I am now the Chairman of a radio club!

Firstly my apologies, last weeks post about the Eggciting Eggsplorer-1 HAB project and the talk and demonstration on SSDV wasn't posted on Amateurradio.com due to an error.

This week South Kesteven ARS (SKARS) held an EGM where I was voted on as the new Chairman. Nigel Booth M0CVO has stepped down following four years in the position citing increasing business commitments. Nigel intends to remain an active member, I and the other members wish to thank Nigel for his efforts over the years and wish him well with his business ventures.

SKARS has a small membership at present which we hope to increase but the committee finds itself in the  Catch-22 position of not having a lot of funds in order to put on activities and promote ourselves to increase the membership.

I have created a social media presence in the form of a Facebook page and twitter account in addition to updating the societies web page.I am hoping that permission willing the GB2EGG and Eggsplorer-1 project will significantly promote the society and the hobby.

I know running a club/society isn't a trivial undertaking, especially if working full time having chaired a large dog agility training club many years ago. It can take a lot of effort and time and it can sometimes be a thankless task.

Indeed my first twenty-four hours has Chairman saw my first sacrifice, a lovely Yaesu FT-450D was delivered yesterday and I have yet to take it out of the box!

 
Something to be remedied this evening.
Andrew Garratt, MØNRD, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from East Midlands, England. Contact him at [email protected].

4 Responses to “I am now the Chairman of a radio club!”

  • Scotty Freile, KE5TO:

    Tough job but…you know the rest. 73’s Scotty_KE5TO c u this wknd

  • Stephen G0PQB:

    I was elected unopposed as Chairman of the Edgware & District Radio Society this year. This is the fourth time I have been Chairman since joining the club in 1990. Truth is we swapped positions- the same three people being Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary. There is no one else in the club who will do these jobs. If we couldn’t get a committee together then I guess the club would fold. We celebrate our eightieth anniversary in 2017 but I don’t know how long we will continue for. The committee are all in our 60s- the club web master in 76 and our publicity man will be 80 soon. We are a nice socialble group of people and we do get new members but apathy rules I am afraid. It is a problem but really we are all too old. But congratulations on being made Chairman and please email me if I can be of help with ideas. Email address is on my page on QRZ.com 73

  • Andrew M0NRD:

    Thanks for the supportive comments.

    Yes Stephen I know apathy can rule especially in a larger club where people assume others will step up to do it and then complain when the club doesn’t give them anything for their yearly subscription which works out at under 20p a week.

    I have only been licensed for 18 months but I have met many other who would like to progress and learn but are frustrated by the inertia of some of the old guard who seem happy to keep the status quo.

    Luckily SKARS has a number of youthful members (in ham terms) keen to “do radio” and learn as a group rather than just sitting around drinking and chatting. So onward and upward.

  • peter kg5wy:

    I’ll be happy to open the FT-450D box for you.
    Just send it to me. 🙂

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