Are Hams Getting Apathetic?

I haven't written much lately.  I have noticed that while I get a lot of hits, nobody leaves comments, and I would guess nobody links my blog to anyplace else.  I have also noticed that as many members as Ham Radio Nation has, most polls get a weak response.  To make that worse, the number of people who vote or make comments is only a fraction of the number of people who look at the poll.

My main reason for not babbling on with a lot of trivial posts has to do with the fact that I don't want to hopelessly bore somebody who hits this link.  While it lists noteworthy accomplishments and events, I don't go on about what I ate for breakfast, or every time I did something mundane.

Some ham clubs report weak memberships, and sad participation in club and community service events.  Getting young people involved should be a primary goal with hams.  A local high school in my town just got a class of new hams, and their own station call sign.  But, they only get to talk to local hams on the repeater, and don't have any equipment that is their own.  Their teacher told me that they are getting bored.  We will spend tax dollars to get new furniture for the school board, but is it too much to ask to invest in some radio equipment for students?  The science link, such as astronomy and physics, and math link to ham radio is obvious.  Classes that deal with electricity such as electives and vocational education have a definite link.  The benefits of a lifelong and potentially life-saving hobby seem obvious also.

I notice in my own club that a majority of hams are retired...some for quite a few years.  Where do we get the new blood.  According to statistics, there are more hams being licensed.  We have a responsibility to keep them interested, so those numbers reflect active hams, and do not reflect a lot of inactive licenses waiting to expire.  At least that's my thought for the week.

Oh yeah, I misplaced one of my portable antennas--a 20m EndFedz.  If anybody knows where it is, let me know.  :)