Michael,
I normally would just delete messages such as what you posted because honestly although you are entitled to your opinion, you have made some statements that are not entirely correct and certainly are at the very least a little questionable. First I did download the Extra lecture for free as soon as I signed up. I just joined Handiham after a long break and I found Pat just as helpful now as he was all those years ago. As far as a jerk getting a license, well hey there is no requirement that you cannot be a jerk and hold a ticket. I could refer to my experience with a number of individuals who were incredible LIDs on the 2M band and I was so happy to have upgraded and gained HF privileges . I do not see how Handiham can be held accountable because someone choses to behave in such a way.
I feel my membership was valuable as I know I can get help or access to materials which will help me upgrade.
On Dec 26, 2011, at 1:00 PM, Mike Keithley wrote:
> I beg to disagree. If it were not for Handihams, I wouldn't have the help and friends that I do. And their audio lectures are very FB to me.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Michael Thurman <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Friday, Dec 16, 2011 10:47:31
> Subject: Re: helpers needed
>
>>
>>
>> hanihams is a total joke they are useless for anything except a =
>> discount for buying study materials they dont even give you the free =
>> audio lecture series for download anymore as a member no wonder they =
>> are so hard up for membership! handihams is completely irrelevant to =
>> anyone that has an extra class license,a s even their op skills classes =
>> are pathetic beginner junk last time I looekd into it not only have I =
>> droped them years ago, but my radio club no longer supports them based =
>> on a jerk they GAVE a license to and I say gave I mean gave this jerk =
>> is a general and he doens't knwo which end of the radio to talk into he =
>> wanted to know why he couldn't use his mag mount he uses on 2 meters to =
>> talk on hf he wipe sou tnets transmits on top of skywarn nets during =
>> tornado warnings ect total worthless crap his callsign is ki4ren and =
>> that's what handihams is turnng out for licensees now apparently =
>> someone who so oviously has NO CLUE couldn't have passed the test unless =
>> he was given LOTS of help and probably givent he answers how reliable =
>> are the ve people there there whent he handiham members pay over a =
>> grand to go to that camp and that's just to handihams NOT their =
>> transportation costs.. sounds like buying a license to me
>> I remember when handihams used to be a worthwile organization and used =
>> to provide real help. I remember when i didn't have a rig I couldn't get =
>> to use anything formthem yet they always talk abotu the radio loan =
>> program it was nonexistant for me when I needed it
>>
>> On Dec 16, 2011, at 11:15 AM, Richard Fiorello wrote:
>>
>>> Hi;
>>> Just so folks don't feel alone, moved to this house four years ago.=20
>>> That spring got in contact with most radio clubs and said I would love=20=
>>
>>> help with a vertical or dipole. Didn't get much reply. Took a cab to=20=
>>
>>> one of the larger clubs and the president drove me home and said to =
>> his=20
>>> friends that he would catch up with them for coffee after he dropped =
>> me=20
>>> off. Wondered why I wasn't invited to the party. He also suggested=20=
>>
>>> that there was a club much closer to my home that I should check out.=20=
>>
>>> Would that have happened to a new potential non disabled member?
>>> Checked out the closer club and they did help me put up a hf9v in =
>> 2010.=20
>>> They were going to stop back and finish the job. 18 months later=20
>>> nothing and I keep going to meetings and they keep saying one of these=20=
>>
>>> days. Initially the antenna had to come down to be re-tuned. It=20
>>> resonates quite nicely on 27 MHz. There were three people working on=20=
>>
>>> the job, one had never touched an antenna in her life, on was also new=20=
>>
>>> and one was the president who is a ve but has no home station.
>>> As for arr, back in the 1980s there was a local ham store that would =
>> put=20
>>> up antennas for a price. It was wonderful, no need to beg.=20
>>> Unfortunately I had unbelievable tvi problems. One neighbor =
>> threatened=20
>>> legal action. I contacted arrl and asked if they had anyone in the =
>> area=20
>>> who might help put up something less likely to interfere. They sent=20=
>>
>>> over a wonderful guy that actually worked with my dad 20 years ago =
>> only=20
>>> problem was he was in his 80s. Thinking back he could have taught me =
>> a=20
>>> lot even if nobody climbed.
>>> Contacted arrl again when I moved to this qth in 2008 and got a reply=20=
>>
>>> that the person in charge of this area knew just where I lived because=20=
>>
>>> he had grandparents in the area. Sounded very hopeful but that was =
>> the=20
>>> last I heard.
>>> I guess my conclusion after rambling is if there is a competent-ant =
>> ham!=20
>>> store in the area who will do antenna work its worth every penny. =
>> Club=20
>>> folks, especially older ones might be very helpful in advising what to=20=
>>
>>> put up. I went through two miniquads each lasted about a year. Then=20=
>>
>>> there were my adventures with the r8. Durable is just as important as=20=
>>
>>> performance.
>>> Also finding eager helpers is an art. Some folks seem to be very good=20=
>>
>>> at and others such as yours truly are hopeless. Maybe handihams =
>> should=20
>>> teach a course in how best to talk your club into helping? They have=20=
>>
>>> suggested lots of food and beer and make sure you have every =
>> imaginable=20
>>> part but I think there may be more to it.
>>> --=20
>>> richard
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