[WARC] ARRL Letter --- THE LOCAL CLUB RESOURCE

[Len Litvan]

The following info is from the August 21, 2009 ARRL Letter.... Sound =

familiar???

73,
Len  KC0RSX

=3D=3D> THE LOCAL CLUB RESOURCE =


Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, shares his views on how clubs play an important role
in Amateur Radio. Fusaro is Assistant Manager of the ARRL's Membership
and Volunteer Programs Department. He is also the ARRL Affiliated
Club/Mentor Program Supervisor.

I am very fortunate to be in a position at ARRL which allows me
significant interaction with our members. It is very fulfilling to be
able to put a smile on someone's face by helping them find a solution to
their problem, regardless of the complexity. Sometimes it is not
possible to be as helpful over the telephone or with e-mail, so I will
try to direct the individual to a local club where they may be able to
get some side-by-side coaching. The local radio club is without a doubt
the place where most of us received our ham radio education. The club is
where we learned the jargon and techno-speak used on the air and where
we met folks to emulate and folks whom we swore we would never be like.
Everything that we know about ham radio that didn't come from a book was
probably learned at club meetings or late night Field Day chats over
burnt coffee. Personally, I have made many longtime friendships from my
involvement in local radio clubs and I am sure many others can say this
as well.

Clubs, by definition, are groups of like-minded people who share a
common interest. In reality a club is an eclectic assembly of
individuals, each with a unique perspective of their activity. The
dynamic of a club is no different than that of a large family. Think of
your last family get-together and then take a look at your radio club.
If everybody was the same, life would be very boring. In every club,
there is the usual cast of characters who add their distinctive flavors
to the stew and make things interesting. It is diversity that makes a
club work well. I have seen that no matter how varied the personalities
are in a club, most of these personalities are also eager to help.
Helping each other is characteristic of radio amateurs.

How often have you experienced something like this? Two hams will be in
QSO -- perhaps discussing an antenna installation or radio repair --
when another radio operator will break in with a helpful suggestion.
This situation may have happened to you, or you may have even been the
breaking station. The same thing happens (or should happen) at club
meetings. If you need help with something, the closest resource is your
local club. On the surface, the club may appear to be dysfunctional, but
once you are involved, you will find that it is actually very
productive. =


The Pareto principle, commonly known as the 80-20 rule is a simple
expression that 80 percent of the effects come from 20 percent of the
causes. As applied in the business world, this would be 80 percent of
the sales are driven by 20 percent of the customers. In a club, the
percentages may be slightly different, but the fact remains that a small
percentage of the membership is responsible for making things happen.

This is not to suggest that 80 percent of the members do not
participate, but without a "sparkplug," some things would never get
started. These people are the doers. The doers don't take no for an
answer and are always willing to take on more responsibility. But where
is the fun in jump-starting a project without someone telling you it
would never work? Of course, it would be much more fun without the
negative comments, but that goes against human nature. Ever since man
tried to open a coconut with a rock, someone was right beside him
offering a thousand excuses why it won't work: "You'll smash your
thumb." "The rock will break." "You should invent a wheel and roll it
over the coconut." "Let's just eat the bananas." The cynics of the world
are an essential part of society -- and of our clubs. They challenge us
and make us work harder to prove them wrong. Learn to accept these
people but never let them distract you from moving forward.

You only get as much from a club as you put into it. A majority of the
club bashers tend to be long time hams with a "been there, done that"
attitude, asking what a club has to offer them for them. To borrow from
President John F. Kennedy, "ask what you can do for your club." Of
course, we took more than we had to offer when we were younger and
inexperienced. But over the years, we have gathered knowledge that we
can share with the newcomers. Based upon my countless interactions with
hams of all levels of experience, the novice has much to offer the
old-timer, even if it is just reliving the joy of discovery. The local
radio club has something for everybody who is willing to get involved.

Don't know where you local club is? Use the ARRL Affiliated Club search
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/clubsearch.phtml>. You can reach
Fusaro by e-mail <w3iz at arrl.org>.

-------------- next part --------------
Skipped content of type multipart/alternative