[CQ-Contest] A call to action

[John Warren]

Our discussions always concentrate on how to bring more young people 
into ham radio, and then how to keep them interested/involved. How 
can one argue with that noble objective.

But there's another potential source, especially for new contesters 
and serious DXers, which we tend to gloss over.

I'll call them (us?) "mid-lifers". These are hams who maintained at 
least some continuing interest and activity in the hobby while busy 
with a young family, and getting their careers started. Suddenly 
their careers are established, the kids are grown up, they have some 
discretionary funds - and equally important discretionary time - and 
all those dreams from their early years in ham radio resurface.

Our local club (CTDXCC) keeps growing steadily, but far more of the 
expansion is due to mid-lifers than to young folks. I'm not arguing 
about what is right, wrong, or best - just observing and reporting 
the facts. So let's follow up our recruitment of young people by 
going after those mid-lifers too.

John, NT5C.