Is it worth keeping this forum alive?

[VK5VMW]

a field day for the newly minted ARO's

As a (relatively) newly-minted ARO, I'd be interested in that kind of event.

[VK5 Admin]

Hi Richard. Yes Paul does a great job. I'm glad some of the recent ARO's showed up, that's very promising and a good start.

The GOD,s days could be anywhere, travelling or the time they held doesn't bother the six of us that regularly do them. If you have a suggestion throw it at us we are only too happy to do one wherever you are.

Happy easter mate and thank you for your input. I am glad you are one of the helpers getting more people involved.

The purpose of the forum was NEVER INTENDED TO REPLACE TRADITIONAL AR. I started it so people could post projects, circuit diagrams, DIY builds etc. I don't know where people got the idea from that this was ever going to be some sort of take over of the traditional AR activities.

VK5VMW, we would be happy to have you along. Which direction do you live in? We will try and organise one close to you.

[VK5VMW]

VK5VMW, we would be happy to have you along. Which direction do you live in? We will try and organise one close to you.

I'm in the north-western suburbs, but I'm happy to travel.

And I'm still trying to work out what "GODs days" is/are

[VK5 Admin]

VK5VMW, we would be happy to have you along. Which direction do you live in? We will try and organise one close to you.

I'm in the north-western suburbs, but I'm happy to travel.

And I'm still trying to work out what "GODs days" is/are

Get Out Do Something. Not enough people get out into the fresh air.

[VK5GR]

Hi Grant.

 which I believe you were there.

Actually no I wasnt.... I am not a club president.

However I know how as WIA SA/NT we used to bring the clubs together. Indeed we would rent a live in convention facility, fly our club  reps down from Darwin even, and hold it before the WIA Federal AGM so that the clubs also got to participate in the decision making of what was presented there as well. We also used to engage on a range of different topics, from technical to organisational. Every affiliated club was present and it certainly used to enhance that sense of community.

What was the key to that event's success? Face to face, quality time with people from around the state. How many people today would be prepared to put in that amount of time?

Now I recently brought to the club presidents notice the fact that the WIA was looking for hosts for their AGM (initially in 2025 but now still for 2026). The last time the VK5 clubs came together as a team was the 2017 WIA AGM Convention. The team knocked it out of the park, and rewrote the rule book for how WIA AGM events should be run (which many have since attempted to copy). Perhaps its time to do that again, and bring the SA Clubs back together to offer to host the 2026 event. Im not sure however if its worth the effort given the fairly negative response I got from one of the larger clubs. It seems some are not interested in building community. What surprised me is the club that I got the negative response from was not one I would have expected. Whether they would change their mind and get behind a 2026 effort, I do wonder. I might have to get down there one meeting night soon and float the idea....

As for what might actually work, reconstituting the WIA State boards might be a good start. The WIA desperately needs to improve its links to its affiliated clubs. A properly constructed charter, well designed communications channels and active coordinators are what is really needed to pull this off. I wonder how many in the state would be willing to get behind something like that? Food for thought...

[VK5 Admin]

I sincerely apologise Grant but I could have sworn you were there. I wasn't nor do I have any desire to become a club president.

I totally agree with what you have said above. I think some clubs might be objecting as they are not as financial as some of the others. Also getting people to do things these days gets harder as the club population ages.

As for what might actually work, reconstituting the WIA State boards might be a good start. The WIA desperately needs to improve its links to its affiliated clubs. A properly constructed charter, well designed communications channels and active coordinators are what is really needed to pull this off. I wonder how many in the state would be willing to get behind something like that? Food for thought...

Where do you start with this?

[VK5GR]

Re reconstituting the state boards - I am already working on proposals to put before the WIA board and intend to raise it during the Q&A session at the WIA AGM in Bendigo next weekend (which I am going to in person).

[VK5ZKR]

Re reconstituting the state boards - I am already working on proposals to put before the WIA board and intend to raise it during the Q&A session at the WIA AGM in Bendigo next weekend (which I am going to in person).

Hi Grant,

I am interested in the response from the WIA in receiving your proposal?

Regards..