"Michael Coslo" wrote in message
...
wrote:
On Apr 9, 8:22 pm, "Dee Flint" wrote:
Changes in requirements don't have any effect
when the potential recruits have no idea that the hobby even exists.
I don't believe that there is any significant percentage of the
general population of the USA who has never heard of ham radio.
I don't believe the "changes in requirements" were intended to grow
ham radio.
I don't even care if ham radio grows or doesn't grow. There are
millions of hams on planet Earth, more than enough to fill my logs on
any mode I choose through at least the next four sunspot cycles.
I believe that Hans' percentage numbers are indeed relevant.
However, they need to be looked at in context. Just looking solely at the
new licenses and upgrades does not give a complete picture.
In a dynamic area such as ARS license numbers, there is a need to look
beyond raw numbers and to determine exactly why the numbers that you are
comparing look as they do.
Which was precisely the point I attempted to make.
[snip]
One minor disagreement with Hans, though. I don't care if we get some kind
of huge growth, in fact, that would be lots of problems to deal with. We
need a steady influx of new people to keep the hobby interesting, and to
replace the fact that everyone is terminated to ground eventually. 1
percent growth would be desirable in that context, I think.
- 73 de Mike KB3EIA -
I would like to see it stay at about the same percentage of the general
population as it is now. As the population grows or shrinks, I would expect
our numbers to do the same. However, as you said, we do need the new
recruits as none of us are immortal.
Dee, N8UZE