[UK-CONTEST] UK-Contest Digest, Vol 71, Issue 31

[David Ferrington, M0XDF]

Well, I'd very much like to say it helps - but in my experience, it  
doesn't - a lot.
We advertised JOTA around 2 districts here and our Scout Group alone  
has 160+ members.
We advertised in good time, which emails to all leaders and a flyer  
and I gave a presentation to every section in our group (3 X Beavers,  
2 x Cubs, 2 Scouts).

Apart from a couple of Explorers that we (Bracknell ARC) have put  
through Foundation, and a few Hams, we had one Cub turn up - out of  
what could have been 2000!

Even those that we do put through Foundation, find other pressures or  
interests (school, football, the opposite sex!) and aren’t really  
active. I sometimes think their parent push them into doing the course  
- some certainly push them into staying in the Scout movement after  
they reach ~ 11!
But at least we have sown a seed.

I wish I knew the answer, but it's not unfortunately simple.
I find it hard to compete with the Internet and mobile phones.
We all know why we partake of this hobby, but getting that across to  
youngsters and adults alike is very difficult.

BTW - it was my random signature picker that selected the bottom  
quote, not me. Perhaps computers are sentient?

73 de M0XDF
-- 
David Ferrington, Assistant Scout Leader
2nd Bracknell Scouts (visit http://www.2ndBracknell.co.uk)
-- 
Instructor, Bracknell Amateur Radio Club
-- 
A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade
they know they shall never sit in. -Greek proverb

On 21 Nov 2008, at 04:33, uk-contest-request at contesting.com wrote:

> If you are at all concerned that Amateur Radio might have got the  
> wrong
> reputation and is "old technology" and boring, I thoroughly recommend
> offering your services to a local Scout group or the local school  
> and show
> them why it's not boring and how it can be very exciting.
>
> I recommend becoming an instructor and teach young people about  
> amateur
> radio. If everyone recruited at least two new people to amateur  
> radio, the
> hobby would have a very bright future.


-- 
Don't look forward to the day you stop suffering, because when it
comes you'll know you're dead. -Tennessee Williams