I've done a couple of pitches to Boy Scouts touring our Emergency
Management Office in a quest of merit badges. As part of the pitch we
give them a tour of the ham radio area, HF, VHF, UHF, packet, scanners,
3 computers networked together. We simulate a weather drill with check
in's from 20 - 30 miles away. We make HF contacts to show them long
distance comms.

I'd say about one quarter to one fifth of the audience seems truely
interested in ham radio. The rest could care less.Just something they
sit thru to get a merit badge.

Thinking about the hams in our local club and ARES groups I come up with
the following of why people become hams or ARES members.


They are into the technology.
They do some level of it as a career.
They use it as a means to keep in touch with far flung friends and
family who are also hams.
They want to help their community and see ham radio as a way to make
that happen, sometimes becuase no other option exsists due to health
concerns.
They see it as a challenge that they want to conquer.
Mom and / or Dad are hams and they got pushed into it.

Steve
N2UBP