As part of something for the “emcomm-only” group, there needs to be something that will help them understand the importance of gaining a basic understanding their antenna system options and the value of the general class license for emcomm.  Both the East Coast folks, as well as new emcomm hams in the West, don’t always understand the geography of the West and how that changes the needs for disaster communications.  Linked repeater systems can only do so much, and when the big one hits off the coast, there is a strong possibility tech licenses will be pretty well useless.  The Midwest has a similar possibility with the New Madrid quake.  Regular articles in an Emcomm journal can help educate those folks.  If they are encouraged to upgrade to General, in order to offer more value to Emcomm, they are more likely to become and remain members.

Bonnie AB7ZQ

From: arrl-odv [mailto:arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org] On Behalf Of G Widin
Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2017 5:42 AM
To: David Norris <k5uz@icloud.com>
Cc: arrl-odv <arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org>
Subject: [arrl-odv:26362] Re: Emergency Communications Driving Increase in Amateur Radio Operators

As we look to the growing community of Makers and other DIY-interested folk to become hams, we should not forget the cadre of new operators coming to us via emergency communications.  Many of the comments of those who do not renew their ARRL memberships seem likely to come from this group.  They find QST too technical and yearly membership too expensive.  Some will be "converted" to long-term hams, but we don't offer much to entice those who enter with a pure emcomm focus.  These people are already hams, so the hardest part of getting them to be long-term members is already accomplished.  We must offer them something to make them stay--things like lower-cost membership and an emcomm-focused journal--that the comments of non-renewers already tell us we need.  Hardcore, longterm hams will decry "pandering" or the dumbing-down of ham radio, but we definitely need some bridge to ensure "emcomm-only" licensees become a permanent part of ham radio, and ARRL

73,

      Greg, K0GW

On Wednesday, April 12, 2017, David Norris <k5uz@icloud.com> wrote:

Good article!



http://www.govtech.com/em/disaster/Emergency-Communications-Driving-Increase-in-Amateur-Radio-Operators.html



Time to get those membership numbers growing again!

73


David A. Norris, K5UZ
Director, Delta Division

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