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SOME CLOSING THOUGHTS It’s been just over ten years since Gregg (NØTWO) took on the job as our newsletter editor. Soon after that I joined as his “side kick,” to support his efforts by developing news items, articles and whatever else we thought belonged in a newsletter. At that time Gregg, my nephew, was living with me, working full time and attending college. He was busy enough without taking on the newsletter. But he did, anyway. In these ten years there have been over sixty issues put together, printed and mailed. Many of them contain informative and interesting articles contributed by those who responded to our request to contribute. I thank those contributors for their time and talent! Recently looking over my “library” of past QUA issues brought volumes of happy memories and a sense of renewed gratitude to all our contributors of the past. Gregg and I are turning over the challenge and satisfaction of editing and producing the QUA to another generous and dedicated individual or team. It will all be worth your time and energy. Please contact Sharon to offer your time and talent to continue the QUA. Since this is (essentially) my last contribution to the newsletter I feel it’s OK to share two frustrations over this decade. First is the poor response to our request for input and articles from the members over the last couple of years, with some exceptions. Second is the almost total absence of any received observations (feedback) from members about a particular issue or in general, whether negative or positive. We welcomed both of course, but had very few, even though we have frequently invited them. Based on such poor feedback Gregg and I sometimes wondered how many folks were actually reading the newsletter, whether on the web or in the printed edition. We also wondered if it was worth the club’s expenditure to produce, print and mail each issue. Obviously we felt it was and is worth the time, effort and expense to provide a vehicle of club communication. We trust everyone else does, too. In fine I thank everyone who has supported us in whatever way in our effort to maintain and further the interests of the PCRC and provide good material in our newsletter. I COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT GREGG. Of course the newsletter will continue on the web thanks to Jack’s ongoing service. I will continue to supply meeting minutes and other membership information to Jack and the new editor(s). 73 DYING CLUB??? Is the Park County Radio Club dying??? Some might say it is. So far we haven’t called in the mortician. I hope we never have to. Why might some say it’s dying? A lack of strong leadership? Boring meetings? Meetings too long? Not enough technical discussion? A few who monopolize the meetings? Repeaters not always working properly? Personality clashes? And so forth??? As I have read in many other newsletters “This letter has something for everyone. For those looking for errors we likely have something for you.” (just to paraphrase and apply in general to the PCRC). Yes … if YOU are looking for a problem you’ll surely find it here in the club, in the newsletter and at the meetings. No one in this club is perfect. No one!!!! Not even the self-appointed critic. I will address just a few of the so-called problems: Regarding meeting “problems” how many come to a meeting just to come, and how many come to contribute and move the meeting along with decisions, progress and offers of help, as needed. Many attendees usually just sit on their hands and wait for someone else to make a motion (or second it) or add to a discussion, or volunteer? A lack of involvement by most at a meeting is why just a few make motions and seconds to keep things moving along. When is the last time, and how often, have you bestirred yourself to understand the matter at hand and make a motion or second one? Have you offered to develop and deliver a talk on a technical topic? Have you made yourself available to help with repeaters? Not just with technical matters, but perhaps to offer transportation of the techs or be available to monitor and/or participate in testing by the techs … simply by monitoring and standing by? How often do you monitor our repeaters, and more importantly use them? How often have you heard a “stranger” call, and you stop for a minute or two to visit and welcome him/her to use the machine? Let’s face it: An organization of any descript is only as ALIVE and strong as it’s members are. As has been observed many times in other situations, “If you’re not part of the solution you are part of the problem.” “IS THE CLUB DYING?’ NO! But there seems to be certain malaise among some members. We have three new members since November, and a fourth about to signup. I wonder how long they’ll stay with us. Our loss of members is less than other Ham clubs around us are experiencing, by percentages. We’re OK, but could be much better, and each of us can further that goal. 73. See the articles below for more.
