Facebook has a habit of trawling through timelines and digging up “one this day x years ago” photos.
Today’s flashback photo was taken at the launch of a new amateur radio club, TARG, exactly 4 years ago (See Thames Amateur Radio Group Launches 15-Sep-2012). I shared this on social media today, and within minutes, Trevor M5AKA remarked that we need more amateur radio clubs. Personally, I agree – absolutely we do – more people spreading the word about the hobby and getting out there to have fun with radio.
This month’s Radcom has an interesting letter from Donald 5B4AGQ, which mentions that a few years back, his club was contacted by a local dog charity asking to play some music at their a dog fun day! It’s not the first time that amateur radio and community radio have got confused. Ironically, TARG launched at community radio station Phoenix FM in Brentwood, following Essex Ham’s interview on Phoenix FM with Scott Ross back in July 2012.
This led to some thought and online discussion about the quantity of clubs in Essex…
Essex Clubs
In Essex, we’re doing remarkably well for clubs. Our Essex Clubs page lists 22 clubs, repeater groups and special interest groups. Five new clubs launched in the last five years:
- 2011: Essex Ham
- 2012: Thames Amateur Radio Group
- 2013: Thurrock Acorns Amateur Radio Club
- 2014: Essex Amateur Radio DX Group
- 2015: Secret Nuclear Bunker Contest Group
Prior to that, the Essex CW Club in 2009, and Dengie Hundred ARS in 1992.
From one a decade, to one a year! Encouraging stuff.
We’ve also seen the launch of initiatives such as the Essex Skills Night (hosted by the Chelmsford ARS who celebrate their 80th anniversary this year – thanks for that stat Trevor!), the Thurrock Acorns 2m Activity Days and the Essex Ham Monday Night and Essex YL nets. Those activities, together with the very popular SEARS-run Canvey Rally, all help to bring amateurs together, regardless of club affiliation and geography.
Clubs – Where next?
Of course, although there are 22 groups in Essex, not all of them are active and only a fraction promote amateur radio training. As Mitchell 2E0EMO flagged in his recent rather controversial forum post, An Emos view – an open view, not all clubs are focused on the younger generation. He’s one of the younger amateurs around, and his comment that “There are no Lads / True Geeks clubs around” is a concern.
We’ve not had a new club launch this year (yet…). Is there space for another club in the area, perhaps with a focus on youngsters / geeks and/or the Raspberry Pi community? Should the existing clubs do more to focus on tomorrow’s generation of amateurs? Or should existing clubs take an annual objective look at themselves and review how they’re serving the hobby as a whole.
Nationally, the hobby is riding on the wave of awareness after Tim Peake’s ISS mission, which certainly helped to raise the profile of the hobby. Here in Essex, we’ve got new clubs starting, more clubs offering training, and some strong awareness. All good news.
So – some open questions:
- Do we need more clubs? And if so, what do we want from Essex Club #23?
- How important is it for today’s amateur to be a member of a club?
Our site has some clever polling and survey software – anyone interested in us running an “Essex Clubs” survey to get a snapshot of how we all feel about clubs? If there’s enough interest, we’ll give it a try.
Promo Videos
A reminder that the RSGB’s “Amateur Radio – A hobby for the 21st Century video” can be an excellent tool to help promote the hobby. We make use of it at public events and on schools visits, and we’ve seen other clubs make good use of it too. If it’s appropriate to share it, demo it, or forward it – please do, as that what’s it’s there for.
About two years ago, we released a “2-minute teaser”. It’s nowhere near as polished as the RSGB’s video, but it’s a) local, and b) short. As we now have a bunch of better pictures, we’ve remixed it for 2016. There are a few familiar faces in there too. Here’s the 2016 version of our “Amateur Radio – Two Minute Teaser.
This one’s also worth a watch for an alternative view on promoting the hobby – “Ham Radio Explained – as fast as possible”:
Pete M0PSX
I believe some of those new clubs in South Essex were only formed due to existing clubs splintering off because of members falling out with each other ? If so this is NOT a good sign, and these reasons for more clubs being formed need to be addressed before rather than after the next explosion.
