In the latest edition of his e-mail newsletter Calling CQ, Jeff, KE9V, includes a thought-provoking editorial titled, “Rethinking the Approach.” He notes that we’re creating lots of new hams via one-day Tech classes, but perhaps not so good at “retaining” them. He writes:
..while the current approach seems effective at creating licensees, it’s not so good at retaining them. The FCC database includes over 715,000 amateur radio licenses this month, nearly half of them of the Technician class variety. That’s become the de facto entry point for amateur radio in the US and a stunning number of licensees appear to be perpetually ‘stuck’ there.
I suppose they could be pleased with their privileges and not interested in upgrading. But it’s more likely that they got the license then lost all interest in amateur radio. These will continue to renew that license every ten years because it’s free and it’s easy to do — why wouldn’t they?
I’m not suggesting we turn back time and do things the way we did them in the previous century. But I think it’s pretty obvious that we need to rethink our current haphazard approach to growing the amateur radio service in the US.
We need a plan. Discussion. Goals. Methods. Thought. Retention, retention, retention.
Our current approach seems effective at growing the number of licenses in the FCC database while the actual use of our bands steadily declines.
That’s not a good plan.
I agree with this, and would encourage the ARRL, which is our “national association,” after all, to make this a priority. I think that if they did get serious about this, then they could easily reach the goal that I’ve been encouraging them to set of having 25% of licensed radio amateurs be ARRL members.
Maybe retention isn’t the right term, though. In Rotary, we don’t call it retention any more. We call it “engagement.”
There’s no doubt that to engage newly-licensed hams, we need to give them more training or guidance. As far as I know, the ARRL has no formal Elmering program. As is often the case, they probably would say that they don’t have the resources to do this, and pass this function onto clubs. Some clubs have formal Elmering programs for doing this. Most don’t, however, and, as KE9V notes, finding an Elmer is a haphazard process.
Personally, I love Elmering, and anyone who has ever been in any of my classes can consider me their Elmer. I think that I have a pretty good record of engaging those who really want to be engaged in amateur radio, and I’m proud of that. One of my latest Elmerees, for example, is W8TAM, a young guy who’s gotten into amateur radio in a big way. He’s pushing back on me already, getting or trying to get me to do things that I probably should be doing or will have fun doing.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that enough amateur radio operators share my passion for Elmering. I’m not sure exactly why this is, but it might be that:
- Most hams are too busy (or think that they are too busy) to Elmer another ham.
- They don’t want to be bothered with Elmering, i.e. they’re too selfish to Elmer someone.
- They don’t feel they have the technical skills or enough amateur radio experience to Elmer someone.
- They don’t have the teaching skills or interpersonal skills (or at least feel that they don’t) to be a good Elmer.
Whatever the reason, maybe we need an “Elmering the Elmer” class. This class would target those who think it would be fun to be an Elmer or have a desire to be an Elmer, but are a little unsure about what it entails and how to go about it. Basically, the class would just give them some reassurance that it doesn’t require them to be an electronics genius, needn’t take up all their time, and in the end, can be very rewarding.
I’d like to start gathering some data, even if only anecdotal, on this topic. I’d love to get an e-mail from each of my readers, answering the following questions:
- Are you currently an Elmer?
- If not, why not?
- If so:
- How many Elmerees do you currently help?
- How many do you think you’ve helped overall?
- How much of your time does it really take?
- What do you like most about Elmering?
- What’s your biggest frustration with Elmering?
- What do you think of my idea for an “Elmering the Elmer” class?
- Would you take such a class if it was offered?
- What do you think I should include in the class?
Walter Underwood K6WRU says
I’m not sure what would be in a class for Elmers. There are some teaching techniques that could be taught. I’ve taken the Boy Scout’s “Trainers EDGE” class (former “Train the Trainer”). That is a one-day introduction to basics and the EDGE method (explain, demonstrate, guide, enable).
How about a roundtable, where Elmers share things that have worked or ask for know good practices?
wunder
Doug - KM4FWM says
OT: For kit/homebrewing fans — Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB (CQ mag, ARRL Handbook), will be on w5kub.com on 15 September at 8 PM CDT — 0100 UTC 16 Sept.
I’m new to this webcast, but here’s the announcement I found — http://www.eham.net/articles/35311
It appears that most/all of these webcasts eventually end up on youtube.com. tagged w5kub.
Doug - KM4FWM says
Elmering can be accidental. That taught me that an Internet approach to Elmering might be a good idea.
As a new Extra class ham, I felt the need for an Elmer. I asked a question on eham.net and got a number of good suggestions, followed with a dialog by one of my “Youtube.com Elmer” heroes — Peter Parker, VK3YE. I had been reading his web pages and following his videos. He added some comments and I followed up with my understanding of his KISS approach to QRP (keep it simple, just not too simple). That changed the direction of the discussion and encouraged lots of useful follow-up comments. Enormous help!
I also noted a question in the Elmer forum that I actually had the knowledge to answer. I provided the info and lots of links for the OP. (Me, an Elmer? — hah! Who’d have thunk it?)
There aren’t many local Elmers and the nearest club is too far to be of interest. I tried local ARES, became a CERT team member, passed the required four FEMA/NIMS courses, and found that there is altogether too much politics and bureaucracy to make CERT or ARES worth my time. A real shame, because there are some sharp, experienced ARES team members.
Long story short, I’m beginning to think that the Internet is the most efficient way to Elmer someone or to be an “Elmeree.”
Don says
Elmering takes a lot of time, and being elmered can be difficult based on the persons life schedule.
One of the best new approaches I see is having a club “tech night” on a regular basis. Our club does one once a month on a different week than club meetings. This avoids having 2 radio club nights in the same week.
Walter Underwood K6WRU says
I haven’t done that much Elmering, but for me, it uses skills that I’ve learned as a Scoutmaster and a search engine engineer (think automated reference librarian). I have been a backpacking “Elmer” to lots of people.
In Scouts, I’m not expected to be an expert about both dutch oven cooking and backpacking. But I am expected to encourage someone’s interest in either of them (and other things), and point them to deeper resources.
I’ve never had a satellite QSO, but I know at least one local ham that is skilled at that. I do have a hamsat app on my phone, though. I could walk a new ham through the basic idea and hand them off.
PS: My dad made excellent dutch oven biscuits and I learned backpacking with him. They aren’t necessarily exclusive.
Robert AK3Q says
Hi
I have found offering a “Newcomers and Elmers Net” each week to be an effective means of helping new hams. The net has been going strong for over 2 years (started June 2013) and averages 25-35 check-ins per week. Those numbers have been pretty consistent since the start. It is not about numbers, of course, and we do try to discourage folks from just checking in because there is a net – it is geared specifically to people who are new or have questions and for elmers willing to help.
We have a topic for discussion each week, but also take time for an radio-related questions.
We have a web page where I post notes for for most weeks, so folks can go back and find info or check out nets they missed.
This has been a very effective way both to elmer new hams, but also to get people into the hobby because of word of mouth.
Feel free to look at the web page/notes to see the kinds of topics we cover.
I truly believe any club or group could do something similar – there is nothing magic about it – just a warm friendly place for newcomers to feel welcome.
As a matter of fact, a club north of us in Dayton OH started a similar net inspired by what we were doing, and they have had great success adding new hams to the club and revitalizing their long-time hams.
The web page is:
http://www.ohkyin.org/elmer_net.php
Cheers! Robert AK3Q