You hit the nail on the head. I'm 50 Years old and got my tech ticket several months ago. The 2 websites I found for local clubs were just as you described, old, outdated and unappealing, one of the sites hasn't been updated since 2019. My son, who is 15, got his tech ticket the same day I got mine. I would like him to be more involved and I understand if he is not as there are few to no persons in his age group he can talk to about HAM radio on or off the air. I'm hoping amateur radio in general will evolve to attract a new generation.
I'll just say 'ditto' to your comments. In my 50's and talked my 19 Y/O son to get his as well but he is not too interested, mostly due to what is being said here.
I started doing ham radio 5 years ago, at 57 years old. I visited the local club's Field Day setup. That was pretty much the end of any idea that I would want to attend that octogenarian nerdfest. I can only imagine what a young person would have thought! Been doing hamming on my own, since then.
@@MirlitronOne Oh I'm sure a bunch of 80 year old sad hams were going to let a newbie transform their club. Absolutely, what you say is not disconnected from reality at all. Perhaps let us know your theory as to why there are so many fossilized clubs nationwide, that a video like this one needs to be made? Surely it's the fault of the people who look at those clubs and say "I'll pass," and it's not the fault of the power structure in those clubs ranting about no-code hams being "not real hams" or ranting about FT8 or "appliance operators" "ruining ham radio." 🤔
@@MirlitronOne lol. That’s the problem. All these well known long running issues with a huge percentage of clubs can be summed up by “random ham didn’t walk up and whisper that their website from 2001 needs updating”.
@@TreadingDirtSW Absolutely! 🤣 The hams who didn't join, and the ones who never even became hams because the local club was uninviting, are to blame! AND DON'T BRING THAT BAOFENG ANYWHERE NEAR THIS CLUBHOUSE!
I don’t see octogenarian as an issue at all. There is plenty to learn from those who have been in this hobby longer than I’ve been alive. One if the coolest conversations I’ve been a part of was listening to a 80-year-old and a 15-year-old connect and share knowledge about P25.
You are a 100 percent correct. Our hobby is dying slowly.. Things have to change REALLY fast to attract new YOUNGER HAMS. You are absolutely correct that clubs are ESSENTIAL to attract new members. 73s W5ZM
The youngest person at my local ham club is around 50 years old. Unless you are in the "clique" forget about interacting with them. The hobby is slowly dying because the old men in it are not open to new ideas or willing to communicate with anyone they haven't known for years on the air. It seems like the more hams you gather in a group, the more infighting and bickering you get. I love the hobby but not the ego's and attitudes in it.
Your post could've easily been written by me. In the area where I live, the crabby old man who runs the local repeaters insists on a voice announcement that gives the PL tone information every 10 minutes. This comes out to 144 times per day! Nobody will use it because of this nonsense.
Indeed - breaking down the existing social construct of any club should be something a club recognizes exists and works to mitigate its effects. Some of those folks will never change at their stage in life -- but I'm sure there are members of that club that can figure out how to deal with it.
thanks for the video. as a person in my 30s I can say I have been put off by the photo gallery of ham clubs website being all obviously photos that are from the 90s or early 2000s
I have passed the exam in Germany in August '22. As there is no way to put up an antenna in my apartment in Berlin I did my first attempts on hf in a pubic park. Each time I was there, I cought several people's attention. Same people were interested and impressed when I asked people on the radio for their qth and replies came from Italy, Spain, UK. I talked with people about understanding stuff, learning how to build stuff, being able to communicate without cellphone towers etc. Obviously the are many questions I cannot answer (I am a newbie, still...). But: I have never seen ham radio operators doing that stuff in public. Not even in Berlin. Why? I think it's not that hard to attract people, but you have to get out of the shack. Being at local events (that are not just related to ham radio), doing ham radio in pubic spaces where you are actually visible. I am not a member of any club, yet.
That's one of the reasons I've really appreciated what Parks On The Air (POTA) has done without picking up the ball the ARRL dropped. POTA has done a fantastic job of getting operators out in the public eye.
excellent, it is what one expects to hear, I am 56 years old and I am new, with many years of waiting for the opportunity due to the erroneous policies that you mention, I wish I had the strength in other countries to activate amateur radio, and give it the value that this deserves hobby, 73.
Awesome video, probably one of the best I’ve seen and I agree with your points. With that being said, I feel like there’s a bigger foundational hurdle we need to cross first. That is, why are so many of the clubs…not good? Not specifically, but in general. Why are we having to make videos explaining to club owners that their 2001 website and paper check payment system needs to change? Why do I get attacked by clubs when making simple suggestions like using Netlogger so we know who’s turn it is and who’s next? It’s like a cafe owner scratching his head wondering why business is down when he’s never cleaned the public restroom, has no clear hours of operation, and berates children when they ask for apple juice. It’s really that obvious in some cases. On the other side of the coin, I think we have way too many hams suggesting clubs to every single new tech, as things are today. Your personal club might be awesome, or you may enjoy mediocrity if they aren’t, but the suggestion should come with caveats. Last thing we want is a new ham showing up to the place 100 people online said was the best/only next step, only for them to have a terrible experience. Sorry about the Novella lol, I’m just passionate about helping others in my hobbies, and I’ve been the new ham being shunned or disappointed by club after club. There are some good ones out there and the funny part is, it’s just a few easy things that sets them so far above the average.
I think we all know that the hobby has a demographic issue. The majority of active hams in the hobby are older. This has cascading effects like you describe. As you age you get set in your ways and are less adept at change. This is just human nature. When that group is over-represented you get that cultural effect.
It is a bad human trait whereby people resist change, especially by those who people that are 'in control' that go into defence mode, thinking that change is a bid to undermine everything that achieved or perpetuate. I was at a keynote speech from IARU president Tim Elham VE6SH at the RSGB convention last year who emphasised that the hobby has to change to stay relevant on the 21st Century or be consigned to perpetual decline.. The clubs also have to change to stay relevant. I have seen so many clubs that think that they are welcoming and engaging, but they really are not! What is required is a bit of self honesty and how many are able to cope with that without having a meltdown?
