We need a change....

[wb7sgl]

I firmly believe this website is a great idea but I am concerned about the lack of participation and am beginning to wonder if this is the best format for what I believe we are trying to accomplish.

I am going to do some investigating and see if I can find another format for information interchange among LDS Hams, I know the bulletin board format works if people participate but it just may not be the best format for this application.

I don't believe a wordpress blog format is appropriate, I am not actually publishing articles on LDS Ham Radio. But what do you, the site membership, think? Would you prefer to see articles written instead of the existing format?

Perhaps a Wiki would be better?

Or ... do you know of something else you would prefer to see?

Thanks in advance!
Rob

##################   EDIT  ######################
##################  5/13/9 ######################

Wow, there have been a TON of replies, both via email and directly in the forum.

Thanks to everyone who has replied! The response has been very positive.

Thus far, I have come away with the following observations:

• Some have expressed a desire to have a periodic emailing, possibly a newsletter. I like this idea and the current forum software provides this functionality so it will be easy to implement.
  
• Some have expressed a desire to have a regular emailing from the website, the wording of which indicates to me that they are interested in a Digest of the active topics. This is not a feature in the current version of the Simple Machines Forum software, but is in the current beta v2.0. I will be anxiously monitoring the progress of 2.0!
  
• Some have expressed a desire to have specific pages dedicated to things like Communications Plans, Nets, etc. I am considering my options for this, whether to incorporate a CMS or Wiki. Personally I prefer the Wiki as it empowers the members to contribute directly. I don't want to force members to keep logging into different parts of the website, so I am looking into my options using the existing SMF forum login credentials.
  
• Some have suggested a mailing list like the Yahoo Groups. I can do majordomo mail lists directly on my server and am considering that as another option.
  
• One person commented that it would be nice to have a database of member hams. I like this, but it would have to be a voluntary thing where they add themselves to the list. Given the association between the church and the member, I would rather not get into any arguments about violating any right to privacy. Being a licensed Ham means that your information is public, but being a member of the Church is not public record and some may have great reasons to keep that private.
  
• Some have commented that they didn't know about the site. Or that this was the first they had heard... That there is just funny.    They wouldn't have an account (and I wouldn't have their email,) on the site if they hadn't been here at least once! 
  
• Some have commented on the lack of endurance for members who get their ticket, even buying rigs and participating in Nets and the likes. I realize this happens, and we cannot control it. We're seeing the same thing on the site. I guess we need to make this more engaging all around. When was the last LDS Member fox hunt? Never that I know of... That would be a hoot!

Perhaps my perception is too myopic ... maybe what I need is a CMS front end, having the Wiki and forums as appendages to it...

I'm still thinking and I'm far from giving up!  Keep the feedback coming. I will work on this as efficiently as possible.

Thanks!

[wb7sgl]

On Tue, May 12, 2009 at 5:01 PM, kc9brz <kc9brz@yahoo.com> wrote:

I'd like to see:

1) a sample stake em-comm plan.
2) suggestions/training for a Stake em-comm specialist on:
  a) how recruit hams throughout the stake.
  b) how to get bishops to call a ward em-comm specialist.
  c) how to communication with bishops who don't have
     a ward em-comm specialist yet. How do you get the word out?
  d) how the stake em-comm specialist could work with the
     high councilman who is over emergency preparedness.
  e) how to promulgate your stake em-comm plan so that
     bishoprics and their whole PEC know how things are supposed
     to work.
  f) something to tell ME how things are supposed to work.
     I'm clueless and lost!

-Dave A., kc9brz.

[wb7sgl]

On Tue, May 12, 2009 at 5:08 PM, Bob Singer <aztrooper@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Forgot that I was even on this list as I haven't seen anything for awhile.  Don't know what Wiki is.  If I didn't remember anything about this, maybe others have forgotten.  I am on "Larry's List" and see something from him almost every day.  I would like to see notices of up coming events, equipment for sale, good web sites, evaluations of equipment, anything interesting to me as a ham including repeater locations and frequencies.  We have a pretty active group up here in the Chillicothe area with a check in every Sunday night at 7pm on 147.225.  Haven't gotten my tower up yet with the yagi and J pole antenna but soon.  Any one going to Dayton this weekend?
Bob in Chillicothe

[wb7sgl]

On Tue, May 12, 2009 at 5:09 PM, Keith Grebe <keith_grebe@hotmail.com> wrote:
Rob,
 
I think the e-mail messages works by far the best.

