It is perhaps also a question of the view from the respective age perspective: When I acquired 1978 with 14 years my HAM radio license were in my former local club at that time from my view almost only "old men", who treated the few young people at best indifferently. I can still remember that there was a seating arrangement at the club meetings at that time - I had once unknowingly sat at the head of the meeting table; I got a big scolding, because only the board was allowed to sit there. These meetings were often held in smoky back rooms of inns. No one proactively addressed newcomers there. There were never any activities for newcomers or targeted promotions either. I met my Elmer John Fournier (DC0HW/G8LRH, sk) much later.
I only got into HAM radio because I had been infected with the electronics and HF bug before. A family friend recognized this and recommended me to a course to obtain the license. At the beginning of that course, the instructor said unambiguously that he had no interest in qualifying CB radio operators for an amateur radio license! It was a good thing that I had not told anyone there that I occasionally did CB as well. Besides, I was quite thick-skinned even back then and didn't let those "old men" scare me off.
Today - with 58 years - I belong now also to the "old men". However I am always pleased about the rare moments, if I can exchange myself with young people over HAM radio - perhaps also because I had it differently at that time. The fact is, however, that they have completely different priorities, which is why the current efforts of the amateur radio clubs to attract young people are, in my opinion, a complete waste of energy and have no lasting effect. From my observation, at least here in DL, perhaps it is different in the States.
In addition nowadays the pressure regarding school, apprenticeships, work, life planning & partnership, starting a family etc. is so great that there is hardly the necessary free time to engage in a demanding leisure activity at the same time. Thus then e.g. tinkering afternoons or vacation actions for children/young people fizzle out as singular event, without from it new radio amateurs grow out.
It would be substantially more meaningful instead to give more attention to the age group 50plus: This age group is usually professionally and privately established, financially secured and sees itself in the medium term also the retiring from the working life ahead, so that place and time for new hobbies are available. Here the correct activities to unfold, these people for HAM radio to inspire would be substantially more purposeful and also more lasting!
Perhaps the responsible persons in the amateur radio federations think once about it.
So, only my five cents
73
Eilert, DL9BDM