I just subscribed and forwarded this video to our new club president. I'm a 56 y/o new ham and would like to see this hoppy expand. Thanks for putting this together - the truth never gets old!
Excellent presentation. I have several friends at the Maple Grove club and have done presentations there several times I have passed on good presentations to their president, because us presidents need to hang together. There are dying clubs, static clubs, and living clubs that are growing, changing and ACTIVE. I have seen some comments from new hams that have run into "Radio Cops" aka crabby old guys, and these guys are one of my pet peeves. I take every opportunity to intercept them and take over the conversation providing the welcoming environment with the answers and references that the new ham is looking for. Easy to defuse these situations and win over the new ham. Take every opportunity to do this and you will build your club. Our club is 92 years young and we are seeing moderate growth. I particularly like using the cell phones, and body shielding as a foxhunt technique. I am going to borrow that, if you don't mind. We meet in a high school, next door to a STEM lab with a superior program. DE NØAWN
I’m going to try my local ham club again. The first and last meeting I went to was TOTALLY UNDERWHELMING. I was essentially ignored and made to feel like I didn’t belong. Folks looking and starring at me like I was a leper. Once all the club business was done they were having a special speaker to go over satellite radio. But the president of the club informed all of us that it will likely over the heads of all but the most experienced Hams. Granted I was new to them but they had no idea what my level was and the President looked right at me when he said it. Lol. I’m going to give them another shot but not expecting much. They’re friendly enough on the radio but in person I’d rather schedule a root canal. The next nearest closest club is an hour away.
We are working to shorten our business meetings greatly and a program of interest or build something. We are a large club and yes our website needs help. Thank you for sharing.
Right on point!! Local amateur radio operators and clubs have the we done it this way for years and not changing. If only we could organize a club based on those of us with positive attitudes, and wants of recruiting others who love the hobby as we. Unfortunately I’m afraid there are far more grumpy old men, than happy ones that want the ham radio legacy to continue.
Starting your own club is entirely possible. I don't think that's farfetched at all. If you can influence your local club to adapt and have exhausted everything you can think of starting another club is certainly not a bad option.
@@K0LWC I’ll have to fish around, was the activity director for my club once for 5 years. I stepped down after constantly running against a wall. Just found your piece a challenging one, but much needed to gain more interest in hobby. It made me think of attempting a website attempting to gain interest, and see if by doing that starting something.
I went to a few meetings. And right off the bat. I instantly got the feeling. If your not a Olde Elmer. They dont want much to know about you. I get tired of hearing. How much there ham shack costed them. Im not saying all are like this. But that was the over all feeling i got.
I’m a 60-year-old retired military officer and search and rescue pilot. Here are some ways to ensure that you’ll never see me again: 1) Call me “young lady,” 2) Point me to the room in the back where the “wives” are having coffee while the club is meeting, 3) Completely ignore me, 4) Spend half the meeting talking about politics and the other half voting on trivial bylaws changes.
Good Video. Besides consolidating amateur radio clubs, we need to seriously start consolidating amateur radio repeaters on 2 Meters, 1.25 Meters (220), and 70 Centimeters (440). We currently have 107 Coordinated Repeaters in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, and only 3-4 of those repeaters have daily activity on them. A majority of the repeaters, are only used once or twice a week for net day, or net night, check-in's (one for the count), and after the net, everyone turns their radios off until the following week for the net. Also; 98% of the time, a person can talk on simplex further than the repeaters here in the metro area. Why? Because, no local club has the funds to put a repeater antenna up high on a good commercial tower, as there are no funds available with only 3-5 guys left in the radio club. It's ridiculous.
Useful stuff, I am trying to get our clubs presence known locally for new hams so some useful pointers, Covid really slammed our numbers, the club has been established over 100 years centenary was during Covid, but our membership reduces on a yearly basis as the older G3' and G8's become silent key. Thanks for the content de G0VCW.
I echo these comments. I’m 54…just got my call sign. Tried to reach out to find an Elmer as all the ARRL literature says….they are happy to help a newbie. Wrong. Nope. Not even close. My first on air experience I was ridiculed and told I didn’t read my radio manual (I had several times) by two octogenarians. Went to my local club meeting and several folks offered to help but when push came to shove…..they bailed. I’m not letting it ruin my HAM experience but I’m not contributing to the club…..flying solo works fine.
Once people get mad and leave the club or the local repeaters they almost never come back. Crabby old hams who want to run everything and are afraid of technology are a big problem for local ham radio.
Who else noticed the cover photo for QST magazine, January 2023? A group photo of two dozen people, with 2 token people included who were less than 70 years old. Someone PLEASE tell ARRL that they aren't helping rehabilitate ham radio's senior citizen identity!
Yep, I think @Mirlitron0ne is spot on. The ARRL skews much older than the rest of the hobby. Many hams today don't see value in joining for a variety of reasons.
awesome content MATT! very new to HAM myself and our local clubs are so outdated and unwilling to assist. My brother and I did our tickets ourselves. found a couple of other HAMS and wanting to start an effective club reaching our community for the next generation. Web site design is very important. KD9VBE
how would you handle voting members who never come to the in person meeting and you need to make a motion that requires a percentage of voters to vote. that has been the out cry from my ham radio club about allowing people to pay online and never come to the meeting. i hope that makes sense.
Don't forget that when the leadership sits there saying "they have to dumb down the test. We had to pass CW test.....". They are saying that new members are dumber than the 'real hams'
That person is leadership needs to examine how the influx of new hams dropping the code brought in need to be assimilated into the ham radio culture. If not, that club won't be around in 10 or 20 years.
