<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Verdana;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Consolas;
panose-1:2 11 6 9 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
code
{mso-style-priority:99;
font-family:"Courier New";}
pre
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"HTML Preformatted Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";}
tt
{mso-style-priority:99;
font-family:"Courier New";}
span.HTMLPreformattedChar
{mso-style-name:"HTML Preformatted Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"HTML Preformatted";
font-family:Consolas;}
p.attach, li.attach, div.attach
{mso-style-name:attach;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";}
p.bold, li.bold, div.bold
{mso-style-name:bold;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
font-weight:bold;}
p.green, li.green, div.green
{mso-style-name:green;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
color:#628C2A;}
p.replbq, li.replbq, div.replbq
{mso-style-name:replbq;
margin:3.0pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
p.ad, li.ad, div.ad
{mso-style-name:ad;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
p.underline, li.underline, div.underline
{mso-style-name:underline;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
span.yshortcuts
{mso-style-name:yshortcuts;}
p.ad1, li.ad1, div.ad1
{mso-style-name:ad1;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
p.ad2, li.ad2, div.ad2
{mso-style-name:ad2;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:7.5pt;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
p.underline1, li.underline1, div.underline1
{mso-style-name:underline1;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
text-decoration:underline;}
span.yshortcuts1
{mso-style-name:yshortcuts1;
font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
font-weight:bold;}
span.yshortcuts2
{mso-style-name:yshortcuts2;
font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
font-weight:normal;}
span.EmailStyle34
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:921639678;
mso-list-template-ids:1541416788;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hey George,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I tried bringing up the email you posted on Thursday before the meeting but unfortunately no one picked up on it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Ren<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> LakelandARC@yahoogroups.com [mailto:LakelandARC@yahoogroups.com] <br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, January 18, 2015 4:35 AM<br><b>To:</b> LakelandARC@yahoogroups.com<br><b>Subject:</b> [LakelandARC] Tips and Tonics for Healthier Radio Clubs<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><div id=ygrp-mlmsg><div id=ygrp-msg><div id=ygrp-text><p><br><br><br>Successful radio clubs are a joy to experience.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Easy to spot,<br>they are usually populated by<br>enthusiastic, gun-ho members<br>who are involved with a full agenda<br>of interesting things.<o:p></o:p></p><p>They are generally at the center of<br> most Amateur Radio activities in<br>town. <br><br>Healthy radio clubs are vitally important to the future of Amateur Radio.<o:p></o:p></p><p>It is the club that often provides the motivation and support for such<br>fundamental activities as recruiting new hams, sponsoring radio classes and<br>doing volunteer testing. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Clubs are often the best organizers and financiers of<br>expensive repeater systems, ham-fests and emergency communication<br>programs, as well. <br><br>What makes a radio club successful?<o:p></o:p></p><p><o:p> </o:p></p><p>What secrets enable them to keep<br>adding members, providing interesting activities and offering interesting<br>programs?<br><br>Have Fun!<o:p></o:p></p><p><o:p> </o:p></p><p>Most of us enjoy Amateur Radio because<br>it's fun. <o:p></o:p></p><p>We use it to escape from work<br>and stress, and as long as it fills that<br>need, we return to it again and again. <o:p></o:p></p><p>So the first sign of great radio club is that it<br>is a fun place for hams to go.<o:p></o:p></p><p>If it is fun, they will come, but if club meetings<br>are long, boring and serious, seldom<br>creating a chuckle among the members,<br>the future is dark.<o:p></o:p></p><p>If, however, the business<o:p></o:p></p><p>meetings are kept short and to the point with<o:p></o:p></p><p>plenty of light-hearten<br>and fun things on the program, and<br>there is a warm welcome waiting, members<o:p></o:p></p><p>(and visitors) will enjoy coming --<br>and they will return. <o:p></o:p></p><p>While clubs must conduct<o:p></o:p></p><p>some business during<br>meetings, most of the lengthy planning<br>and detail work can be done by its<br>board and officers. <br><br>Give 'Em What They Want<br><br>Good clubs have good programs. <o:p></o:p></p><p>The most popular<o:p></o:p></p><p>programs will meet the<br>needs and interests of the members, so<br>it pays to stay in touch with them.<br>How?<o:p></o:p></p><p>By listening. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Survey them, talk<br>with them and solicit feedback. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Ask members to list their favorite program topics and<o:p></o:p></p><p>invite ideas for guest<br>speakers and activities.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Ask what they do not want. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Have them evaluate and rate programs and speakers. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Check other clubs in the area for the names of good speakers.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Find out who in your own<br>club has a skill, talent or specialized<br>knowledge that would make a good program. <br><br>Tap the Talent<o:p></o:p></p><p><o:p> </o:p></p><p>Radio clubs are cooperatives. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Since they lack<o:p></o:p></p><p>employees or paid staff,<br>everything must be done by the members. <o:p></o:p></p><p>These volunteers are the brains<br>and brawn behind every club activity and are extremely important. <o:p></o:p></p><p>The ability of a club to tackle a wide variety of programs and projects depends <br>upon having enough volunteers.