SPECIAL RANV BREAKFAST MEETING
Saturday January, 20, 2007 9AM – Noon
Lincoln Inn,
1. There were 33 people in attendance, representing 5 area
radio clubs in
2. First part of meeting was spent having breakfast and socializing. The room was set up banquet style, with 8 tables, allowing for easier discussion among groups.
3. Mitch W1SJ asked each attendee to introduce him or herself by name and callsign.
4. At 10:15 Jonathan KB1LYU gave a short presentation on the Icom D-Star system. This is a digital system which ties voice and data into one network. All audio is converted to digital and only the station you are calling can hear the conversation across the entire network. The slower speeds of data can be support voice on 146 and 450 MHz, while higher speeds can do full web surfing, but require the bandwidth only found at 1.2 GHz and above. Several pieces of equipment were demonstrated, including a 1.2 GHz radio and terminal linked into the Internet and a laptop which linked into the system.
5. At 10:45 Zach K1ZK led the group in a discussion on the
Future of Amateur Radio in RANV and
6. The first exercise was to break up into the 8 groupings by table and discuss how and why everyone got started in amateur radio. A table spokesman then shared the thoughts of the table with the entire room. Some of the ways people got into amateur radio: adventure, mentor/teacher/professor, SWL, CB, technical interest, from a neighbor, access to ham equipment and crossover from other pursuits (like skiing or recreation) or vocations.
7. The next exercise was to list the characteristics of the ideal club leader. This was done as a discussion among the entire group. The characteristics revealed were: has time, has energy, reliable, communicator, keeps ego in moderation, sees projects to completion, sets the tone, includes everyone, builds consensus, has a vision.
8. Some other thoughts which came out of the above discussion included allowing members to nominate themselves, having term limits for leaders, sharing programs between clubs, more meetings across clubs (like this one), expand community outside of local area and break down parochial boundaries. The problem of leadership burn out was noted as very real.
9. After identifying the ideal club leader, the task became to identify the ideal club member. The characteristics mentioned were: has energy, open minded, flexible, gets on the air, participates in activities, diversity of interests, respectful of diversity, gives financial support, and communicates to leaders.
10. The next question asked of the group was to list activity ideas. A number of ideas, identified in paragraph 8 above, were mentioned in the leadership question. In addition these items were mentioned: joint Field Day, more social activities, and more sharing of individual experiences in amateur radio.
11. To help set goals, the attendees were asked where they wanted to see RANV (or their club) 5 years from now. These items were mentioned: more public relations at malls, schools and scouting, to especially attract youngsters, identify an organization as a pacesetter and copy their good ideas, coordinate between the clubs to prevent duplication of effort and avoid competition, work together to maintain and develop resources like repeaters and networks, bring new blood into the hobby, build a club model to deal with conflict resolution in the group, and focus on talents.
12. Finally, the group listed ideas to keep amateur radio healthy into the future. These items were mentioned: share the hobby with non-hams all the time, every ham brings in one new ham per year, broaden our interests, make ham radio accessible to all, talk to people outside your group, make 1 contact a day, listen on the air when not talking, talk to new people on the air and in person, have equipment loan programs and have a passion for amateur radio. It was also noted that we need to keep our focus on the Big Picture as the communication/electronic world is a rapidly changing place.
13. The meeting adjourned at 12:10.
Attendees:
AA1DD Carl
AB1T Doug
K1AUE Ben
K1LAX Bob
K1RED Red
K1ZK Zach
K2KBT Joe
K3UBW John
KB1FRW Bob
KB1LIE Jon
KB1LYU Jonathan
KB1MDC Alan
KB1NBN Chris
KE1AH Jim
KK1L Ron
N1BQ Brian
N1GBB Chris
N1LDT Ron
N1LXI John
N1WCK Glenn
N1ZBH Moe
VE2EQL John
VE2SZN Suzanne
W1AAT Allen
W1CX Loyd
W1EAT Tom
W1LLW Willow
W1MAD Mark
W1OKH Ed
W1SJ Mitch
W4YFJ Bob
WA1OZE Roger
Jim?
33
attendees
Approximate
breakdown (most members of multiple clubs):
22
members RANV
9 members BARC
6 members Udder
5 members CVARC
3 members STARC