My counter to that is simple. I point out that the worst offenders on the air (think 7.200) are almost all, if not all, older and got their license decades ago. Seriously, any time you see a high profile fcc warning or enforcement letter or hear crazy on the bands, look the person up. I think out of 20 random letters I researched, 17 were old school hams. Anyway, point is if cw or walking uphill both ways to a testing center was the solution, we’d hear a lot more mental illness out of newer and younger hams.
My town of 28k has 1 ham club with 40ish members. We are 501c3 so 'official' meeting is mandated. Of the 42 club members, an average of 8 attend the monthly meetings, of which 4 are the club officers. Our website is an absolute train wreck like you have no idea. Field Day has maybe 12 people, which includes the spouses that tag along. Next closest repeaters (active) are 75 miles away.
I got the new technician license the first year it was offered and promptly joined my local club. I dropped out because I got tired of hearing "remember, if you don't know code, it's only CB radio" over and over at every meeting. I even tried to bring another friend in but he was so offended by it he wouldn't come back.
Joined my local ham club and tied to get to know them during field day. I was pretty much ignored by this slovenly group that was more interested in stuffing food than radio... Very dysfunctional.
What kind of food and did you partake? :) Like any social setting every club has cliques of people who've become friends that can be tough to break past and get them to open up. Clubs should figure out how to have a welcoming committee for new hams that show up to events or meetings that can help bridge new people to meet others in the club. I think that's a good first step -- but knowing that not everyone is going be want to make friends with others. Some are just anti-social.
Most clubs are old and outdated without any purpose. They get together and talk about nothing. No purpose other than their repeater. Once you've talked out to eight miles......boring. I'm a part of a contest group and we compete as a group and represent our state in international competitions. I'd love to have a bunch of youth want to join us in competing on the air. You can talk around the world right now with a few watts! Cheers de N0HJZ
Understanding and living your club mission will be important for any ham radio club. Why do you exist and to what end, you know? Some of the more niche clubs have an easier time at this where the general clubs tend to skew towards socialization and that's it.
This is long but hear me out. The very first thing that has to happen is the closed minded members either have to sit down and be quiet, or be asked to leave. Yes I know that is counter intuitive. Hear me out. I am 56 years old. I just got my ticket in 2018 and dabbled with a Baofeng and repeaters as I saved my money to get a HF rig. Once I got my rig I upped my ticket to General. During the time I was saving money, I heard nothing but criticism about the radio I had. The negatives that were being quoted to me were so petty and turns out unfounded. But that is all I heard from folks that had the cash to buy $400 radios. Once I got my HF rig, I discovered digital modes. FT8 Is my favorite. That is what made me stop showing up to the first 2 clubs I tried. "FT8 is a brainless mode", "You can not pass any useful information with FT8" You know all the criticisms the CW and Tube radio folks have. They have the mindset that to be in the hobby you have to be able to build and repair your own radios and it it wasn't something that was available when they got licensed then it "isn't real radio" I was working summer field day and I was the FT8 station. A member of my current club who is all about Phone and CW and had voiced his opinion about FT8 to me before unsolicited, walked up to me and asked what useful information I could exchange with FT8. Having had enough, I looked up at him, Asked what exchange he was sending with CW. After he answered I told Him, " I am sending the same damn exchange you are" He walked away mad. As for all the other aspects of it, all I can do is tell you what my current club does. The founders just a few hams decided they did not like the politics and money involved with a club that they belonged to. That club was focused mostly on EMCOM and was mostly for the local emergency management folks. One of them already had his own repeater already set up and running. They made their own clube with the necessary officers and got a club call sign. I was invited to one of their meetings and at that point they only had about 10 "members" We don't vote on anything we have no dues, If there is something involving club business we discus it and make a decision together at our monthly meetings. If it is something that can not wait a few phone calls are made and the issue is dealt with. OUr meetings go over club business first, which is not boring because it is not about money and quarims and voting, It is talking about upcoming events and weather or not we want to participate. Thinks like the upcoming NC QSO party or Winter field day that just happened and things like that. Then after that we ask someone to do a presentation, short sweet and simple about something Ham related. We have had presentations of different types of antennas. DMR radio. Things like that. We try to do a "club build" once a quarter. We have someone get a cost on the materials for a specific build, let everyone know how much it will be, have them bring the money to one of the meetings, or get it who ever is leading that build. If you don't have the money or are not interested in the build, then you can just show up for fellowship and watch. We don't put anyone down for the part of the hobby they are interested in, we encourage them to talk about what their interests are and share their experience with the group. We are a slowly but steadily growing group. We do not worry about the "What ifs" We will deal with it as it comes up. Our Clubs motto is something like "No money, no politics, we just want to play radio". It works. It works because we have accepted that Folks can be interested in different parts of the hobby and not in others. We work together and share with all. interests change and folks that may not have an interest in building a radio when they first join might end up wanting to build one after a while. Modern ham radio involves the internet and computer technology, it does not have too but if you want new people you have to acknowledge that it does and be open to using that to get new, younger folks involved. When they see other aspects and older tech of the hobby they will get interested in part of it as well. That is my 2 cents worth 73s
I have found the Ham radio community to be extremely uninviting. One club turned me down because i live on the other side of a state border. On one forum, I got a single reply to my introduction and request for help. It was 'go find a ham club, here's a link everyone knows about. Odd way to communicate, being the point of radio and all. I am doing it for prepping purposes and am not interested in socializing but do understand the need to do so in order to learn. Guess I will read some books about HF and NVIS instead.
Thank you for this video. Very interesting. Can you tell me, what are some specific apps for foxhunting with a smartphone? (My google-fu is failing on this one).
Any app that will show you WiFi RSSI values. On my iPhone I've used the Apple Airport app to do this kind of thing as it displays the raw RSSI values in real-time. There are countless Android apps that will do the same.