<o:p></o:p></p><p>If there is one sad theme heard again and<br>again in most clubs, it is this: "We don't have enough volunteers. <o:p></o:p></p><p>The same few people do all the work. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Those who don't pitch in should be pitched out."<br>Radio clubs must tap their talent pool.<o:p></o:p></p><p>A skills inventory is helpful in<br>identifying those with special talent or<br>training such as electronic engineers,<br>lawyers, writers, mechanics and so on.<br>New member applications can ask for<br>such information, and a periodic update of skills is helpful.<br>Getting enough volunteers is not just<br>a matter of shaming members into it.<br>Many members will step forward when<br>a need is announced, but others need to be asked. <o:p></o:p></p><p>The club's volunteer corps will remain strong if<br>it does a good job of recognizing them and making them stars of the organization. <o:p></o:p></p><p>After all, no paycheck is given for their labors, but a classy thing to do is to hand out a<br>sincere public "thank you" during a club meeting, followed by a written<br>acknowledgment in the Blog. <o:p></o:p></p><p>This simple application of human<br>motivation can work wonders.<o:p></o:p></p><p>The flip side is that if a club takes its<br>volunteers for granted and ignores recognition, this precious talent pool may<br>soon dry up. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Devote one meeting a year to presenting<br>awards and honoring those who serve.<o:p></o:p></p><p>How a club treats its volunteers influences<br>the rest of members, and from those<br>ranks can come even more honorees in the future. <br><br>Stay Active<br><br>Good clubs offer members a variety of activities.<o:p></o:p></p><p>The club meeting is no substitute for fun things like Field Day, fox hunts, emergency drills, social<br>nights, antenna parties and picnics. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Active clubs give their members many<br>opportunities to participate in interesting things.<br>Operating events, for example, allow many members to participate. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Field Day is a classic opportunity for fun and public service at the same time, and<br>special event stations can create enjoyable fellowship while promoting<br>Amateur Radio.<br><br>Staying active is a good growth tonic. <o:p></o:p></p><p>If the main action in your club is<br>drinking coffee, its future is doomed. <br><br><br>Use your Radio Communications<br><br>Having a club whose members possess personal radio communication<br>capabilities is a great asset. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Having an informal club net can promote<br>fellowship among members while allowing discussion of club activities<br>between regular meetings. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Special features can be included, such as ARRL<br>bulletins, a DX bulletin board, swap<br>and shop, group trouble-shooting of<br>technical problems or details on new equipment. <br><br>Promote Fellowship<o:p></o:p></p><p><o:p> </o:p></p><p>Radio clubs do a wonderful service by<br>helping individual hams meet others<br>and promote mutual help. <o:p></o:p></p><p>The tradition of Elmer's helping newcomers is often<br>the first opportunity that hams have to demonstrate fellowship.<br>Together, radio club members can do much more than any individual is able<br>to do.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Erecting antennas, helping with license exams, troubleshooting,<br>enjoying social events, sponsoring ham-fests, providing emergency<br>communications and many more activities are why radio clubs remain<br>popular. <br><br>Above all, healthy radio clubs are warm, inviting groups that make visitors<br>and newcomers feel welcome. <o:p></o:p></p><p>A greeting, handshake, a round of introductions<br>and getting people involved as quickly<br>as possible are sure signs of a club<br>whose future is bright. <br><br>Recruit New Members<o:p></o:p></p><p><o:p> </o:p></p><p>Clubs must recruit new members to insure their survival. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Members leave for various reasons, and without a plan to<br>replace them, clubs will stagnate.<br>Promotion is important. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Keeping the club name before the public and other<br>hams should be a continuing effort. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Use news releases regularly to announce<br>club meetings, Field Day, emergency dills, new officers and social events.<br>Invite newly licensed hams to your club meetings. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Have a membership drive<br>to encourage your current members to<br>recruit new ones. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Mail your newsletter<br>to area hams with a special invitation<br>to a future meeting, and put it on the<br>Internet or send it via e-mail.<br>Encourage members to bring guests.<br>Opportunities to promote membership<br>are limited only by a club's<br>imagination and resources. <br><br>In summary, there are numerous factors that determine the success and<br>longevity of radio clubs.<o:p></o:p></p><p>So use these tips for an examination of your club's<br>health, and here's hoping it is in good shape. <br><br>Radio Club Program Ideas<br><br>Have an auction. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Club members can bring<br>items, with a portion of proceeds going to<br>the club. <br><br>Go on a field trip.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Visit local radio or TV<br>stations, electronics firms or police<br>communications center.<br><br>Radio trivia game. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Ask questions relating<br>to radio, with prizes for most correct<br>answers.<br><br>Show and Tell. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Members bring items and<br>describe them.<br><br>Home-brew night.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Members bring a radio<br>construction project and describe it.<br><br>QSL night. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Cards are shown and stories<br>told relating to the contacts. <br><br>Equipment reviews. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Owners of new ham<br>equipment describe and evaluate it. <br><br>73 George KI4NBE<o:p></o:p></p><p><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></body></html>