Tom and Richard,
i believe that most ham clubs are like my local one.  I'm in my late 
sixties and one of the younger members!!  We have one or two 
exceptional, in shape older hams who still do some antenna work, but 
many of the others would frighten me to send up on the roof or up a 
tower!!  Fifteen years ago many of these same hams helped me with 
installation of a sixty foot tower.  I was confident with them and 
they with me.  We moved last summer and when I install the new 
antenna it will be a wire.  It's just gotten too hard to get local 
talent to do serious antenna work and if you go commercial, the costs 
are prohibitive and my guess is that many of the pros won't have a 
clue about ham antennaes.
Kind of bleak and I'm sorry but I'm afraid that is about how it is.
Pat, K9JAUAt 05:03 PM 4/29/2009, you wrote:
>    Richard:
>
>I'm sorry to hear of your bummer experience.
>
>I'm actually facing a similar situation and need for help here, but this
>situation involves getting someone to climb up my 35-foot tower, and take a
>look at my KLM beam that seems intent on collecting water during wet
>weather.
>
>Obviously, something has come loose or gotten out of adjustment  up there,
>and I really don't think it'd be too big of a job if I can get someone to
>come over here and take a day to help.
>
>I might have one guy lined up, but whether he comes through remains to be
>seen.
>
>Will keep everyone posted.
>
>
>One thing to keep in mind that always works in terms of showing appreciation
>is food for your antenna crew.
>
>We hams really appreciate food of all sorts, but please, keep any alcoholic
>beverages at bay until after the antenna work is over!  (grin)
>
>73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Richard Fiorello" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 11:09 AM
>Subject: adventures of a local radio club
>
>
>Hello;
>I have to share a bit of this and perhaps vent a little.  Feel free to =
>hit delete.  I have been chatting with my local radio club that meets =
>within walking distance for nine months of the year.  They came over =
>last fall looked my happy home over opened an antenna box and rummaged a =
>bit and said they would be in touch.  At the time we had the "best =
>antennas go up in winter" chat.  Come winter we decided it was to cold =
>and they opted to wait till spring.  Now that it hit 80 here for a day I =
>talked with the president a bit last meeting.  I got a call from one of =
>the officers the other day on my voice mail.  I made the mistake of =
>getting a bit excited and ready to get going.  I called this trusty =
>officer back and discovered he primarily wanted to put me in touch with =
>arrl to get the local power authority to move my neighbors power lines.  =
>I had decided long ago that I was reluctant to get into that battle.  I =
>was also told that if the vertical I am considering is on the roof of my =
>one story house the power lines are no longer an issue.  The original =
>intent was a ground mount.
>The bottom line was that I was informed that if I am planning on putting =
>the antenna on the roof of this single story home I should have it =
>professionally installed.  The obvious next question was where do I find =
>these professional installers and he had no idea.
>If some of you have the good fortune to have some eager willing to help =
>local hams, take time to show them your appreciation.
>Richard