Central Division

Indiana Section

"INDIANA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB WORKSHOP"

In the Spring of 2000, (35) Indiana Amateur Radio club representatives attended a half day workshop at the University of Indianapolis. Their goal was to improve Ham club participation and membership and to share this information with all Amateur Radio Clubs.

Here is a summary of that WORKSHOP:

• Date: Sat.25mar2000
• Attendance: (35); (15) Indiana counties represented.
• Agenda:
  09:00-09:15AM Introduction & welcome (coffee & snacks)
  09:15-09:45 Outlined procedures of the workshop and introduce the topic of "Where have the Hams gone"
  09:45-10:00 Short break ...
  10:00-10:45 Group break out to discuss and make notes outlined material.
  10:45-11:00 short break & picture session.
  11:00-12:00 Entire group reviews all small group work on presented material with the results placed on a chalkboard....(outline follows)
• 12:00- Lunch was held off site for all to attend. (all workshop attendees participated!)FOOD & FUN

What are some of the indications that we are loosing membership/ Participation?: (reasons identified by group discussions)...Lack of attendance at meetings, hamfests & field day events...Lack of activity on .Repeaters...no new Hams.....( numbers dropping)

How do club members or individuals get info on HAM happenings?: .Internet....Club news letters...Magazines..word of mouth. (radio or at coffee)

Why...Ham Numbers have declined?: Cellphone...Internet...VCR & TV...General Lack of interest or initiative. Other activities(family etc)...Both parents working or busy...ham club meeting too business like in content...Meetings are debates and not interesting..Liability too high... no fault or Its not my fault something didn't get done...Lack of mentors...no encouragement in general.

What Hoosier Ham clubs can do to improve on membership and activities?:

• Improve meeting places and include "food".
• Have more Banquets and awards locally.
• Create more club activities and include young people.
• Have club family memberships.
• Make individual club handout pamphlets to increase public awareness of ham radio.
• For Field Day; Use large Banners, Advertise.. ; include great "food ". Also have club handouts.
• Have a goal and set plans to make Field day enjoyable.
• Focus on member APPRECIATION , Encourage hams more often..Use AWARDS often.
• Club Resources: Speakers at meetings...use Older hams to be mentors and speakers on special interest topics....Interactive club participation with other surrounding clubs...
• Reduce club meeting "debate factors" and have less business in your meetings. Club executive board can resolve major issues and bring resolutions to general membership..focus on great meeting programs!
• Cross-pollinate interest groups between surrounding clubs...(share the interest in your group with other groups) Have interactive club meetings with surrounding ham clubs.
• Create a follow up procedure for your club ..Use answer machine...locate missing members... announce on weekly nets your email address or answer machine number.
• Create new club projects...special event stations...Challenge your members with new technology..
• Use technology to help your club initiatives ....focus on Communications within your club.
• Develop good mentor programs for young people. Encourage the older hams to share their expertise in all areas of ham radio like Weather spotting & during career days.
• Develop a scholarship project within your club.

• Do more workshops in the state.(perhaps on specific item or items)
• Create a List serve info network of all clubs wishing to share in solving these problems.
• Establish a website to share resources of all Indiana Ham clubs.
• Also noted that HAMS like to TALK and they enjoy FOOD!.

Share all the ideas you can with other clubs, be interactive with these groups....Make all club activities "FUN" and include "food"...

by;Jack,W8ISH; Eric,K9ZX & Chuck,W9IH.