<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> made an utterance to the qrplist gang ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Jeff Davis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> made an utterance to the qrplist gang > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > An idea has been kicking around my old cranium for some time. It still > hasn't fully formed, but it's far enough long that I wanted to put it > out "there" and solicit some thoughtful feedback. In some coherent > form, I'd like to send it along to the ARRL for > consideration. Maybe something might come of it. Or maybe not. > > It seems that despite the best intent of individuals and the ARRL, > youngsters are staying away from ham radio by the millions. While > there are notable exceptions, for most young folks ham radio is about > as exciting as watching their hair grow. There are near constant > efforts to make it more "exciting" for the younger crowd, but I > really think that you'd be pulling one of your own lower appendages if > you think this has been even moderately successful. > > If there is a problem here, it's that amateur radio is just not as > enticing to young folks as it perhaps once was, and therefore it is > becoming a hobby without a future. If no new folks join us, in 30 > years we will go the way of the dinosaur. > > So here's my idea. > > Let's say that the ARRL (and others) re-direct these efforts on > growing the ranks of amateur radio by specifically appealing to the > aging baby-boomers ... the 48 to 65 crowd. Here is the hook as I see > it ... > > Soon to be retiring boomers (and there are a LOT of them) are going to > be bored out of their gourds when they retire. They need a hobby and > the more challenging the better. They have money, so buying new > equipment isn't such a big deal as it would be for, say a newly > licensed 14 year-old. Having disposable income is a good thing as the > ARRL will be able to solicit the help of equipment manufacturers in an > all out advertising campaign to attract this targeted group. > > A high percentage of the boomers are well-educated and getting a fresh > injection of enthusiastic, well-educated new hams with some financial > means and plenty of free time on their hands might do our hobby a > world of good. On top of that, this group votes ... if > 100,000 baby-boomers joined the amateur radio ranks our political > capital increases by an order of magnitude in Washington. > > I figure that the ARRL could partner with AARP and other such > organizations to get the word out - they might even come up with some > plan to offer a joint discount - AARP members get 20% off ARRL > memberships, etc. > > One benefit seldom mentioned it that there may be important health > benefits for these folks to get involved with amateur radio. Just > maintaining regular QSOs with others is a social activity that is good > for the soul and the brain. For all we know right now, operating CW, > building kits, learning radio theory, etc. probably helps combat > dementia and Alzheimer's disease. If you read any information from the > national Alzheimer's organization you will find that their > studies show the importance of keeping the brain active as we age. > > In a nutshell, ham radio is a great hobby, but let's face it, it's an > old man's hobby. What's wrong with that? I have nothing against old > men. I've been licensed since I was in high school but between > college and marriage and starting a family my amateur activities > ground to a halt. From what I can tell, that's pretty typical for us > all. As I got older and the kids were growing up or moving out, I > began to have more time for the hobby again. > > I have nothing against trying to interest youngsters in amateur radio > but the effort is not without cost. I see no reason for the ARRL to > spend a great deal of time, effort and dollars on gaining just a few > new adherents, when they could expend the same energy and dollars and > gain a whole lot more. That's just called efficiency. > > Oh, and there is one other benefit to targeting older folks ... we are > older. I have to believe that it's MUCH easier for a 55 year-old to > tell another 55 year-old about the hobby, and make a positive > impression, than it is for that same 55 year-old to try and explain it > to a 16 year-old. We relate best to those who are like us. That's my > theory anyway. :-) > > So having put all that drivel into writing, I'd be interested in your > thoughts, if have any. > > -- > Jeff, KE9V > >
Hey Jeff and the gang; If I told you that your idea was both good and not original, I hope you'll understand. About ten years or so ago at 3am during Dayton weekend, Doug Hendricks remarked to Chuck Adams and myself just how stupid it was to seek out youngsters when the disposable income and desire was with the middle aged among us. He said that was the key to Norcal's growth, as that group was specifically to whom he aimed his efforts. He also said the ARRL was very curious about why all of a sudden, or so it seemed, the qrp community was vibrant and was growing by record numbers. Doug claimed that he was candid with the league folks, but I am sure they found it too odd to believe. Certainly since then they have NOT acted as if Doug told them anything of value. Sad really. And for my money I will be willing to bet against your idea(s) having any ability to serve as something to sway the hearts and minds of our league. Vy 72; Bob w9ya ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Submissions: [email protected] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - unsubscribe qrplist in body Hopelessly Lost: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - help in body of message Zerobeat Web Page: http://www.zerobeat.net - sponsored by www.tlchost.net ----------------------------------------------------------------------
