The data mining exercise seems to have resulted in 5 not-seen-before callsigns entering and I think more than that taking part but without uploading; this will be revealed when the logs go public. So a little help, but also a little disappointing. At a hit rate of 1.5% from the emails to known active contesters sent out, some marketeers might say ‘a typical result, don’t be discouraged’.
But getting here revealed something unexpected: Of the 100+ non-G entries we annually get, since 2002 there have been 713 unique non-G callsigns, so a high degree of churn and far higher than I would have guessed. This number is obviously bulked up by all the travellers, but has had HQ stations and obvious contest call dupes removed. It still seems large.
I am also involved on the committees of a gliding club and a classical concert club and both have very similar and national problems of ageing memberships, stalwart members and committee types who will keep coming back until they drop, and those that stay for a while with a half-life of perhaps 5-7 years. In all cases the annual SK levy is the only mechanism limiting the average age raise. Indeed, my joining the concert club committee brought down its average age by about 5 years and I’m no spring chicken. The common factors are retention, marketing and recruitment.
So, how to inspire the next generation of intrepids? This is surely the same group that furniture industry targets? – the twenty-somethings and 55+ who have money and time available – indeed I started being a Traveller at around 55.
Here’s a few ideas to add to the brainstorm (its brainstorm rules – no idea too daft!):
- Bob G3PJT’s work with his book, convention talk and Radcom articles gave a significant uptick – perhaps we need more of all this?
- Do we need explicit articles in Radcom encouraging the next generation of travellers? (I’ll volunteer to write one – Travellers, expect to be tapped up for pics and stories).
- Can we encourage those youngsters we meet at our clubs (whether 20+ or 55+) to take the plunge? If all of us do this there will be a few converts.
- This of course can all be replicated throughout the Commonwealth too – hint… (but well done on your podcasts Kevin VK6T!)
- Survey a selection of the departed calls to see why they lost interest? That many cannot all have aged out. See what we can learn.
- Consider how to deliver greater satisfaction especially to the rarer Commonwealth participants – Special certificates? Other regional awards?
- Is increasing noise a significant contribution? Can this be mitigated by encouraging /P operations with a specific award or section?
- Stand outside the gates of appropriate schools peddling this, our drug of choice. Ok, I jest, but Gary ZL2IFB and I attended to the same school with a radio club, and had someone come and given lecture on this we would have sat up and listened.
- Promote the CW Academy through the Commonwealth, and to promote BERU as a form of finishing school – particularly as we operate a lot at 24wpm.
- Create a bank of Traveller equipment for youngsters to borrow? Even consider sponsorship for under 25s?
73, Colin ZF2CA, G4CWH, VP9/G4CWH, M3E
Commonwealth Contest 