What Makes or Breaks a Ham Radio Club

What Makes or Breaks a Ham Radio Club

lou giovannetti (KB2DHG) on June 24, 2012

I think it is very important to be part of and support a Radio Club... Being involved with my club for many years I have seen and experienced many wonderful times...

My club is fortunate to have many active members and we are very diverse in many ways... Unfortunately we are being plagued by what happens with most organizations. It is called egos.

Not to get into details of displaying our dirty laundry I will bring to sight what I think is the demise of all clubs and originations...

The elmers must learn to give way to young blood and thinking... I am an older ham myself but know that young ideas can actually help in the survival of these clubs... I have witnessed many times where a new member of even a seasoned one has offered great ideas but were shunned only because of EGOS! We presently are experiencing this problem. Our club President who has been president for more years than I like to count just won't give into change of great thinking... The membership has been dropping even I am thinking of quitting...

So, in my opinion a well-run club is a club that can be ALL inclusive and able to take advice from ALL members...

Elders, learn to let go, be a mentor not a critic... I mean really who wants to be a member of a club that does not value your input? As in most organizations we are a volunteer army and we should embrace the time members want to give not shun it.

A few members of my club had worked hard in getting the City to donate a classroom and allow them to set up a working station. FREE of charge. This took a lot of work, money and dedication. To me it has been a wonderful success BUT because the stipulation was that the club was to be named different as to satisfy the municipality's rules and regulations my club denounces it and does not support it...

FOR THIS REASON I have decided not to support my club anymore and will support the new endeavor... ALL this could have been a great asset to our club but because of egos it is deemed not part of the club... I hope I am making it clear here as that I don’t want to mention club names...

Well, in closing I just want to bring to your attention that clubs are an important part of this hobby but to survive in this market we must learn to pass the baton and be open to suggestion and listen to what the membership wants...