Some times it’s “stability” vs. “change” that causes problems, but club committees need to be open to change. Running the same set of club activities year in year out may be attractive to some members, but doesn’t provide much opportunity for trying new things. “Fred always puts up the Antennas at GB3ZZZ” doesn’t give new members much incentive to get involved. Forming a “single interest” club can be an answer to getting change. That way members won’t expect the new club to provide a full range of activities for its members, and overlap with existing clubs can be minimised. But forming any such clubs/groups need to proactive not reactive.
Yes, being open to change is key. In an ideal world, Club X may be better to embrace a “Club X Contest Group”, “Club X Training Group”, “Club X CW Group” rather than force the creation of rifts and splinter groups, but a refocusing of an established club that serves a core membership seems to rarely happen for the reasons you’ve stated.
Regardless of whatever the initial reasons/motives, the drive to form a new club is almost always that there’s a perceived need for something new. Some will flourish if there genuinely was a need, and others may not. Similarly, there’s a risk that a club that doesn’t embrace change will eventually diminish through its inaction. As we’ve both observed a thousand times Peter, newcomers need to be nurtured, and that may just not be possible in a club that’s unwilling to respond to their needs.
I’ve only been in the hobby since the turn of the decade, so I have nothing to base the following on, but I believe that over the last 5 years, the club landscape has been dramatically improved by the new entrants. TARG and TAARC were the first new traditional clubs for 20 years, and since then, we’ve seen more events, more training, more repeaters, better online promotion of the hobby, and a lot more opportunities for newcomers to get hands-on and engaged. They’ve also shaken up some of the 20th Century clubs, who are now doing things they weren’t doing 5 years ago, which is also a good thing.
To me, new clubs and new “interest groups” are more likely to have a positive impact on the hobby as a whole. Fully agree though – proactive, and for the right reasons.
Pete
Pete doesn’t know his history. This has all happened before as some of you will perhaps remember.
1> Newcomer suggests changes to the club
2> Club hates change. Its a “Negative”
3> Newcomer finds a posse and sets himself up as Chairman of a new club
4> New club prospers. Old club withers.
5> New club falters. Old club re-invents itself
6> Both settle into routine
7> Newcomer joins one of them and suggests changes to the club
Anyone up on their local remember that story?
This has all happened before, but we didn’t have TwitterBook and the Interweb to gripe about it.
Of course, the resolution is straightforward, but no club would ever dream of adopting the following three simple rules that would resolve this:
1> Allow newcomers to run with any new idea on a limited trial basis to assess viability
2> Appoint an officer to concentrate on newcomers & inter-club relationships
3> Ensure that those who have fallen out with local clubs are kept away from key policy-making
Same time in 20 years, everyone?
As “Old Timer” says “Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.”
While social media and the internet in general mean we can “gripe” more easily, they also provide way for far more flexible and dynamic ways of running groups. Essex-Ham’s portable operating sessions are a great example of this. With no more organising required than someone tweeting “Shall we go out /P this weekend” things happen. Obviously some types of activity do require forward planning, but again social media and emails make these things easier. It does seem rare to see established or traditional clubs embracing such dynamic ways of organising things, instead viewing the internet as a “write only” way of communicating club news and committee decisions to their members.
M0MMB.
I have been operating only own for the last 2 and a half years (HF and DMR).
This is due to the crippling amount of politics and back biting in local ham radio.
I really wish there was a local organisation for like minded hams who aren’t interested in arguing, rumour spreading and lying profusely.
I would like to see more hams using their voices for operating rather than for spoiling the hobby.
Am i right in saying that to define a “club” you have to appoint a committee, maybe its time to change the rules?!
73 M0MMB
“I really wish there was a local organisation for like minded hams who aren’t interested in arguing, rumour spreading and lying profusely.” Well you’re already in the right place :-)
PeterO
G0DZB
PeterO> IMHO, established clubs are there for one reason -> To serve their existing membership. A committee sits to decide through the Chair how best to serve the members. Therefore anything new is off-topic and out-of-order. The longer that view persists within a club, the more resistant to change they become. Sorry to say that if often takes a falling-out to break the status quo. Twas ever thus.
