thanks NI0C I've checked out your club page and will be listening for you guys on said frequency

Yeah I'm really looking forward to HF,I have had a heck of a time with HF rigs on my budget,ended up with a roasted Icom 735 and another that was full of gremlins (that fortunately the seller took back) but still don't have a functioning one,I really got a kick out of seeing what I was able to pull in distance wise with my limited resources and the icom till it died but I'm getting off topic here anyway,I think I was just trying to say be nice to the new guys

I guess I have to specify that the experience hasn't been completely negative and I only made a comment about punctuation and spelling because I have seen someone completely twist a thread to focus on name calling of the individual who started the thread over this.Anyway I was a paying member at one time but that is besides the point.I have been nothing but pleasant on the air and never have openly complained about anything.It has just been a rough start,I have struck up a couple of interesting conversations on simplex also but stopped hearing from some "eager sounding newbies like myself" because either they moved on to other bands or just went dormant.Like I said not trying to drag anyone out in the road just some advice to clubs,aside from someone asking me were the bathroom was at a meeting I have not had much said to me or any interest in who the "new guy is".Remember you guys are the experienced ones who know each other (faces with callsigns) at these events and I can introduce myself allday long and it didn't seem to help

I don't plan on giving up so easily,I am going for my general to get into HF and dxing and have had some pleasant and interesting experiences just leaving echolink run on my phone or pc for a while and a random person from many of locations have struck up a conversation,I am fascinated with rf and electronics,I was the kid who had my mother chasing me around the house because I took the vcr apart at 7 years old to see how it worked  .RF equipment and cabling was in my job desciption for many years.I have gotten some good pointers on other forums and what seem like friendly people but just seems a waste that some of the locals seem to act this way

I didn't want to be to specific,because I don't want to go bashing any club or individuals by name,thats not my intention to make a particular group look bad,just speak of my experience and maybe someone will take note.I am in the st.louis area and there are only a couple of clubs (that I am aware of anyway that are not company oriented).Offering help was one of the first things I tried to break the ice with (I have recently lost my job and between applying for jobs and whatever I have a lot of time on my hands) I just have had an all around poor experience with everything,even the skywarn system here.Any major weather events that have occurred while I have had my ticket (and there have been quite a few) have been just well whatever,it seems when the net controller hears a familiar callsign,they are extremely friendly and want to talk about anything and everything.When myself or another newbie calls with info it seems like they can't get us off of the air quick enough (sometimes even with a rude tone) I just hear the difference in the way they treat the newbies who are grandsons of Gertrudes (fictitious name)breakfast buddies and someone like myself,and they wonder why club renewals are low.This is not isolated to me,I know of several techs who just gave up (was on email and phone speaking relationships with these people) and they just felt a cold shoulder

I'm sure I'll catch some kind of flack from this,but I only speak from the experience I've had thus far.First off I don't need comments on a misspelling or improper punctuation,now that's out of the way.I'm sure there are some very nice hams out there and this doesn't apply to all,but I have had a very poor intro to the hobby here in Missouri,basically my ham radio equipment has become glorified police scanners with me checking into a net once in a while to make sure I can still transmit.Seems if you don't know someone or aren't Joe Schmo's son people on the air locally are downright unfriendly and it seems anytime I've ever gotten a decent conversation started with what sounded like new blood like myself other locals get on and muscle there way onto the repeater with there "tea chat" I understand that we all have rights to talk its just the manner and the timing,and another one of my favorites is how unknowledgable some of the so called "elmers" will be with newbies and tell you 'oh I don't know about those radios" or "I don't know about that issue" and then a miracle happens.........the next day or week you hear this same person you asked a question to become a expert on the device or situation to his or her pals.Isn't this about friendly communication? I mean nobody has to be my friend but a little common courtesy would be appreciated.