Hi Matt, your Menomonie Wisconsin ham friend. Just finished listening to your entire message. An excellent motivator for other people to help out in promoting the hobby. I am forwarding your UA-cam video to everybody that I have listed in local ham contact address lists here in Menomonie and Eau Claire. I hope they take the initiative to watch and to understand what our hobby can be. Thanks so much and yes we will need to bump into each other at the family restaurant one of these days after you fill up the ev. wd9gus Gus
Good luck I've had my license for almost six years now I recently moved to Southern California some of the club's out here seem to be decent where I was before almost all the clubs were being run by people that were which say politely past-their-prime and should have stepped down from leadership roles two decades ago put you're not going to convince them of that
This is often because younger people will not step up and volunteer a little of their time to help run the club. Most members want to pay their subscription, sit back and be entertained.
I think it's on the younger hams to step up and take on the challenge -- and not stampeding their way through the club thinking they're going to bulldoze the culture. That's never going to end well.
Keep the business meeting separate from the membership meeting. Of course, announce the time and place of the business meeting and allow any member to attend. At the general membership meeting, provide a summary of the business meeting in written form or send it to club members via the e-mail list, but DON'T TALK BUSINESS AT THE MEMBERSHIP MEETING. Because there's always going to be one or two members who want to nitpick and argue the treasurer's report or some silly procedural point and wave Robert's Rules of Order like a storefront preacher waving a Bible at a revival meeting. Pretty soon the membership will either stop coming to meeting or it will degenerate into an "us vs. them" situation, and this will kill your club faster than anything.
Clubs tend to always have a couple of folks who insist on doing it "their" way or being in charge. Too may egos in one place is a recipe for failure. Another reason I gave up on clubs of any kind.
@@richb.4374 That's what killed a couple of clubs I was a member of - too many legends in their own minds (newbies and 11M converts, of course) who thought they knew better than us OTs how to run a radio club. The infighting got so bad the rest of us just said to hell with it, I'm staying home and chasing DX.
@@silverhammer7779 Sadly, the bands are becoming filled with those types. You try to help them and they fight you every step of the way. If you don't try to help them, then they complain that the old timers won't help them. I rag chew and chase dx once in a while. If I didn't have nearly 50 years and thousands of dollars invested in the hobby, I would have already walked away. Fortunately, there are still some good people out there to chat with on the bands.
@@richb.4374 Know what you mean. I mostly listen to SWBC these days, what little there is left of it, and transmit very seldom. Too many subcretins and waterheads out there (e.g., 7.2 MHz) and the FCC couldn't care less.
We have an elected club Board of directors, with two At-Large members who handle the most of the business before the meeting. It keeps the business out of the meeting and allows for more socializing time.
First you join their club. Then they treat you like crap. The you meet some of the wannabes, weirdos and social misfits that are attracted to radio hobbies. Then you leave and never go back.
Ham radio is full of eccentric people from all kinds of backgrounds. It's one of the things that I think is great. How they find and welcome new members is a needed work in progress for sure.
And then there's the whole thing about the I don't mind paying to be a member of the club but I've run across a couple of clubs out here but they want a hundred bucks a month I mean I understand this is an expensive Hobby but at a hundred bucks a month you're looking at $1,200 a year on my budget that's a new radio they need to do something about getting the dues under control
Promoting the source of your Amateur Radio Service license is a good thing for a "radio club" to do. Most don't seem to be encouraging their members to follow the FCC rules of operation, at all. Without this being a priority, the clubs really offer no service to their communities; they're just groups of manboys who want to play "roger walkie talkie". This kind of irresponsible behavior offers no encouragement for anyone in the general public to become a ham licensee.
Yes, yes, yes consolidate and we could do, etc. etc. etc. but your not clarifying HOW any of this is going to benefit anyone and ultimately defining WHY anyone should have any interest at all. Lets start with (Why should anyone care?) I know why I get out of bed in the morning. I know why I go to work now WHY should I care about HAM radio?
Let’s just start with consolidation. Pooling dues and events brings focus and clarity with more money in the bank to functionally recruit, engage and retain members. Defining interest can be hard because the motivations on why people get interested is so varied. From emcomm, to contesting, building/tinkering and the list goes on. I’ve seen a lot of growth from the IT world given IT professionals are usually technical and nerd-certified. Many just need a push to understand that it exists and what it encompasses. The framing used by the ARRL of “When all else fails” I don’t think is very compelling nor will stand the test of time.
Excellent topic. Our local club addressed much of this about six years ago and have grown by leaps and bonds since.
Awesome to hear your club has committed to evolving and figured out how its needs to adapt.
You hit the nail on the head. I'm 50 Years old and got my tech ticket several months ago. The 2 websites I found for local clubs were just as you described, old, outdated and unappealing, one of the sites hasn't been updated since 2019. My son, who is 15, got his tech ticket the same day I got mine. I would like him to be more involved and I understand if he is not as there are few to no persons in his age group he can talk to about HAM radio on or off the air. I'm hoping amateur radio in general will evolve to attract a new generation.
I'll just say 'ditto' to your comments. In my 50's and talked my 19 Y/O son to get his as well but he is not too interested, mostly due to what is being said here.
I started doing ham radio 5 years ago, at 57 years old. I visited the local club's Field Day setup. That was pretty much the end of any idea that I would want to attend that octogenarian nerdfest. I can only imagine what a young person would have thought! Been doing hamming on my own, since then.
It didn't occur to you to join and help get them straight, then? Nothing to learn from octogenarians?
@@MirlitronOne Oh I'm sure a bunch of 80 year old sad hams were going to let a newbie transform their club. Absolutely, what you say is not disconnected from reality at all.
Perhaps let us know your theory as to why there are so many fossilized clubs nationwide, that a video like this one needs to be made? Surely it's the fault of the people who look at those clubs and say "I'll pass," and it's not the fault of the power structure in those clubs ranting about no-code hams being "not real hams" or ranting about FT8 or "appliance operators" "ruining ham radio." 🤔
@@MirlitronOne lol. That’s the problem. All these well known long running issues with a huge percentage of clubs can be summed up by “random ham didn’t walk up and whisper that their website from 2001 needs updating”.