M0MMB> You don’t need to be a part of a club to enjoy amateur radio. Some of my best days have been with a small group of friends just getting together when the mood and the WX is right. No club. No politics. Just radio. As for the rules, IIIC, you only need to become a club if you want RSGB accredidation – totally optional. Anyone can form a club and even get a GX call without a committee and RSGB credentials. Even if you do go for RSGB status, how you operate is usually defined by a document called a Constitution, which is a document agreed by those setting up the club, not dictated by RSGB HQ. So, why not find some like-minded fellas and have some fun?
OT, not all clubs fit your description. Not all club chairman and committees are as dysfunctional as you imagine. But you don’t hear about the ones that actually avoid the explosions and run their clubs smoothly. It’s not “gossip worthy”.
For sure I’m generalising, hence the “IMHO” > I’m sure you were when you made your above comments on clubs.
Yes,I’m sure that there are some good clubs out there who quietly and efficiently run without incident or drama, but as we don’t hear much from them, would it be fair to assume they’re run by the same old faces for the same small group of members, doing the same old thing year-in, year-out?
” would it be fair to assume they’re run by the same old faces for the same small group of members, doing the same old thing year-in, year-out?” Do you always assume the worst of everyone you meet ? You must be almost impossible to work with.
I’ll take that as a Yes :;
Which just confirms my point !
And your earlier two negative generalisations confirm my point, so we both win. Draw?
Earlier negative generalisations ? What are you on about OT ?
If you feel it’s necessary to dissect this, I’m game. I commented that in my opinion, clubs primarily serve their members and they are resistant to change. I’m apparently impossible to work with for having that opinion.
Just because you may disagree with my opinion – was it necessary to get personal and assume I’m overly negative and a problem to work with? Were those remarks on-topic, necessary or helpful?
From your posts: “New clubs formed because of members falling out with each other”, “Rare that traditional clubs embrace dynamic comms”, “running the same set of activities year in year out”? Can you not see that your generalisations could also be construed as negative?
73 OM
Those are not “negative generalisations”. They are facts. You are the one that thinks that clubs that don’t explode are ” run by the same old faces for the same small group of members, doing the same old thing year-in, year-out?” My point has been that they are the ones that embrace change to bring in new members to avoid the explosions that get gossiped about. You’ve managed to totally twist my examples to support your negative outlook on everything. And since we don’t know who you are it’s hard to work out what particular axe you are trying to grind.
Once again OM, you’re trying to make this personal and questioning my motives. I’m trying to contribute to a debate about the state of the hobby, and you’re more interested in character assassination. Am I not entitled to post my opinion about clubs as part of a discussion on same, without having my integrity challenged?
I’ll try again. From my experience, most traditional clubs don’t always embrace newcomers. Others have observed same, and I geniunely don’t believe I’m alone in that opinion. If you disagree, and instead feel that the large percentage of traditional clubs are good at supporting newcomers, then we’ll have to agree to differ, and I’ll respect your opinion.
I did concede that there are good clubs out there, but I asked an open question as to whether the quieter clubs may be clubs with a less going on. For example, some of the clubs in Essex just meet socially to have a drink and watch videos. The question I was clumsily tring to ask, was could it be that this type of club runs without incident because it’s smaller and less complex than a bigger club running field days, classes and repeaters?
If you disagree – then let’s discuss civilly. I’d prefer not to get dragged into BR68 “remarks of a personal nature”
FWIW there’s nothing wrong with that BTW > raised in the context of the OP’s comments about the need for innovation and evolution
Like M0MMB I’m done with clubs.Boring talks by the same old faces,people whispering in corners,badges,re-cycled toot as raffle prices.If your lucky a few outings but for the usual crowd.And you have to pay for the privelege.
Essex ham is the only thing I’m in these days cos they tell me whats going on and have lots of news.Apart from foundation who needs clubs these days??
Thanks for the spelling mistake on my name ^^
Club 23 for 2016 is on its way thanks for the the nudge.
Whoops. Apologies – now fixed. And thanks for starting an interesting debate
Details of a proposed new national alternative online club have been released by Mitchell 2E0EMO – See his post in our forum: https://www.essexham.co.uk/essex-ham-chat/calling-all-amateurs-geeks-nerds-young-people-hackspacers-and-anyone-else
The days of one ham = one club are long gone. More clubs means more choice so you can shop around and attend events you’re interested in, so the more new clubs the better.
