Dave/Mark/AL- maybe I should have let this conversation end with "Still, where you see a little bit of interest, you have to nurture it. That's about all we're obligated to do. It's pretty much like leading a horse to water, and not much beyond that."
I can not express how important an active local club is to the overall process - was to me. My wife(KK7GOR) and I (KK7GJM) both got our license just before for the satellite text beacons became readily available(Spot or Garmin inreach). We were using the radios to communicate via ARPS (including SMSgate),simplex and repeaters <https://barconline.org/repeaters/> when she was training for ultra-marathons. We could not have done that without all the work that BARC (https://barconline.org/) has done in the valley. How did I know about these services? Working in the field with the National Parks and USDA in remote areas was key in teaching me importance of repeaters. I ended up calling a local dispatch and asking them how to use the repeaters... they referred me to the local radio club. With that being said, running support for events seems to be the largest influx of late 20's to 40 year old's to the club albeit not that many. This includes medical volunteers, parents, SAG (support and gear) and aid stations staff. While our club manages GMRS repeaters so that you don't have to be a ham, most folks are teamed with a ham or have their license by the time of the race or event. The balloon events, field days and school events like the middle/high school STEM Fairs are awesome but I think I've only seen/heard one kiddo on the net or at a meeting that didn't already have a licensed operator in their house. For me the hook in radio has always been a tool to make what I do easier or more efficient. It's a slow build of information and help is always needed. Finally my adventure into CW has be arduous but lessened thanks another club, the Long Island CW Club. The salt in the wound is that my 13 year old loves to call out the letters before I can write them down. Maybe she will get a license one day..... Cheers, Ike Harold W Ikerd <https://www.ars.usda.gov/people-locations/person/?person-id=39335> [email protected] KK7GJM 435-227-5711 (phone) *When the bug in your system is Aha ha <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aha_ha>, you know you're in trouble. * On Mon, Jul 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM Mark Pride via Elecraft < [email protected]> wrote: > Dave > There have been many studies done on this topic and I don't recall all the > particulars but generally speaking, out of 10 people that get their Tech > (mostly via on-line studies and testing), probably 2 continue past one > year. Lots of reasons for this. > I know - pretty poor. > Further study seems to indicate that because many of these new hams never > reach out or are contacted by local hams or clubs, they lose interest in a > year and move on. It takes nurturing and interaction with other more > experienced hams to keep their excitement alive and grow a passion for one > of the many interests in this wide ranging hobby. We all know its a hobby > that has probably 50 things one can get motivated about and can stay with > them for years. I know that well. Over 60 years in the hobby, been > contesting (one of my top 3 passions in the hobby) for over 50 years. > My limited success in this area has come from sitting down with the new > hams, in front of a quality station, show them what is possible - making > contacts from around the world, have them interact with others from > different countries, etc. - help them get more excited about what is > possible in this hobby. > They go home, think about updating their station and they grow. It takes > each of the experienced hams to pay it forward, take that critical time to > help the new hams, open their stations, share your passion. This is a > winning approach but sometimes it takes time and effort than we're not > able or willing to apply. This is not a "one and done" deal. > Believe me - results tend to be great (both for the new ham and for you). > Now back to the challenge of growing this incredible life long adventure. > > Regards, > > Mark, K1RX > > > > > > On Monday, July 28, 2025 at 02:49:01 AM EDT, David Gilbert via > Elecraft <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Does anyone ever follow up on these activities to determine what happens > afterward? What percentage of interested parties actually get their > license? What percentage of those are active two years later? > > If nobody knows the answers to those questions (and I don't mean some > anecdotal example), whatever they're doing may or may not be effective > at all other than whatever warm vibes it gives themselves. > > Dave AB7E > > > > On 7/27/2025 7:27 PM, John P via Elecraft wrote: > > Hi Wayne, > > > > In the past I have introduced young kids to ham radio via Scout Jamboree > on the Air, visiting middle schools and setting up and operating a station, > with student participation, buying SW / ham band receiver radio equipment > (at ham flea markets , my money) and donating and setting up a receiving > station at schools, ( I usually provide curriculum radio usage > help/guidance for various subjects (foreign language, geography, math, > science). With any luck I would get 2-3 interested kids licensed via VE > help. > > > > I introduce adults to ham radio via my hf/vhf mobile station. Many > people inquire about my pickup truck mounted antennas when shopping, > traveling etc. giving a live demo contact as conditions allow. I usually > carry ARRL brochures to hand out along with my ham call info as well as > info on various ham club locations too. > > > > Hope this helps > > > > John Petrowicz > > KB1NU > > ______________________________________________________________ > > Elecraft mailing list > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > Message delivered to [email protected] > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [email protected] > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