@@TreadingDirtSW Absolutely! 🤣 The hams who didn't join, and the ones who never even became hams because the local club was uninviting, are to blame!
AND DON'T BRING THAT BAOFENG ANYWHERE NEAR THIS CLUBHOUSE!
I don’t see octogenarian as an issue at all. There is plenty to learn from those who have been in this hobby longer than I’ve been alive. One if the coolest conversations I’ve been a part of was listening to a 80-year-old and a 15-year-old connect and share knowledge about P25.
This message needs to be played in every single club across the country!!!!!
Great video. Good info. Love the NotaRubicon "Sad Ham" license plate on your wall.
You are a 100 percent correct. Our hobby is dying slowly.. Things have to change REALLY fast to attract new YOUNGER HAMS. You are absolutely correct that clubs are ESSENTIAL to attract new members. 73s W5ZM
Understanding to how attract younger hams and most importantly ENGAGE them over their first couple years will be crucial.
The youngest person at my local ham club is around 50 years old. Unless you are in the "clique" forget about interacting with them. The hobby is slowly dying because the old men in it are not open to new ideas or willing to communicate with anyone they haven't known for years on the air. It seems like the more hams you gather in a group, the more infighting and bickering you get. I love the hobby but not the ego's and attitudes in it.
Your post could've easily been written by me. In the area where I live, the crabby old man who runs the local repeaters insists on a voice announcement that gives the PL tone information every 10 minutes. This comes out to 144 times per day! Nobody will use it because of this nonsense.
Indeed - breaking down the existing social construct of any club should be something a club recognizes exists and works to mitigate its effects. Some of those folks will never change at their stage in life -- but I'm sure there are members of that club that can figure out how to deal with it.
Totally agree.
thanks for the video. as a person in my 30s I can say I have been put off by the photo gallery of ham clubs website being all obviously photos that are from the 90s or early 2000s
What would you prefer/like to see on a ham club's website photo gallery/home page? Any specifics?
Finding terrible websites has become like a ham radio sub-hobby for me. Some of them are truly hilarious. Join my web ring!
I can only handle so many requests to sign a guestbook before it becomes too much!
I have passed the exam in Germany in August '22. As there is no way to put up an antenna in my apartment in Berlin I did my first attempts on hf in a pubic park.
Each time I was there, I cought several people's attention. Same people were interested and impressed when I asked people on the radio for their qth and replies came from Italy, Spain, UK.
I talked with people about understanding stuff, learning how to build stuff, being able to communicate without cellphone towers etc.
Obviously the are many questions I cannot answer (I am a newbie, still...).
But: I have never seen ham radio operators doing that stuff in public. Not even in Berlin. Why?
I think it's not that hard to attract people, but you have to get out of the shack. Being at local events (that are not just related to ham radio), doing ham radio in pubic spaces where you are actually visible.
I am not a member of any club, yet.
That's one of the reasons I've really appreciated what Parks On The Air (POTA) has done without picking up the ball the ARRL dropped. POTA has done a fantastic job of getting operators out in the public eye.
excellent, it is what one expects to hear, I am 56 years old and I am new, with many years of waiting for the opportunity due to the erroneous policies that you mention, I wish I had the strength in other countries to activate amateur radio, and give it the value that this deserves hobby, 73.
Awesome video, probably one of the best I’ve seen and I agree with your points.
With that being said, I feel like there’s a bigger foundational hurdle we need to cross first. That is, why are so many of the clubs…not good? Not specifically, but in general. Why are we having to make videos explaining to club owners that their 2001 website and paper check payment system needs to change? Why do I get attacked by clubs when making simple suggestions like using Netlogger so we know who’s turn it is and who’s next? It’s like a cafe owner scratching his head wondering why business is down when he’s never cleaned the public restroom, has no clear hours of operation, and berates children when they ask for apple juice. It’s really that obvious in some cases.
On the other side of the coin, I think we have way too many hams suggesting clubs to every single new tech, as things are today. Your personal club might be awesome, or you may enjoy mediocrity if they aren’t, but the suggestion should come with caveats. Last thing we want is a new ham showing up to the place 100 people online said was the best/only next step, only for them to have a terrible experience.
Sorry about the Novella lol, I’m just passionate about helping others in my hobbies, and I’ve been the new ham being shunned or disappointed by club after club. There are some good ones out there and the funny part is, it’s just a few easy things that sets them so far above the average.
I think we all know that the hobby has a demographic issue. The majority of active hams in the hobby are older. This has cascading effects like you describe. As you age you get set in your ways and are less adept at change. This is just human nature. When that group is over-represented you get that cultural effect.
It is a bad human trait whereby people resist change, especially by those who people that are 'in control' that go into defence mode, thinking that change is a bid to undermine everything that achieved or perpetuate. I was at a keynote speech from IARU president Tim Elham VE6SH at the RSGB convention last year who emphasised that the hobby has to change to stay relevant on the 21st Century or be consigned to perpetual decline.. The clubs also have to change to stay relevant. I have seen so many clubs that think that they are welcoming and engaging, but they really are not! What is required is a bit of self honesty and how many are able to cope with that without having a meltdown?
my OCD is triggered with how tight your mic cord is. lol. Good ideas.
I’ve now pulled more slack to ease your OCD. 😂
I just subscribed and forwarded this video to our new club president. I'm a 56 y/o new ham and would like to see this hoppy expand. Thanks for putting this together - the truth never gets old!
Excellent presentation. I have several friends at the Maple Grove club and have done presentations there several times I have passed on good presentations to their president, because us presidents need to hang together. There are dying clubs, static clubs, and living clubs that are growing, changing and ACTIVE. I have seen some comments from new hams that have run into "Radio Cops" aka crabby old guys, and these guys are one of my pet peeves. I take every opportunity to intercept them and take over the conversation providing the welcoming environment with the answers and references that the new ham is looking for. Easy to defuse these situations and win over the new ham. Take every opportunity to do this and you will build your club. Our club is 92 years young and we are seeing moderate growth.