Sites like this make it easy to find out what’s going on. More power to Essex Ham’s elbow for connecting the clubs and hams.
John
Thanks for the kind words John. There’s lots of clubs in Essex, and it’s our aim to make it easy for people to connect and find out what’s going on in the area,.
Hi. Christopher fancett. Thankyou. Send. Email. To. Me. I am. On. 145.725. I. Will. Be. On. 145.725. To. Day. From. Christopher fancett. G20831
Thanks for the message Christopher. Our net is on Monday Night at 8pm if you want to listen on 145.725. All the best, Pete
Here we go again running off to these types of forums some not wishing to make it known who they are so hide behind a username how about these things are spoke about out in the open on the air say two meters and give the band for one the much needed activity it needs even if it is only a debate on the band it is much need activity on the bands alot of it I find seems to be more about clashes of intelligence on various subjects in the hobby instead of pooling resources and helping each other out I have seen many leave this hobby and sell up over this type of thing & Peter M0PSX has done loads too try and keep it all together even i don’t always agree with him but in the main he is on the right track and has gone over & above what most are prepared to do to keep this hobby going so come on get real get off here and on the bands so at best we don’t sit in silence listening to white noise and empty bands and keep wondering what went wrong WHAT WENT WRONG IS NOT GETTING ON AIR
Hi David,
Great idea. Set a time and a frequency, and let’s see if we can get a debate going. If you come up with a time and place, I’ll use Essex Ham’s social media to promote it. Perhaps it could become a regular thing, to keep some activity on 2m. Let me know and I’ll do all I can to support this idea.
Pete M0PSX
It does not need to be a set time and frequency like the monday night net to be honest alot of amateurs only ever go on 2m of a monday night for the net never hear them any other time whats needed is people finding more time to get on air they seem to find the time for your net or an event without it being a problem if your busy then maybe just go on quick on your daily commute to work and back take your handie with you don’t hear many mobiles these days either a quick qso when in the car on route to somewhere talk about your latest projects on the bands with others and share idea’s this is what the hobby is about not just once a week on the monday night net it all adds to more activity on the bands newcomers hearing empty bands is not a great advert for the hobby it could be so much better just by doing simple things like this
Understood, but if you want to get a group of people on-air to talk through some of the ideas that have been discussed here, you need to set a time and tell people to be there.
The reason we’re able to get 20 people together on a Monday Night is because everyone knows when it’s on, and people set aside the time to join or listen. Dorothy’s able to get activity for the YL net, the Leicston contest gets some activity locally, and there are a few clubs nets in Essex that get some activity too. What do they all have in common? They’re at a fixed time on a fixed frequency, so people know where to find them.
Setting a time does seem to be the best way to get groups of people together on-air, and it will help to make the bands busier. So, if you want to get people to discuss some of the issues, and get them off the websites, pick a time and frequency, let Essex Ham promote it, and we’ll get some buzz!
A set time & frequency I suppose is needed to discuss ideas from here I will let you know on that one very soon
What i am trying to say is a little more effort put in and people could manage a little more time out of there day to go on air which in turn adds more activity to the bands I made a few suggestions how this can be done on last post
Great. Very happy to tell our 900 Twitter followers and 600 Facebook followers, plus mention it on the Monday Night Net. Be great to get more activity on locally, so 100% behind this. Pete
Ok got it I guess GB3DA is the best place to hold it give more of a chance to reach more people & if you could stream it as you do with your net Pete it would cover a bigger area I will run it simular to your monday night net
I will call it the Have your say on da net
A subject (or if we get through it quick another one will be put up for discussion) & will go out on the net
It will not be having a moan subjects every week it will also be on subjects like helping with advice on getting on new modes etc and i will go through the list of callsigns in the order they are called in onto the net as you do with your net if when it is there turn they have nothing to add they say no comment & it is passed to the next one on the list I ‘m hoping it will be popular and get amateurs off forums and on the radio with there points of view i suggest stations take notes as when it is there turn they can refer to there notes when making there comment as there turn could take time to come around if it is a large net
I will run this net wednesday nights at 8pm GB3DA first net starts this coming wednesday the 28th september 2016
I would also like to ask for a someone to stand in for me as well so if i can’t for any reason be able to host the net that night it can still go ahead
David M1ECC
I believe Medway RAYNET use DA from 8:30pm on some Wednesday nights – You may need to check http://www.medwayraynet.org to see which weeks they use it
Ok is it free Thursdays pete if so i will change it to Thursdays
Going to email ERG it is looking like Thursdays will be clear for the net so I will give a start date when i get the ok from ERG
OK. Just let me know when, and I’ll send out some comms.
