Being a member of a very successful Amateur Radio Club like PCARS is a privilege and is very rewarding. The benefits of membership vastly outweigh any negative points. And giving your time and talent to this organization, not only benefits the other members, but benefits Amateur Radio as a whole.
How? you say. Well, all you have to look at is the impact that PCARS has had on Amateur Radio. Would there have been a National Parks On The Air event if not for our Ohio State Parks On The Air program? I doubt it. Would we have had the attention of the ARRL and other organizations? I doubt it. I think about all the newsletter awards that the Radiogram has garnered through the efforts of Tom Parkinson. Other clubs have stepped up their newsletter efforts in an attempt (futile at best) to match what Parky has accomplished. And what about what we have learned about the talents of Parky and many others who have stepped up to do their part for the betterment of the club.
In November, we will again go through the process of nominating and electing a slate of officers to carry PCARS through 2025 and possibly beyond. But from what we experienced last November…well, let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.
Do you recall how long it took to get a nominee for the office of President? I believe it was almost a half hour.
We know that the office of President and Vice-President are time consuming jobs. But as has been said in the past, being President does not mean that you are alone in the job. There are past presidents and others that can lend a hand, help direct and simply show you what to do. Yes, sometimes the officers of PCARS tend to moan a little louder that they should regarding the job. That may put others off. But every job has its perks and its pits. And not just the President’s office, but all the offices are very rewarding.
We certainly don’t want to become what a former member, some time back, accused us of becoming… An Old Boys Network. We really want to avoid the old adage of a handful of folks do all the work while others sit back and reap the benefits. If it’s the same individuals doing the work, then how can we NOT become an Old Boys Network. If more members don’t step up and DO THEIR PART, then who do we have to blame. And if we don’t have anyone to fill these offices, then PCARS, this wonderful group of people, will cease to exist as a club. And all the effort, sweat and trouble we went through to form the Portage County Amateur Radio Service will have been for naught. I certainly don’t want to see that happen.
We all have gifts and talents that can come into play in PCARS. So, when the PCARS Board puts out a request for nominees for the various offices that will be open, please consider putting your name into the ring. You won’t have to do it alone.
73’s, Chuck – W8PT