Keith Grebe,
Lakewood Ward, Lakewood Stake

[wb7sgl]

On Tue, May 12, 2009 at 5:12 PM, <taft.babbitt@gmail.com> wrote:
I also think the idea behind the site is good and needed. The need I see is the following:

A place to plan, coordinate, and establish best practices for the ue of HAM radio in the context of LDS users individually, within a ward, steak, or region/area. I think that the LDS context is critical because we would want to coordiate specific to those groups (of course folks can participate in other groups too). I want as the ecomm coordinator for our ward a place that will help me forumate a ecomm plan that is executatble by the common ward/steak. This means that although HAM would be the powerful cornerstone of the system, it would incorporate FRS and CB users as well since most households may have those instead. I want it to establish NET scripts that can run common social nets in the ward, but more importantly NET scripts and NET procedures that could be used in emergency scenaios to get the ward in contact with each other. My brother and I have been planning on getting these plans together and thats the type of info i would like to see us work together on the LDSHAM.com site to create.

Now, I think that either a FORUM or a WIKI is the right technology but the current forums software is just too out dated and we should look to upgrade to something like http://www.vbulletin.com/index.php but i know there is a cost issue there, but folks expect more from forums these days otherwise they will drop off because the tools dont provide to base internet expectations.

I am short on time like most of us, but would love to help make this a success moving forward, I think it could be a very big asset!

Taft
73, w0ozy, Colorado

[wb7sgl]

On Tue, May 12, 2009 at 5:31 PM, Trina Boice <trinaboice@gmail.com> wrote:
I'm pretty new at the whole Ham thing, so any kind of format is great.  I got my license in San Diego where they had weekly meetings and good communication, but now that I've moved to Las Vegas I don't know what's going on in my area.  It would be great to have some kind of directory so we can find each other.  Thanks for getting us organized!
Trina

[wb7sgl]

On Tue, May 12, 2009 at 5:12 PM, <taft.babbitt@gmail.com> wrote:
I also think the idea behind the site is good and needed. The need I see is the following:

A place to plan, coordinate, and establish best practices for the ue of HAM radio in the context of LDS users individually, within a ward, steak, or region/area. I think that the LDS context is critical because we would want to coordiate specific to those groups (of course folks can participate in other groups too). I want as the ecomm coordinator for our ward a place that will help me forumate a ecomm plan that is executatble by the common ward/steak. This means that although HAM would be the powerful cornerstone of the system, it would incorporate FRS and CB users as well since most households may have those instead. I want it to establish NET scripts that can run common social nets in the ward, but more importantly NET scripts and NET procedures that could be used in emergency scenaios to get the ward in contact with each other. My brother and I have been planning on getting these plans together and thats the type of info i would like to see us work together on the LDSHAM.com site to create.

Now, I think that either a FORUM or a WIKI is the right technology but the current forums software is just too out dated and we should look to upgrade to something like http://www.vbulletin.com/index.php but i know there is a cost issue there, but folks expect more from forums these days otherwise they will drop off because the tools dont provide to base internet expectations.

I am short on time like most of us, but would love to help make this a success moving forward, I think it could be a very big asset!

Taft
73, w0ozy, Colorado

Well, I appreciate the suggestion on vbulletin, the current cost is $180 and given that I don't make money from this site, I can't see investing that much money into it.

I am interested in better understanding what you mean by "just too out dated" ... you can PM me if you would feel more comfortable discussing it privately. I have limited exposure to vBulletin, I am a member of another forum which uses vB but they haven't done much customization to it. so from my experience the differences are cosmetic. The appearance of this site changes dramatically when I change the theme and I suspect that may be the major influence in your perception but I don't want to speak for you.

SMF supports virtually everything that vbulletin offers, I have been able to squash all of the forum spam thus far, the SMF community has developed a number of great plugins which I have been using. The only thing I have identified between of any interest to myself is the WYSIWYG editor. But honestly, this editor works just fine for free.

If people don't like the theme, or would prefer the more normalized appearing theme like:
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4324/29639480lx2.jpg
then I can easily change the theme. But I am actually more inclined to believe the problem is people don't find the BB format useful, regardless of whether it's SMF or vBulletin.

Perhaps the BB format is OK, but I need to add wiki pages for specific things like EmComm, Calling Specifics, Net Scripts, etc. 

I need to do more thinking on the topic...

