What use is an F-call?

I've been an amateur since December 2010 and since then I've been active in many different groups and communities. I've participated in several Hamfests, BBQ's, car-boot sales, camp-outs, contests, read articles and used websites.

One thing is clear to me.

There is a small group of individuals doing all the work and a huge group of people complaining. It's like they never heard the axiom, "Many hands make light work."

I debated if I should even bring this up, but I think that in the interest of the future of Amateur Radio, it's important to realise that the average age of our community is increasing, getting closer and closer to the point where they're unable or unwilling to do the work that others almost blindly take for granted.

I know I'm in the minority of people doing the work and before you wonder if this is a case of me asking for recognition, it's not. I've had more than my fair share thank you.

It's about the notion that things just magically happen.

Let me give you some examples of services that you might use.

The editor of AR magazine is a volunteer, so is the editor for the national news. We have a weekly helpline, been running for 25-odd years, one guy. Local nets like the Friday Night Technical Net, been running for 600-odd weeks, one guy. There's a guy who's scanning all the back issues of AR magazine, going back to 1933. There's a small group of people providing training, a few individuals are committee members in their local club. Repeaters are maintained by a few people, sometimes just one. The QSL bureau in your state is likely run by one person, contests are likely run and managed by one person, your club's grant applications are likely done by one person, your club website is probably run by one person, the list goes on.

I'm not suggesting that everyone could or should be making the same commitment as the examples I've given. They donate their time freely and give back more to the community than they take.

What I'm pointing out is that as a community, Amateur Radio is getting older and the gimmie attitude appears to be getting stronger. I think this is a recipe for decline of this great hobby.

Next time you use a service or participate in an event you might take a moment, rather than complain, or even take for granted a service offered by an individual, acknowledge and thank that volunteer.

If you have an idea on how to further the hobby, to inject new ideas or services, don't wait for permission, go right ahead and start.

Who knows, perhaps one day you'll feel that you have a responsibility to give something back to the community that you're part of. As I said, not every person has the same availability of time and resources, put yours to good use, for yourself and your amateur community.

Think of it as succession planning.

I'm Onno VK6FLAB