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Re: [CQ-Contest] Why Are European Contesters Younger?

To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Why Are European Contesters Younger?
From: SQ6MS Maciek <sq6ms@o2.pl>
Reply-to: sq6ms@o2.pl
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:48:49 +0200
List-post: <cq-contest@contesting.com">mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
I think that giving a possibillity to visit a local club is essential to 
bring the new "fresh blood" to our hobby (not only a youngsters)
If you read stories of young hams just notice that most of them starts 
to hobby because of his mother, father, or someone else in the close 
family. Otherwise they just scouts or participate in some other event 
and than starts visiting local club...
Best way to catch a "contesting bug" is to participate in some multi
operation from one of big station.

Since you have many of the big gun multi-multi station in the USA you 
should consider inviting more and more young guys and girls to 
participate even if it cost you a score decrease. This is natural 
because they are not top-notch operators. Instead of relay on the same 
old-proffesional teams just imagine what will happen at your multi 
station in the next 10 or 15 years when the old guys lost their energy 
and motivation to do the real competitive contest effort.
You have a great background to do this for example
Contesting University at Dayton - why not do this "on the fly" during
some big contest? (cq ww or wpx)
Free youth contest expedition copmetiton by 6Y1V - one of the greatest
idea i`ve ever herad, and why not do this at a major USA contest station?

and so on....


-- 
VY73 de Maciek ... --.- -.... -- ... (27 years old)



Felipe J Hernandez pisze:
> Remi,
> 
> Thats what I imagined, I remember well those days, got my ham license also
> 29 yrs ago and now 44 yrs young..I remember well the soviet union's calls and 
> great activity from those days.
> 
> I think we are struggling everywhere with Ham population, but somehow still
> comes to my mind that "clubhouses" were important to attract people like in 
> the old days.
> I think that possible hams can have a broader idea of the hobby and find 
> common interests with others that can entice them to look deeper into the 
> hobby when they congregate.
> 
> Have the number of club stations on your country diminished?
> Do you see a relationship between that and amateur population?
> I would like to hear from other amateurs if they see a relationship between 
> clubhouses and amateur population.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Felipe
> Np4Z
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: LY8O 
>   To: cq-contest@contesting.com 
>   Cc: fhdez@islandnetjm.com 
>   Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 6:26 AM
>   Subject: Re: Why Are European Contesters Younger?
> 
> 
>   Felipe,
> 
>   Well, not so sure I could explain it absolutely correct, but by my opinion 
> there could be some historical reasons:
>   1. Remember, that at older times Eastern Europe was under Communism 
> preasure.
>   2. Amateur radio at that times was the only way to communicate with the 
> rest of the world for many of us (no internet; to call abroad by phone you 
> must order this possibility in advance). Especialy for yong people (my first 
> QSO was when I was a bit over 14 years old, say 29 years and 8 month ago, 
> wow...) with so many restrictions to go abroad including the excursions to 
> "socialist countries"...
>   3. This Amateur Radio, especialy contesting, was named as 
> Technical-Military Sport (remember the time!!!) and was sponsored by 
> Goverment. Depending on your or club station results you can expect for 
> something better (equipment, parts, sometimes some monney dotations and so 
> on). And people "fighted" for that "better future"...
>   4. To become an Amateur Radio operator you must know Morse code.
>   5. Special classes and courses for young interesants - all was payed by 
> Goverment.
>   6. As the result from all above - higher activity from Eastern Europe, more 
> oldtimers still playing this game.
>   That is IMHO... Could be something else...
>   But we have also a big problem with "young blood" as everyone. This year 
> perhaps could be one of the best in the couple of last years history in LY - 
> some number of CB people decided to join Amateur Radio, passes the tests and 
> already got the Calls. And those people are 20 - 30 years old. And some more 
> people from CB are thinking about Amateur Radio.. Looks like there is some 
> more "clay" to expand Amateur Radio Society :) Will see :)
> 
>   73, Remi LY8O
> 
> 
>   *** Felipe NP4Z wrote: ***
>   >But also I have the impression that Eastern europe shows a little more 
>   >participation than western europe is that so? What could be the reason?
>   >
>   >Regards,
>   >
>   >Felipe
>   >np4z
> 
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