HAM Clubs – It is just sad.

It is just sad how many of the clubs today are stuck in a rut.  We join clubs to socialize, and enjoy our hobby together.  We join clubs to learn about new and interesting technology.

What we usually find is a bunch of folks who argue about things that really do not mean anything to the larger community of Hams.   We also find that the local politics and crap gets in the way.  We end up being a member for a short while. Then we drop out of the club because we are tired and usually more than a bit angered that we have found another petty, bickering club.

I know how this works, I have been in the Pres position, and we can operate with or without local politics getting in the way.  We can do what we do, even if there is no local support, albeit a bit harder to do.

This requires folks to keep their negative, non productive arguments to themselves.  It requires an attitude toward “How can I help this succeed?  What can I offer that is positive?  How do we as a group solve the issue?”

This is the hard part.  The old standby of “We can’t do that because we’ve always done it some other way” attitude must be rejected.

All of us have our contribution to make, and we all have different areas of expertise.  The key is to nurture those, and mentor effectively.  The key is to have a vibrant local group, working together, bringing a positive change to the HAM community.

The key to that is effective leadership, effective community involvement, and keep engaging all HAMS, not just the old ones.  You have to engage the young ones too.  Remember Old Sparks, there is “NO AGE RESTRICTION” on a license.

I can tell you, that until a new attitude, and a new way of operating the clubs are forged, they will all remain stuck in a rut, and filled with folks that you do not want to pay dues to associate with.  So unless change is in the wind, membership rates will fall, nothing will get done, and it will just be a collection of old attitudes swapping spit in petty arguments.

Yes, occasionally a positive thing, but mostly, just there to provide one evenings debate entertainment to folks who may otherwise not get out much.

Thats my two cents.

KB3WHX / WRQJ824

March 11, 2015 · kb3whx · No Comments
Posted in: Clubs & Groups, Events