No matter how “big” the Internet and the Web get, there's still that phenomenon of stumbling across interesting web pages that never fails to keep you interested.
I ran across (quite by accident) a radio club in Louisville that's has the ambitious goal of bringing a number of radio hobby-types under one banner. This includes Amateur Radio, CB, Scanner enthusiasts, SWL'ers, MURS users and GMRS/FRS users. It's a virtual melting pot of RF, but can you take such divergent (and sometimes opposing) hobbies and make a go of it without starting the RF equivalent of World War III?
I won't name the club, but its a fairly young one, launched by a recently licensed young adult amateur whose background is in CB. That doesn't make him bad, but one of the first lessons I learned after I got my ticket was to leave old habits (CB jargon, etc.) behind. Some of today's newcomers from the 11-meter band don't have Elmers who clue them into that little tip, and the resulting use of CB jargon on the ham bands tends to be like fingernails on the proverbial chalkboard to most hams.
But this club isn't just a ham club, so it has aspects of both ham and CB clubs, which I suppose it should due to its diverse mission. For example, the club issues its own call letters to members. The callsgn features a digit, the three-letter acronym for the club, followed by the individual's membership number. The leading digit is the chapter number (right now it appears there's only one chapter). An “H” denotes honorary member (three of the seven club members on the roster are honorary members).
To the club's credit, they have a very active president who is the engine that makes the club go. They have a pretty good web site established, and they promote themselves as a very public service-oriented group.
LET BYLAWS BE BYLAWS.After the recent conflagration in our own club over a constitution and bylaws, I found this club's constitution and bylaws to be an intereesting (and sometimes humorous) read. Note: I'm not poking fun at the club! The focus on this club's constitution is simply very different than others; my theory is this is due to the fact that there's about three generations seperating the president of this young club and the members of your typical Amateur Radio club.
Here's some selected portions that you don't often see in a ham club constitution:
First, the preamble sets the tone with this snippet:
Violation of these by-laws may result in a small fine, suspension of membership, cancelation of membership and or permanent expulsion from the (club). Penalties are decided on a case by case basis.(In short, they take these bylaws very seriously.)
- ON-AIR CONDUCT.All members must use good conduct on the air. This means that no member may intentionally cause harmful or disruptive interference to any other operator no matter what the band or mode. Threatening and or needlessly insulting other operators is also strictly forbidden. No member shall do anything that would publicly embarrass or shame the club in any way. (What's the fun of a radio club meeting if you can't needlessly insult fellow members??? Levying fines for this might be a good way to add to the club treasury .. hmmm ….)
- EQUIPMENT.All full members must own and operate their own radio equipment.
- DUES PAYMENT.Failure to pay by the end of the dues period will result in a late fee of five dollars being added to the member's required annual due for every month past the end of the due period that the due is not payed. After six months of non payment the person's membership will be canceled and his/her club callsign will be reassigned. (These folks don't fool around when it comes to collecting dues. Yikes!)
- CLUB NETS.To create and maintain fellowship within the club all members are required to check in to at least one on-air net per month. This may be on CB, Amateur or GMRS (if licensed). Check the club website for net frequencies / channels and times.
- ELECTION – TIE VOTE.In the event of a tie an election will be decided by a fight to the death (or a coin toss-off) which ever is perferred by the candidates.
- CLUB EQUIPMENT. All members will take care not to damage any peice of property belonging to the club. Any damage done to (club) property by a member and determend to have been done intentionally OR caused by gross negligence will be repaired or replaced at the expence of the member.
Back when I was going to a lot of custom car shows, I found that clubs operated by young adults usually had rules that were very similar in that they had fines for disrespecting the club, its logo, or a member. Perhaps such rules help you become a cohesive group … or like most bylaws, pretty much ignored until needed.
73 es cul … dit dit