[SECC] Remember when...?

[ku8e at bellsouth.net]

  The SECC is also a prime example that the "paper club" method is not the way to go. We have probably about 100 members on the SECC roster and my guess is that 3/4 of them have not been involved in the club in any way in the past year.
(or even longer) We all have other interests, activities , and family obligations that will not allow us to participate in every club activity during the year. But if someone has not participated in a year or more that tells me they have just plain lost interest.  Why is this ???  I think it all points to the leadership. They need to find ways to keep people interested. If we don't set goals such as trying to maybe win the club competition in a certain ARRL contest or maybe organize a bunch a mobiles during the GQP to blanket the state...  these are just examples of fun acitvities.... we are setting up for failure as a club.

  Since the ARRL has basically removed the meeting requirement we can hold  meetings just for fun. My guess is everyone who travels to Dayton goes to the contests suites and enjoys hanging out with fellow contesters. That's what an occational meeting could do for us - but just at a local level.
I am in total agreement about not having formal meetings.

  I was a member of Mad River for 25 years and I have seen the highs and the lows with them. In some of my past emails I had some suggestions on things to try to increase participation - from those past experiences. I know they will work...

                       Jeff




> 
> From: "Lee Hiers" <aa4ga at contesting.com>
> Date: 2003/12/08 Mon PM 09:28:10 EST
> To: secc at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [SECC] Remember when...?
> 
> On 8 Dec 2003 at 19:38, Scott Straw wrote:
> 
> > It is my recollection, and I'll admit that it is a bit fuzzy, the e-mails 
> > from that era long having been returned to that great SMTP Valhalla from 
> > whence they came, that the founding fathers of this SECC formed it on the 
> > premise that it would be an "un-club."
> 
> Scott, you sir, are 100% correct in your recollection!
> 
> The founding fathers wished for, and achieved, a "club" of 
> the most informal type.  As close to a "paper club" as 
> possible - just organized enough to qualify to submit 
> scores in the club competitions.
> 
> >   - There were to be no meetings, except the absolute minimum required to 
> > maintain good standing with the Contest Rules of the various organizational 
> > sponsors.  Social events were to be encouraged, but not for the purpose of 
> > conducting business.
> 
> Yup, and the origin of the 2 meetings in one concept was to 
> reduce the number of meetings even further.  
> 
> For those who don't recall this, we would convene a 
> meeting, and after a short period of time, that meeting 
> would adjourn, and a new meeting would immediately 
> commence.  This was done so that only one physical 
> appearance was required to statisfy the 2-meeting-per-year 
> requirement of the ARRL for submission of scores by an 
> affiliated club.
> 
> Even further, any two members could call a meeting at any 
> time...specifically for maintaining meeting requirements.
> 
> We actually tried to figure out a way to have NO physical 
> meetings at all...this reflector was to be a constant 
> virtual meeting.  We compromised with the 2 in 1 meetings.
> 
> The club had to adopt bylaws for acceptance by the ARRL as 
> an affiliated club.  If there had been no requirement to 
> submit bylaws to the ARRL, we would never have had any.  
> They were never intended to be strictly adhered to IMO.  I 
> think we just used some generic bylaws someone had, and 
> actually "loosened" 'em up a bit.
> 
> I remember W4WA, W4AN and myself discussing this before the 
> club was formed, and we all agreed that we didn't want to 
> have anything to do with any of the typical club political 
> bullshit.  
> 
> > - Where allowable, all members were encouraged to pool their scores from 
> > the various events so as to create a team score that could be bring 
> > recognition, if not the envy of other clubs, to the membership.
> 
> THAT was the sole purpose of the SECC originally.  Nothing 
> more, nothing less.
> 
> > I realize that we are now MUCH larger that we were in 1998, or 1999, or 
> > whenever it was that the club was formed, so maybe it is time we paid a 
> > visit to the old and dusty vaults where the original premises on which the 
> > club was founded are stored and ask ourselves, "where are we now, and is it 
> > where we want to be?"
> 
> Along the way, we've sponsored some plaques - pretty much 
> paid for by solicitations of the members after the club 
> itself had been solicited by contest sponsors.  We've also 
> revived the GA QSO party.  And I think there may be a club 
> callsign.  Maybe some more formal activities that I'm 
> forgetting.
> 
> All of which may be fine, honorable, activities, but all of 
> which are counter to the original purpose of the club.
> 
> As far as my interests in the SECC, all I want is a place 
> to report my scores (whenever I do actually operate), as 
> the club was initially intended. 
> 
> So, where does that leave all the other stuff:
> 
> Club meetings:  I'm against 'em
> Field Day:  Sure, if someone wants to put it together
> GA QSO Party:  Ditto
> Club Logo/QSL:  Ditto
> Club Call:  I don't see the point.
> New Membership activities:  Absolutely, if someone wants to 
> volunteer
> 
> We *do* have a continuous virtual meeting in this reflector 
> and largely succeed in the original intent of the SECC, 
> with a bit of added "noise".  Most of it I ignore, as do 
> some of the other original members...but if it grows too 
> loud, I'll totally drop out.  That's not a threat - I mean, 
> I'm relatively inactive the past few years - just an 
> explanation of why some of the club OTs may disappear 
> (those that haven't already).
> 
> Thanks to Scott for bringing up the historical perspective!
> 
> 73 de Lee
> 
> -- 
> Lee Hiers, AA4GA
> Cornelia, Georgia
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> SECC mailing list
> SECC at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/secc
>