Thanks Pete will do
Sounds very exciting , a new net starting , good luck David I’m sure it will do well , put it about on Facebook too and I will share it as well, keep us posted with dates and times, I may not have anything of interest to say on matters , but I will listen in xx best wishes xx
Thanks Dorothy hoping most will join in with there 2p worth so we can get to the bottom of why people don’t go on the radio unless it’s a net or special event station the bands never used to be this dead there is enough amateurs out there for it to be busy people just don’t make enough effort to get on air loads of subjects to cover each week even how to get setup on different modes and the best ways of going about it helping new amateurs with good sound advice so they don’t lose interest & can explore more in the hobby I will host the net but people need to come on every week & have there say of what they would like to happen in a mature way for the net to work it’s there net to say what they want to get out of the hobby
For me , its shyness , a net , is a reason to go on 2m for me, same with when I’m on a SES as it’s like a mask? I’m on for a reason not just M0LMR calling out , a YL , not technical so why would anyone want to to to me randomly for ? But on Nets and SES i have a purpose a reason to be keying up. As we possibly all feel and have said , if we hear people on, we listen but rarely join in with them, is it because we don’t want to interrupt their conversation , or because we too shy ? ” No one would want to talk to me ” syndrome, I’m as bad . ..anyway just thought I’d say xx best wishes and wishing you well for the new net xx
If we say this is true and it is shyness to go on air then I don’t get it as to my mind why do they bother with doing the courses and exams buying radios which may i add are not cheap just to listen they could save all the time and money spent getting callsign and just do the hobby as an swl this is a hobby that the more you put into it more you get out of it in whatever mode you decide to use i just personally think some are just not making enough effort to get on the radio
Ok so I have an ok from Erg for the net on thursday evenings now do I set myself up for it & commit my free time to a net every week & put my life on hold form anything else I could be doing on a thursday night guess the question I need to ask myself now is how passionate am I about amateur radio am I willing to take whats thrown at me good or bad as a result of doing such a task of a net I will think on this for a few days
Also how many would like to see another net on 2m ?
Hi David,
For what it’s worth, I’ve been running a weekly 2m Net for nearly 5 years. Yes, I could have been doing other things on Monday Nights, and yes, sometimes it clashes with other activities, but I’ve stuck with it, and because of that, we have a busy and popular net. I’ve also had to tolerate problems – emails from ‘stirrers’, grief from keyers & jammers, and I’ve witnessed a fairly unpleasant campaign against some Net regulars, that resulted in the need for a disclaimer.
On the upside, friendships have been made because of our net (and other nets). The nets have helped newcomers to gain confidence, and of course we now have Dorothy’s YL net, which is fulfilling a need. What’s great about a net is that you never know where the net will take you, and what new events and ideas will be started as a result of discussion on air.
Yes, there have been a couple of times when I’ve thought about jacking it in, but I believe there’s a need for nets on-air to keep the bands active, and I think it’s important for there to be a focal point for newcomers to come along and chat together. I also still enjoy doing them, after nearly 5 years.
Obviously, it’s your idea, and it’s also entirely your choice. There’s always the option to stop doing it, and also to get some of your friends to run it if you need a week off.
Pete
Thanks pete I already know sometimes these things are a thankless task but also can be the opposite and be very enjoyable I would like it to be for everyone regardless of how they see me for amateurs to put there differences aside come on and enjoy subjects spoken about on the net & add there help friendly advice & 2p worth I am just there to see it all runs smoothly many things go un said in this hobby that should be out in the open and said but hopefully it will be done well & hopefully get people into the i’m going on the radio mood again