I particularly like using the cell phones, and body shielding as a foxhunt technique. I am going to borrow that, if you don't mind. We meet in a high school, next door to a STEM lab with a superior program.
DE NØAWN
Glad to hear the good things are happening at MGRC.
Thanks matt
I’m going to try my local ham club again. The first and last meeting I went to was TOTALLY UNDERWHELMING. I was essentially ignored and made to feel like I didn’t belong. Folks looking and starring at me like I was a leper. Once all the club business was done they were having a special speaker to go over satellite radio. But the president of the club informed all of us that it will likely over the heads of all but the most experienced Hams.
Granted I was new to them but they had no idea what my level was and the President looked right at me when he said it. Lol.
I’m going to give them another shot but not expecting much. They’re friendly enough on the radio but in person I’d rather schedule a root canal. The next nearest closest club is an hour away.
Leadership is the key
We are working to shorten our business meetings greatly and a program of interest or build something. We are a large club and yes our website needs help. Thank you for sharing.
Glad to hear you're working on it!
Please bring DMR to Duluth! If you know anyone looking for a tower to put a repeater at, we have quite a few available!
Send me an e-mail -- check QRZ. Might be able to hook you up if you have a personal line on some tower space.
Two things that are key, younger folks need to participate and a core of folks need to be there all the time! It's just like any club.
Great video, I operate an APRS iGate and a wide area AllStar node connected to a linked repeater network for the local Hams around me.
iGate nodes are always a great service, especially in areas that need them!
Thanks for the timely video. This topic just came up again at our last meeting so I'll be sure to share this with the members. 73
Excellent video and it addresses issues that are not restricted to the USA. Nicely done sir! 73, M0MBD
Many thanks!
Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it
Right on point!! Local amateur radio operators and clubs have the we done it this way for years and not changing.
If only we could organize a club based on those of us with positive attitudes, and wants of recruiting others who love the hobby as we.
Unfortunately I’m afraid there are far more grumpy old men, than happy ones that want the ham radio legacy to continue.
Starting your own club is entirely possible. I don't think that's farfetched at all. If you can influence your local club to adapt and have exhausted everything you can think of starting another club is certainly not a bad option.
@@K0LWC I’ll have to fish around, was the activity director for my club once for 5 years. I stepped down after constantly running against a wall. Just found your piece a challenging one, but much needed to gain more interest in hobby. It made me think of attempting a website attempting to gain interest, and see if by doing that starting something.
I went to a few meetings. And right off the bat. I instantly got the feeling.
If your not a Olde Elmer. They dont want much to know about you.
I get tired of hearing. How much there ham shack costed them.
Im not saying all are like this. But that was the over all feeling i got.
You have great ideas. Live 5 hours southeast of the twin cities and well the area club does not have a great out reach
Well hopefully you can bring some new ideas to the club!
I’m a 60-year-old retired military officer and search and rescue pilot. Here are some ways to ensure that you’ll never see me again: 1) Call me “young lady,” 2) Point me to the room in the back where the “wives” are having coffee while the club is meeting, 3) Completely ignore me, 4) Spend half the meeting talking about politics and the other half voting on trivial bylaws changes.
Good Video. Besides consolidating amateur radio clubs, we need to seriously start consolidating amateur radio repeaters on 2 Meters, 1.25 Meters (220), and 70 Centimeters (440). We currently have 107 Coordinated Repeaters in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, and only 3-4 of those repeaters have daily activity on them. A majority of the repeaters, are only used once or twice a week for net day, or net night, check-in's (one for the count), and after the net, everyone turns their radios off until the following week for the net. Also; 98% of the time, a person can talk on simplex further than the repeaters here in the metro area. Why? Because, no local club has the funds to put a repeater antenna up high on a good commercial tower, as there are no funds available with only 3-5 guys left in the radio club. It's ridiculous.
Thanks for posting this. VERY good information.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video.
Glad you enjoyed it
Useful stuff, I am trying to get our clubs presence known locally for new hams so some useful pointers, Covid really slammed our numbers, the club has been established over 100 years centenary was during Covid, but our membership reduces on a yearly basis as the older G3' and G8's become silent key. Thanks for the content de G0VCW.
Glad to hear you’re focused on this to keep the club going!
I echo these comments. I’m 54…just got my call sign. Tried to reach out to find an Elmer as all the ARRL literature says….they are happy to help a newbie. Wrong. Nope. Not even close. My first on air experience I was ridiculed and told I didn’t read my radio manual (I had several times) by two octogenarians. Went to my local club meeting and several folks offered to help but when push came to shove…..they bailed. I’m not letting it ruin my HAM experience but I’m not contributing to the club…..flying solo works fine.
Sorry to hear you've had a rocky start with your local hams.
Once people get mad and leave the club or the local repeaters they almost never come back. Crabby old hams who want to run everything and are afraid of technology are a big problem for local ham radio.
I wish there were more hams like you in California.
We're out here...somewhere.
Who else noticed the cover photo for QST magazine, January 2023? A group photo of two dozen people, with 2 token people included who were less than 70 years old. Someone PLEASE tell ARRL that they aren't helping rehabilitate ham radio's senior citizen identity!
Maybe that's just the representative ham radio demographic?
@@MirlitronOne Exactly the issue. But ARRL membership is even more skewed toward the aged. Either way, not great PR or marketing on ARRL's part.
Yep, I think @Mirlitron0ne is spot on. The ARRL skews much older than the rest of the hobby. Many hams today don't see value in joining for a variety of reasons.
awesome content MATT! very new to HAM myself and our local clubs are so outdated and unwilling to assist. My brother and I did our tickets ourselves. found a couple of other HAMS and wanting to start an effective club reaching our community for the next generation. Web site design is very important. KD9VBE
how would you handle voting members who never come to the in person meeting and you need to make a motion that requires a percentage of voters to vote. that has been the out cry from my ham radio club about allowing people to pay online and never come to the meeting. i hope that makes sense.