NET PARTICIPATION A quick look at Wednesday evening’s net check-ins. Looking at 19 nets from Sept. 5, 2007 through the present there was a total of 205 participants (including the NCS). Average number of check-ins was 10.79 per net. That’s about 20% of club membership. Thank you to those who always, or nearly always check in; thanks to those who do at least once in a while. Thank you to the NCS operators. Where are the other members? COME JOIN US, PLEASE! The net is only as good as participants come and make it. Do you have suggestions for improving the net? Let me know: 73
“… BUT I CAN’T GET TO MEETINGS” Each year at “Dues are Due” time we hear the above, or something like it. PCRC member George Cowan, NØQJY, lives in Leadville and has never been at a PCRC meeting in Bailey, but is the first each year to renew membership. PCRC member Patricia Roberts, KCØQNH, Bailey, has severe medical problems. PCRC member Carl Lippman, WH6ANH, lives in Aurora. PCRC member Jim Bobo, W5ODD, lives in Texas eleven months of the year. PCRC members Judy and Ray Thompson (KØWGN, and WØIVB) spend about half the year in Arizona. All the latter three come to meetings when they are in the area during the summer. There are other PCRC members, too numerous to mention, who live “here” all year round, but who find it difficult, if not impossible to be at meetings regularly … if at all. There are work related, or health related, or basic family related concerns … to say nothing about weather and distance which keep many from regular meetings. We understand that. What identifies and unites all of the above is that year after year they stay current with dues payments and, frequently, with offers of help one way or another. They support the club for what it has done and is doing for Ham Radio, emergency services, support of civic events, VE testing, social events and moral support, to mention just a few. Maybe they can’t be physically with us for meetings all the time, but they are represented by, and appreciated for, their financial and moral support. Not to go unrecognized here are those who, despite distance or weather, are always, or virtually always, at meetings. Here’s a sincere THANK YOU to all who regularly support the PCRC year after year. 73 “MEMBERSHIP” Do
you dare read this??? Does
“membership” in an organization mean just paying dues? Does
“membership” mean maybe showing up for some meetings, if at all? Does
“membership” mean someone else will volunteer and do the work? YES, I know, the
above are often the case. There
is a certain percentage in any and all organizations where
“membership” as above sums it up!!! To break it down
a bit. There are those who
always (or almost) show up for meetings --- even with
some inconvenience/sacrifice/distance. There are those who
always get involved and volunteer to help in whatever
way possible to make a special event successful. There are those who
come early and leave late to see how they can help. On the other hand --
There are those who
come to meetings, vegetate, or make “motions,” raise their
hands to “support” a
motion for some activity, and that’s the last for their
involvement!!! There are those who
do none of the above, and figure
their $20/year is all that’s expected.
For some it’s like buying a ticket to a movie show.
Go in and sit passively while they hope to be entertained. Then, when surveys
are circulated asking for members’ guidance and input many don’t
respond and wonder why the club is not going
anywhere because of lack of interest by the (OTHER) members!!! When calls
for volunteers and other help are sent out they are met with stony
silence. Then, of
course, there are members who want every suggestion they make to be
passed and implemented. If not …. they quit! Or
if they don’t quit they don’t talk with the officers, but complain
to others privately. Yes, I well know
society is made up of all “kinds” of people, and clubs are no
different. But one would
hope those who join and pay dues would be more positive and
supportive of club programs and involvements.
Or am I off base, here???? A
SUCCESSFUL CLUB IS ULTIMATELY Public
Service Communications Concerns Although
I have been interested in Ham radio for many years (perhaps fascinated
by would be a better way to put it), I am a relative newcomer. I got
my Technician License in 2003, spurred on by the fire season of 2002
and the Blizzard of 2003. I saw some of the communications problems
presented by both, and as one of the founding members of Disaster
Support Volunteers (DSV) had participated in numerous discussions
regarding how Ham radio could help in these situations. So, while I
sat in the cool, quiet, dark and watched it snow, I made up my mind to
bite the bullet and do it. Aided by the blizzard, which forced the
postponement of the normal VE session (held by PCRC in ODD months), I
was able to take and pass the examination in an EVEN month, April,
thus continuing a long tradition of being an ODDball. My
early fascination with Ham radio was based upon the ability to
communicate with people throughout the world. This of course was well
before the Internet made it possible, and at times all too easy, to
communicate globally. As I became more seriously interested, in my
later teens, and did some research on Hams and what they do, two
themes became obvious: Hams provide emergency communications during
disasters, and Hams provide public service communications at other
times. And along with it, they learn a lot and have a lot of fun. Due
to limited resources and too many other interests (typical teenager, I
think), I did not get my license at that time. But I did retain my
interest, and continued to see the themes of emergency communications
and public service communications whenever I read anything about Hams. When I decided to
get my license, I was already committed to the 285 corridor as a
result of shared experiences and many wonderful friendships. BUT, I
was convinced to join PCRC because of the expressed interest in
providing help and public service. This interest was soon shown to be
reality, as I was invited to participate in public service
communications for the Burro Races, PCRS Race to the Rescue (which I
have not participated in as a communicator, but have been involved
with under my DSV 'bandana' in helping to provide volunteers),
Conifair, and several other events which I have not been able to
participate in, as well as emergency communications training,
exercises and classes. This was exactly what I was looking for! Thus,
it was with sadness and concern that I read the email from Dutch
advising that PCRC's participation in this years Conifair has been
cancelled, due to lack of volunteers to adequately staff the
communications points providing safety for the passengers on the hay
wagons between the Lodge and the main Conifair site. I
am distressed that PCRC was unable to fulfill this important public
service communications need. I
would like to personally apologize to the Conifer Chamber of Commerce
for our failure to provide this service. I
do not know what factors contributed to our inability to provide this
service. However, I believe we must take a long hard look at this
situation, in order to determine why an organization with the number
of members we have, as well as associated resources from others, all
dedicated to emergency service and public service communications, was
unable to provide this service. We
MUST take steps to assure that this will NOT happen again! 73,
Jack
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