I couldn't agree with you more, Ron!

This is the message I keep stressing to our local club and our local
ARES/RACES group.

Many clubs and ARES/RACES groups are struggling.

We need to give people reasons for joining and remaining active, and yes, we
also need to step up and be true Elmers as well.

We all know it can be done.  I'm sure many of us are where we are in ham
radio today because of the Elmering and encouragement we received as we
learned the ropes of the hobby.

Tom Behler: KB8TYJ

-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Dr. Ronald E. Milliman
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 11:36 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Are we placing emphasis on the wrong objective?

As a follow-up to my previous message regarding the number of hams in this
country, and possibly the world, who earn their licenses but never become
active, at least not on the HF bands, I think the reason is that emphasis
has been placed on the wrong objective for which I largely blame the ARRL.
What I mean is we always refer to the number of hams, the number of new
hams, and our clubs take great pride in the number of people who take their
classes and pass the ham exams. It is like the objective is on the number of
hams that pass the ham license exams. This is placing emphasis on entirely
the wrong objective. The objective should be on the number of active hams.
It reminds me of when I was engaged in sales and taught sales at the
university, I never placed the emphasis on the number of sales. I placed the
focus on the number of satisfied users of the products and services the
customers purchased. We sell products and services to satisfy wants and
needs of our customers. It makes no difference if the customer purchases the
latest and greatest multi-media wireless widget if it never gets used. 

The same idea applies to ham radio and the number of people we sell on
getting their ham tickets. It is good that we make the sale, but it is even
better if the people we sell on being a ham become active, purchase ham
gear, and use our repeaters and the many bands and frequencies fought to get
and maintain. Our repeaters are mostly dead, and our HF bands are mostly
empty, unless there is a contest which seems to bring out all of the active
hams in existence, making it seem like there are lots and lots of amateur
radio ops slipping out of every corner of the globe. However, even though
this might seem like a lot of hams, and it is, the number is still far short
of the total number of licensed hams. 

We need to emphasize the many aspects of ham radio and encourage those who
pass their ham license exams to get actively involved with one or more of
those exciting and fun parts of our hobby, rag chewing, chasing DX,
contesting, emergency preparedness, antenna and/or equipment building,
satellite or moon bounce communications, participating in ham club
activities, and the list is almost endless. There are numerous videos
available from the ARRL and other sources that show these many aspects of
ham radio and how fun and rewarding they can be. We need to emphasize the
rewarding parts of being an active amateur radio op and step up and seek to
be Elmer's to our new hams, helping them not only to get their ham licenses,
but to be active hams to get the most out of obtaining their ham tickets and
progressing up the ladder from Tech, to General, and maybe even all the way
up to Extra class. 

Ron, K8HSY