This is the best video I’ve seen on the topic.
Thanks!
Don't forget that when the leadership sits there saying "they have to dumb down the test. We had to pass CW test.....". They are saying that new members are dumber than the 'real hams'
That person is leadership needs to examine how the influx of new hams dropping the code brought in need to be assimilated into the ham radio culture. If not, that club won't be around in 10 or 20 years.
My counter to that is simple. I point out that the worst offenders on the air (think 7.200) are almost all, if not all, older and got their license decades ago.
Seriously, any time you see a high profile fcc warning or enforcement letter or hear crazy on the bands, look the person up. I think out of 20 random letters I researched, 17 were old school hams.
Anyway, point is if cw or walking uphill both ways to a testing center was the solution, we’d hear a lot more mental illness out of newer and younger hams.
Brilliant sugesstions.
Glad you found it useful!
Wow! Thank you! 👏
No problem 😊
My town of 28k has 1 ham club with 40ish members. We are 501c3 so 'official' meeting is mandated. Of the 42 club members, an average of 8 attend the monthly meetings, of which 4 are the club officers.
Our website is an absolute train wreck like you have no idea. Field Day has maybe 12 people, which includes the spouses that tag along. Next closest repeaters (active) are 75 miles away.
That unfortunately sounds pretty typical.
I got the new technician license the first year it was offered and promptly joined my local club. I dropped out because I got tired of hearing "remember, if you don't know code, it's only CB radio" over and over at every meeting. I even tried to bring another friend in but he was so offended by it he wouldn't come back.
That's a funny perspective. I think that "no code" culture has soften over the years since they dropped it.
Joined my local ham club and tied to get to know them during field day. I was pretty much ignored by this slovenly group that was more interested in stuffing food than radio... Very dysfunctional.
What kind of food and did you partake? :) Like any social setting every club has cliques of people who've become friends that can be tough to break past and get them to open up. Clubs should figure out how to have a welcoming committee for new hams that show up to events or meetings that can help bridge new people to meet others in the club. I think that's a good first step -- but knowing that not everyone is going be want to make friends with others. Some are just anti-social.
Most clubs are old and outdated without any purpose. They get together and talk about nothing. No purpose other than their repeater. Once you've talked out to eight miles......boring. I'm a part of a contest group and we compete as a group and represent our state in international competitions. I'd love to have a bunch of youth want to join us in competing on the air. You can talk around the world right now with a few watts! Cheers de N0HJZ
Understanding and living your club mission will be important for any ham radio club. Why do you exist and to what end, you know? Some of the more niche clubs have an easier time at this where the general clubs tend to skew towards socialization and that's it.
This is long but hear me out. The very first thing that has to happen is the closed minded members either have to sit down and be quiet, or be asked to leave. Yes I know that is counter intuitive. Hear me out. I am 56 years old. I just got my ticket in 2018 and dabbled with a Baofeng and repeaters as I saved my money to get a HF rig. Once I got my rig I upped my ticket to General. During the time I was saving money, I heard nothing but criticism about the radio I had. The negatives that were being quoted to me were so petty and turns out unfounded. But that is all I heard from folks that had the cash to buy $400 radios. Once I got my HF rig, I discovered digital modes. FT8 Is my favorite. That is what made me stop showing up to the first 2 clubs I tried. "FT8 is a brainless mode", "You can not pass any useful information with FT8" You know all the criticisms the CW and Tube radio folks have. They have the mindset that to be in the hobby you have to be able to build and repair your own radios and it it wasn't something that was available when they got licensed then it "isn't real radio" I was working summer field day and I was the FT8 station. A member of my current club who is all about Phone and CW and had voiced his opinion about FT8 to me before unsolicited, walked up to me and asked what useful information I could exchange with FT8. Having had enough, I looked up at him, Asked what exchange he was sending with CW. After he answered I told Him, " I am sending the same damn exchange you are" He walked away mad.
As for all the other aspects of it, all I can do is tell you what my current club does. The founders just a few hams decided they did not like the politics and money involved with a club that they belonged to. That club was focused mostly on EMCOM and was mostly for the local emergency management folks. One of them already had his own repeater already set up and running. They made their own clube with the necessary officers and got a club call sign. I was invited to one of their meetings and at that point they only had about 10 "members" We don't vote on anything we have no dues, If there is something involving club business we discus it and make a decision together at our monthly meetings. If it is something that can not wait a few phone calls are made and the issue is dealt with. OUr meetings go over club business first, which is not boring because it is not about money and quarims and voting, It is talking about upcoming events and weather or not we want to participate. Thinks like the upcoming NC QSO party or Winter field day that just happened and things like that. Then after that we ask someone to do a presentation, short sweet and simple about something Ham related. We have had presentations of different types of antennas. DMR radio. Things like that. We try to do a "club build" once a quarter. We have someone get a cost on the materials for a specific build, let everyone know how much it will be, have them bring the money to one of the meetings, or get it who ever is leading that build. If you don't have the money or are not interested in the build, then you can just show up for fellowship and watch. We don't put anyone down for the part of the hobby they are interested in, we encourage them to talk about what their interests are and share their experience with the group. We are a slowly but steadily growing group. We do not worry about the "What ifs" We will deal with it as it comes up. Our Clubs motto is something like "No money, no politics, we just want to play radio". It works. It works because we have accepted that Folks can be interested in different parts of the hobby and not in others. We work together and share with all. interests change and folks that may not have an interest in building a radio when they first join might end up wanting to build one after a while. Modern ham radio involves the internet and computer technology, it does not have too but if you want new people you have to acknowledge that it does and be open to using that to get new, younger folks involved. When they see other aspects and older tech of the hobby they will get interested in part of it as well.
