Supporting 'New Amateur Radio' in the UK

[Martyn Allison]

Hi,
I would just like to point out that the team at Multicomm 2000 are here to
assist the UK amateur in every way that we can, advise etc.
We are a company who does not only rely on sales, we see the need to
promote and educate to obtain , amateur radio's survival.
Please feel free to contact us or veiw our web site and drop us a line if
you need any assistance.

Best Regards
Martyn Allison,
Multicomm 2000
http:\\www.multicomm2000.com

Malcolm Bell wrote in article <5qd5cm$g27$1...@pheidippides.axion.bt.co.uk>...

>Now that the earlier bickering and personal insults have either died
>down or are continuing by e-mail - a real hang-over from the early days
>of 2m repeaters in London, and very typical of the bad press which the
>hobby can attract if we are not careful - its time to add my tuppence
>worth to the (?) debate.
>
>Amateur radio is and always will be a specialised hobby, and is unlikely
>to really attract the attention of the Spice Girls or even Peter Andre
>and other 'Icons' which adorn my children's bedroom walls. It has so
>many facets and interesting areas that it is crazy to even try to
>categorise it as having any particular theme, other than the ONLY hobby
>where, apart from going to the local boozer, you can exchange voice,
>fax, video, keyboard and other messages directly between 2 or more
>people in different countries and/or continents for ABSOLUTELY FREE!
>[alright, you pay for the electricity, but even that can be made for
>nothing if you really put your mind to it :-)]
>
>However, for a hobby to thrive and grow there are a number of cardinal
>points which need to be considered:
>
>Enjoyment - I do it because I enjoy it ... do you? I can't really
>imagine how other people get enjoyment from running other people down
>simply because their views, interests or abilites are different from
>their own. OK. I like to operate CW on the HF bands and take part in a
>few contests- I have simple antennas and reasonably old
>secondhand/homebrew equipment. It doesn't mean that I don't appreciate
>those of us with computers, microwave interests, big beams, DXCC
>aspirations, IOTA certificates or WAB books, - vive la difference, I
>say. If you enjoy it then maybe others do too ... especially if you
>tell them about it and encourage them to join in.
>
>Participation - nothing grows if you don't take an active and lively
>part in it. Are you a member of your local or national amateur radio
>club? Do you particpate in their events? Do you share your specialist
>and valuable experience with other people? Are you willing to try out
>something new? If the answer is no, then why not? Are you a committee
>member? Can you add something, or encourage somebody?
>
>New blood - New recruits to the hobby are vital. I build my first
>crystal set when I was 14, encouraged by many good and now respected
>friends (and sadly some SKs) in the Mid Sussex ARS. As well as several
>years involvment with schools and Scout groups I now help out with a
>locally run inititive to encourage amateur radio in schools. So far the
>project has resulted in more than 8 new school clubs and more than 20
>novice licences plus half a dozen conversions to class B licences, with
>more to follow. See Rad Com July 1997 for more details and a
>photograph. Just this weekend my local Scout Group activated GB0FMS in a
>public and highly successful event involving young and not so young
>people. What are *_you_* doing to encourage those newcomers?
>Bickering, name calling, and derision of particular interests apart?
>
>Maybe my message is becoming clearer now ... Amateur Radio is OUR
>hobby, and only WE can influence its future success and direction, not
>'THEM' or 'THEY'. Therefore, if you truly believe in the spirit of
>amateur radio then support its many facets, encourage newcomers - young
>and old - and if you have an opinion, then share it in a positive and
>valued way, so that we can all move forwards. IMHO, if you feel that
>this is nor for you, then use your computer to seek out an alternative
>newsgroup (There are >16,000 to choose from) where your foul manners
>bad language and downright negative opinions not only belong, but are
>acceptable to their readers.
>
>Malcolm Bell, G4CXT
>