND
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by N2EY on August 11, 2010
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'Twas ever thus.
Read the stories from The Old Man (T.O.M.) in QSTs from the 1920s and earlier, and you'll see the same sort of thing at the local radio club. Final Authority, Radical, the Young Squirt, etc.; they're all there. Change the technology a bit and the old stories ring true.
There are two keys to a successful club:
1) Common interests and outlook.
2) Keep the official business to a minimum and the fun stuff to a maximum.
73 de Jim, N2EY
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by G3LBS on August 11, 2010
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And keep everything experimental?
I see a Club Utopia where the license requirements are experimental construction, where the club meetings are experimental demonstrations.
Nobody admitted to club meetings without dirty hands, clean trendy clothes, deodorant and RF burns.
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by W1XZ on August 11, 2010
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If you fellows would all stop bickering, read HDU's fine post on how to behave properly, and get in line we could all have a proper club. Now go get your beanies on and snap to it.
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by KA1YMX on August 11, 2010
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Since my father was not a Ham he recommended that I join a local club. I joined a local club whose main focus was their club repeater. I had just started in Ham radio and my main attraction at the time was HF. I loved talking to other people around the world with my radio.
At the time I didn’t even know what a repeater was. I was a Novice and only stuck to the CW portion of the bands. I didn’t use SSB for my first 10 years of being a Ham. I don’t even think I owned a microphone back then.
I will never forget sitting in the club meeting asking myself over and over again. “What is a repeater?” I was too embarrassed to ask anyone around me. I was only 15 at the time. I kind of wish someone talked to me about repeaters back then. I might have more interest in using my FM radio.
The entire 4 months I was at this club I listened to financial report, minutes from previous meetings… The club was mainly driven for adults and did not have any programs to help younger Hams.
I have not been back to a club meeting since my first year as a Ham. I am sure not all clubs are like my first but I have not been to a meeting since.
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by N2EY on August 11, 2010
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To G3LBS:
I want to join that club!
And while we're at it, let's have a new license class, called "Engineer". Has full privileges and requires only a simple written exam.
BUT
Licensees with that class can only use homebrew equipment. No kits, either.
73 de Jim, N2EY
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by AB7KT on August 11, 2010
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There is a valuable lesson here.
I have nothing against clubs. But as soon as you start with club officers, minutes, treasurers reports, ................ you have totally gotten away from the purpose of the get together. Unless you are into being a club officer, everybody else is bored and wishing they stayed home to get on the air.
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by W8AAZ on September 5, 2010
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There was as I recall, perhaps no particular need for a club treasury and money troubles in small clubs till repeaters were a "requirement" to be a "real radio club" at some point. At this point I am not in a club alto I have been in several in the past. But my operating is fairly scarce nowadays too. Well I occasionally do a radio net, those are mostly free and sort of a club meeting except for the volume of speech and little said, and the dull waiting for your turn to recite inane frivolities.
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