Ask not what HAMsters can do for you, but what you can do for the HAMsters.
03/05/26 09:52
The Future of the HAMsters Depends on All of Us
The HAMsters Weak Signal Group has always been something special.
We’re not just another club—we’ve always been more like a family. A group where people showed up, helped each other, built things together, and pushed the boundaries of what Amateur Radio—especially VHF/UHF weak signal—could really do.
And for a long time, that worked extremely well.
From 2006 through the early COVID years, we had a strong and dependable support structure. A core group of highly motivated individuals kept things moving forward—driving nets, organizing events, building projects, maintaining equipment, funding efforts, and mentoring others.
People like Greg N5XO, Jerry KB2WDM, Bill WX5W, and Jay W5GNA—along with a handful of others—carried an enormous portion of that load. Some led from the front, others quietly supported in the background—but together, they made this group thrive.
Then things changed.
COVID disrupted activity. And more importantly, we lost key members—some to passing, others to health or life changes. The truth is simple and hard:
The core support structure that built this group is no longer what it once was.
Where We Are Today
Today, we have 214 members.
That sounds strong on paper.
But the reality is that the day-to-day operation of the group—nets, training, events, infrastructure, repeaters, beacons, tower work, mentoring—falls on a very small number of people.
In many cases, the same 3–5 individuals are doing the majority of the work.
Financial support? Also a small group.
Technical work? Same group.
Project help? Same group.
Leadership? Largely one or two people.
That’s not sustainable.
And it raises a very real question:
What happens if those few people can no longer do it?
The Reality We Need to Face
Every group has leaders and contributors—that’s normal.
But what we’re seeing now isn’t balance. It’s dependency.
If everything depends on one or two people, then the future of the group depends on one or two people.
And that’s not how strong organizations survive.
We’ve already seen what happens when key individuals are no longer there. It’s not theoretical—it’s something we’ve lived through.
What We Still Have (And It’s a Lot)
Even with these challenges, the HAMsters still have something many groups don’t:
But we do need to rebuild the structure that supports it.
What We Need Now
We don’t need a handful of superheroes.
We need more people doing a little bit.
That’s how this group thrived before—and that’s how it will thrive again.
Here are just a few ways members can step in:
You just have to be willing.
A Simple Challenge
Take a moment and ask yourself:
What can I contribute?
Not “what can someone else do.” Not “what should leadership handle.”
What can you do?
Because every single member has something to offer—whether it’s time, knowledge, energy, or simply showing up and participating.
Drivers and Passengers
Every successful group needs both.
But right now, we need more drivers.
People willing to step forward, take initiative, and help carry the load—even in small ways.
You don’t have to take over everything.
Just take ownership of something.
Let’s Build It Again—Together
The HAMsters Weak Signal Group is still here.
Still capable.
Still valuable.
Still worth investing in.
But the next chapter depends on whether we choose to step up—or step back.
Let’s work together to:
Let’s decide what it’s going to be.
Be part of the solution. Be part of the growth. Be part of what comes next.
The HAMsters Weak Signal Group has always been something special.
We’re not just another club—we’ve always been more like a family. A group where people showed up, helped each other, built things together, and pushed the boundaries of what Amateur Radio—especially VHF/UHF weak signal—could really do.
And for a long time, that worked extremely well.
From 2006 through the early COVID years, we had a strong and dependable support structure. A core group of highly motivated individuals kept things moving forward—driving nets, organizing events, building projects, maintaining equipment, funding efforts, and mentoring others.
People like Greg N5XO, Jerry KB2WDM, Bill WX5W, and Jay W5GNA—along with a handful of others—carried an enormous portion of that load. Some led from the front, others quietly supported in the background—but together, they made this group thrive.
Then things changed.
COVID disrupted activity. And more importantly, we lost key members—some to passing, others to health or life changes. The truth is simple and hard:
The core support structure that built this group is no longer what it once was.
Where We Are Today
Today, we have 214 members.
That sounds strong on paper.
But the reality is that the day-to-day operation of the group—nets, training, events, infrastructure, repeaters, beacons, tower work, mentoring—falls on a very small number of people.
In many cases, the same 3–5 individuals are doing the majority of the work.
Financial support? Also a small group.
Technical work? Same group.
Project help? Same group.
Leadership? Largely one or two people.
That’s not sustainable.
And it raises a very real question:
What happens if those few people can no longer do it?
The Reality We Need to Face
Every group has leaders and contributors—that’s normal.
But what we’re seeing now isn’t balance. It’s dependency.
If everything depends on one or two people, then the future of the group depends on one or two people.
And that’s not how strong organizations survive.
We’ve already seen what happens when key individuals are no longer there. It’s not theoretical—it’s something we’ve lived through.
What We Still Have (And It’s a Lot)
Even with these challenges, the HAMsters still have something many groups don’t:
- A strong identity
- A history of real technical achievement
- A reputation for VHF/UHF weak signal excellence
- A welcoming, family-friendly environment
- A proven ability to grow new operators—including spouses and families
- A foundation that still exists, even if it needs rebuilding
But we do need to rebuild the structure that supports it.
What We Need Now
We don’t need a handful of superheroes.
We need more people doing a little bit.
That’s how this group thrived before—and that’s how it will thrive again.
Here are just a few ways members can step in:
- Help run or rotate net control duties
- Present or assist with training topics
- Help organize events or outings
- Assist with tower or antenna projects
- Contribute ideas—and help execute them
- Encourage participation on the air and online
- Support infrastructure when able
You just have to be willing.
A Simple Challenge
Take a moment and ask yourself:
What can I contribute?
Not “what can someone else do.” Not “what should leadership handle.”
What can you do?
Because every single member has something to offer—whether it’s time, knowledge, energy, or simply showing up and participating.
Drivers and Passengers
Every successful group needs both.
But right now, we need more drivers.
People willing to step forward, take initiative, and help carry the load—even in small ways.
You don’t have to take over everything.
Just take ownership of something.
Let’s Build It Again—Together
The HAMsters Weak Signal Group is still here.
Still capable.
Still valuable.
Still worth investing in.
But the next chapter depends on whether we choose to step up—or step back.
Let’s work together to:
- Grow our nets
- Expand training
- Rebuild activity
- Strengthen participation
- Support each other again
Let’s decide what it’s going to be.
Be part of the solution. Be part of the growth. Be part of what comes next.