That is my 2 cents worth
73s
I have found the Ham radio community to be extremely uninviting.
One club turned me down because i live on the other side of a state border. On one forum, I got a single reply to my introduction and request for help. It was 'go find a ham club, here's a link everyone knows about.
Odd way to communicate, being the point of radio and all.
I am doing it for prepping purposes and am not interested in socializing but do understand the need to do so in order to learn.
Guess I will read some books about HF and NVIS instead.
Step 1: stop shitting on newer digital modes, technologies, and operating ideas that younger people like
Step 2: ...
Step 3: profit!
Club Logo Underwear
Kelvin might be on to a stellar idea for some exciting club out there. :)
Thank you for this video. Very interesting.
Can you tell me, what are some specific apps for foxhunting with a smartphone? (My google-fu is failing on this one).
Any app that will show you WiFi RSSI values. On my iPhone I've used the Apple Airport app to do this kind of thing as it displays the raw RSSI values in real-time. There are countless Android apps that will do the same.
Hi Matt, your Menomonie Wisconsin ham friend. Just finished listening to your entire message. An excellent motivator for other people to help out in promoting the hobby. I am forwarding your UA-cam video to everybody that I have listed in local ham contact address lists here in Menomonie and Eau Claire. I hope they take the initiative to watch and to understand what our hobby can be. Thanks so much and yes we will need to bump into each other at the family restaurant one of these days after you fill up the ev. wd9gus
Gus
Thanks for watching, Gus!
In my defense, my club's 1990's Geocities-era website does NOT play .mid files. You're welcome.
Good luck I've had my license for almost six years now I recently moved to Southern California some of the club's out here seem to be decent where I was before almost all the clubs were being run by people that were which say politely past-their-prime and should have stepped down from leadership roles two decades ago put you're not going to convince them of that
This is often because younger people will not step up and volunteer a little of their time to help run the club. Most members want to pay their subscription, sit back and be entertained.
I think it's on the younger hams to step up and take on the challenge -- and not stampeding their way through the club thinking they're going to bulldoze the culture. That's never going to end well.
Keep the business meeting separate from the membership meeting. Of course, announce the time and place of the business meeting and allow any member to attend. At the general membership meeting, provide a summary of the business meeting in written form or send it to club members via the e-mail list, but DON'T TALK BUSINESS AT THE MEMBERSHIP MEETING. Because there's always going to be one or two members who want to nitpick and argue the treasurer's report or some silly procedural point and wave Robert's Rules of Order like a storefront preacher waving a Bible at a revival meeting. Pretty soon the membership will either stop coming to meeting or it will degenerate into an "us vs. them" situation, and this will kill your club faster than anything.
Clubs tend to always have a couple of folks who insist on doing it "their" way or being in charge. Too may egos in one place is a recipe for failure. Another reason I gave up on clubs of any kind.
@@richb.4374 That's what killed a couple of clubs I was a member of - too many legends in their own minds (newbies and 11M converts, of course) who thought they knew better than us OTs how to run a radio club. The infighting got so bad the rest of us just said to hell with it, I'm staying home and chasing DX.
@@silverhammer7779 Sadly, the bands are becoming filled with those types. You try to help them and they fight you every step of the way. If you don't try to help them, then they complain that the old timers won't help them. I rag chew and chase dx once in a while. If I didn't have nearly 50 years and thousands of dollars invested in the hobby, I would have already walked away. Fortunately, there are still some good people out there to chat with on the bands.
@@richb.4374 Know what you mean. I mostly listen to SWBC these days, what little there is left of it, and transmit very seldom. Too many subcretins and waterheads out there (e.g., 7.2 MHz) and the FCC couldn't care less.
We have an elected club Board of directors, with two At-Large members who handle the most of the business before the meeting. It keeps the business out of the meeting and allows for more socializing time.
First you join their club. Then they treat you like crap. The you meet some of the wannabes, weirdos and social misfits that are attracted to radio hobbies. Then you leave and never go back.
Ham radio is full of eccentric people from all kinds of backgrounds. It's one of the things that I think is great. How they find and welcome new members is a needed work in progress for sure.
The big problem where I live is, no one wants to form a club.
Someone has to lead the charge. If everyone says that same thing nothing gets done.
And then there's the whole thing about the I don't mind paying to be a member of the club but I've run across a couple of clubs out here but they want a hundred bucks a month I mean I understand this is an expensive Hobby but at a hundred bucks a month you're looking at $1,200 a year on my budget that's a new radio they need to do something about getting the dues under control
Dang. Hopefully they provide a t-shirt and mug at that price! Ha. Most club dues I've seen are $30-$100 for the year.
Promoting the source of your Amateur Radio Service license is a good thing for a "radio club" to do. Most don't seem to be encouraging their members to follow the FCC rules of operation, at all. Without this being a priority, the clubs really offer no service to their communities; they're just groups of manboys who want to play "roger walkie talkie". This kind of irresponsible behavior offers no encouragement for anyone in the general public to become a ham licensee.
Yes, yes, yes consolidate and we could do, etc. etc. etc. but your not clarifying HOW any of this is going to benefit anyone and ultimately defining WHY anyone should have any interest at all. Lets start with (Why should anyone care?) I know why I get out of bed in the morning. I know why I go to work now WHY should I care about HAM radio?
Let’s just start with consolidation. Pooling dues and events brings focus and clarity with more money in the bank to functionally recruit, engage and retain members. Defining interest can be hard because the motivations on why people get interested is so varied. From emcomm, to contesting, building/tinkering and the list goes on. I’ve seen a lot of growth from the IT world given IT professionals are usually technical and nerd-certified. Many just need a push to understand that it exists and what it encompasses. The framing used by the ARRL of “When all else fails” I don’t think is very compelling nor will stand the test of time.
Nothing new. Same old same old.
Wow, a HAM website that doesn’t look like it was designed in the mid-90’s 🙄