WANTED: Your ideas on promoting Amateur Radio to the public

[VK5AV]

Hi, I am interested to here from anyone that has found a recipie that works when it comes to promoting the hobby of amateur radio to the public.
Have you done anything that has resulted in great interest?
What hasn't worked?
Do you have any ideas to share on how we might promote the hobby with a view to getting more people to study for the exam and get involved?

Looking forward to a discussion on this topic.

Thanks
Tim VK5AV

[VK5TOM]

Leave no cq unanswered!

[VK5TM]

This is an age old question with no universal answer.

The conundrum is the hobby needs to get more visible, so getting out where your target market congregates rather than hiding in shacks or on specialist forums.

But that now brings up who is your target and who is most likely to be the most receptive?

Then, what aspects of the hobby are likely to appeal to the various possible targets.

To complicate the problem in these times is all the red tape, oh&s regs, the risk adverse nature of some of the population and various other idiotic impediments to doing something that might actually be fun.

Bottom line is, it will take a concerted and properly co-ordinated effort by the hobby and it's organisations as a whole to have any significant effect.

There are some individuals that are making a difference, just look at Julie VK3FOWL & Joe VK3YSP with School Amateur Radio Club Network https://www.sarcnet.org/about.html but unless (many) more step up, it will only be a drop in the bucket.

[VK5MCH]

I have been wondering this myself.

We have been trying to get people out of their houses and into local parks hoping some people will take notice of what we are doing and come up and ask questions. We have had a few but none follow through.

The other place that I don't believe has been tried is the Grey Nomads. Maybe a stand at the Caravan and Camping show may bring some luck. Maybe this may spark some interest amongst them.

We have also done a letterbox drop around neighbourhood to people who have visible CB antennas. See the attached PDF.

[VK5TM]

I have to wonder about the 'grey nomads' sometimes.

We have an area for caravans etc at the lake where I walk the dog and you will quite often see them sitting outside their "accomodations" reading a book, I find it much cheaper to stay home if I want to read a book

It gets quite busy with up to 20+ campers some days and in the 5/6 years it's been open, I've only seen one with antenna's for the Outback Radio network, the rest of them have their satellite dishes and solar systems and who knows what else for a 'comfortable life' (and yes, I have done the 6 months in a caravan thing - it cured me of ever wanting to do it again)

[VK5MCH]

I have no idea how to get people interested. VK5PH (Paul) does his best everyday to get people enrolled in his courses but I am not to sure of the engagement rate once they get a licence.

We have spoken to Paul about getting them into one of our Sunday morning park events as soon as they qualify and that will eventually happen. I am sure the majority the new licencees do not know what to do once they get a licence and throwing them in the deep end straight away on their own is daunting. It was for me. I have heard long time members completely ignore foundation holders, in my opinion that a pretty crap thing to do.  Running some practical days may also help them gain confidence to get on the air. This is the whole idea for this forum and our Sunday morning park days. Its not club centric and we never ever want it to be. We want to promote amateur radio and we also want to make it fun. We want to get people off the couch and into the open air and bring an antenna or radio. It's very difficult to remove the stale mentality.

Then there are the people (fun police) who don't want to help knew people become comfortable by speaking to them in decent manner when they muck up. A dressing down because you got your signal report wrong is probably enough to put some people off all together. There are people who have been around a long time and they are ZERO help to newbies.

We are trying a new tact to help Paul by letterbox dropping houses with CB antennas. That remains to see how successful this is.

[VK5TM]

Only my personal thoughts, but in the current climate of trying to survive day to day life, there are two demographics that might have the most likely positive results.

The school age population.

It's been, well, a very long time since I went to school, but I do notice that with the space (as in Outer Space) industry coming of age here in SA, there are more school age kids showing an interest in tech pursuits.

Again though, it would be a case of which aspects of the hobby to showcase to them to get them interested, the most obvious to me would be the modern digital stuff and satellite comms.

The 'retirees'.

Yes, I know this isn't getting the younger generation in which is what is really needed, but there is no middle ground I can see that has the time available for a hobby.

Everybody I know that falls in-between these two categories doesn't seem to have the time these days to scratch their ****, let alone have time for a hobby.

[VK5AV]

Thanks all for your replys to this thread. Sorry it's taken me some time to get back to this.
VK5TM, Yes Joe and Julie do a fantastic job. We have had them attend the SERG Convention a couple of times and run a session for kids. Publicity around Scouts and on local socal media generated a bit of interest, but not as much as I would have hoped.
Also re the grey nomads, they are possibly a great taget audience, and deserves some further consideration.
As an examiner in a Regional loaction, I don't do a huge nmber of exams or training, but usually those that come through have been interested in radio for 30 or 40 years, and finally getting around to stepping into Amateur Radio. There must be many more out there like that.
VK5MCH, Great initative re the flyers targetted to CB'ers, excellent idea.
You touched on another point I have been thinking about, and I think I recently discussed this with Paul VK5PH. That is helping newcomers get on air, and holding sessions so they can gradually build up their practical knowledge. That too needs some structure around it. Maybe some organised days where groups go out in the field or a park, build a wire antenna, set upa station, work other groups doing the same.
I would love to see some up to date promotional material as well.
Please keep the thoughts coming.
Cheers Tim VK5AV Mount Gambier.

[VK5PRO]

On the subject of promoting our hobby, I offer a extract of a conversation which I read today which I feel is something of importance to consider. .. (Ivory tower operators)

Quote ..... "I recently got my ham license . Really enjoy listening and tried some ft8. I'm located in Darwin and found most of the guys pretty nice and willing to help out, however I feel it's hard to actually get on the radio and make calls when your new to it, no one talks at all normal pace and I just get frustrated trying to remember how to call ect, had a couple of bad experiences with blokes getting the shits because I called wrong . I haven't made any calls since because of it. I am female so maybe they feel more inclined to be arseholes I don't know but anyway it's a cool hobby and even just cool to listen in. I wouldn't mind going up in license eventually , foundation is enough while I still learn though."

[VK5MCH]

I still makes mistakes. But guess what? I don't care. 

I am more interested in getting people into radio than them getting a few words wrong. Sad though that people are that petty.

[VK5AV]

Very valid point VK5PRO. No doubt we could do a lot better in supporting people into operating confidence once they get their licence. Events like the "Get out and do something" will be a good help if we encourage newcomers to get along.

[VK5MCH]

We are trying to get the newbies involved as they complete their licence.I honestly hope we can achieve that and we (VK5.AU) are willing to hold other days in the park as it suits our attendees as the training days are needed. Paul Hoffman vk5ph puts a lot of effort into training and examinations. We have to retain those he puts through and the parks days are the perfect opportunity to do this.