[wb7sgl]

On Tue, May 12, 2009 at 5:57 PM, <MDerr44995@aol.com> wrote:
Hi,
 
You efforts are much appreciated, but a way probably needs to be found to get the word out to LDS hams around the world.  Most LDS hams are probably unaware of available resources.  In the past, MARA and SINBAD enjoyed modest followings for a while but, except for a few local pockets, are pretty much defunct.
 
The Church now coordinates hams on a regional level, centered around each bishops storehouse.  Some areas are more active in this regard than others.  Each regional storehouse typically has a satellite phone, supplemented by an HF station and local VHF/UHF nets.
 
We are fortunate in the Denver area to have a fairly active LDS hams colony.  Tech classes are taught on a regular basis and  are well-attended.  We run both monthly (8pm mountain time) and weekly (9pm) Sunday evening nets on 147.495 MHz simplex.  The monthly 8pm net is Regional is scope.  The 9pm weekly net is much more local to the North Denver area, relatively casual in approach, but carried on Jay Gierke's  *LDSHAMS* Echolink conference (node 17388).  Please join us on *LDSHAMS* any Sunday evening.
 
The Church headquarters emergency communications paradigm changed in 2004, when ERRS (Emergency Radio Response Communications) was changed to ERC (Emergency Response Communications).  The justification was that emergency communications needed to be broad-based, rather than just limited to radio.
 
Possibly your best opportunity for large-scale involvement may be to try to become integrated into ERC.  You would need to determine who at Church Headquarters/ Welfare Services/ Humanitarian Services is involved in emergency communications and discuss possibilities with them.
 
I don't know anyone in Utah, but could suggest that you may want to contact someone like Jerry Wellman, W7SAR in Salt Lake City for advice.  Jerry has been a long-time columnist for WorldRadio magazine and should be involved in Church ERC.  He can be reached at jw@desnews.com  I would be interested in hearing anything he may be able to share.
 
73,
Mike W3DIF

[wb7sgl]

On Tue, May 12, 2009 at 5:59 PM, Donn Hilton <radio.va7dh@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Rob

Oh boy, you have a problem there and I can empathize. In the telecom company I used to work for I was a leader in a widely flung circle group. One of the problems I ran into was that no one would remember the group even existed so that when they discovered a better way to do something they would neglect to share it with the rest of the group. I think that the best way to make this work is to keep it alive by having twice monthly mailings to everyone just to say hello and ask if anyone is having a problem that we could help find a solution to or has someone had a problem they have resolved and which could benefit many in the group.

I just saw an article in TCA (The Canadian Amateur) which I had already seen in a local mailing amongst some of us LDS amateurs. It was a compact and versatile multi-mode "Grab & Go " kit. I;m sure that there are numerous LDS amateurs who have come up with their own versions and some may be pretty neat and well worth sharing.

Recently I had a couple of failures when installing UHF crimp connectors on RG-8X type cable. I have never had a flop before but all of a sudden I had two. On cutting the connector open with a zip blade on my angle grinder it was obvious what I had done wrong. By the way the connector and crimp tool were made by RFI and I still haven't seen instructions on how to properly use the tool. I must be looking in all of the wrong places. Anyway, the tool is a good one as is the UHF male terminal. What I need to do is describe how to successfully install a crimp terminal to everyone. I've heard complaints about those *@#% terminals before and wondered what the fuss was all about. Now I think I know and can share that in another posting.

There are lots of things to share but if we don't hear from our brothers and sisters for months on end we soon forget this neat avenue that's available to us. So, yes the format may need changing. Don't drop it. There is a real need for such a thing. Please tell me, again, how to subscribe to this. I have a number of students who have received their ceertifications and many may want to participate. Many will probably have some basic problems to sort out so need a bit of mentoring. We try to do that locally.

Thanks for posing the question Rob. Like I said, we tend to forget this even exists without being reminded. A regular mailing to us all would correct that. Maybe some short newsletter to remind us of things going on in Mercury/MARA groups, or what's happening in different stakes. Up here in BC and Albertaa we have had some fantastic success having groups of a hundred or so become certified. Nothing like this has ever happened before as far as I'm aware of. That's pretty exciting. That would be encouraging news to other groups who may wonder how we are having such success. We could share that too.

73

Donn

[KIĜOT]

First I think you have an visability problem - until I got today's email about this subject I don't think I've ever been on the site yet when I tried to register I was already a member.  most sites like this send out a monthly reminder to all members reminding them they are members with an update of the rules or something.

I have a few hobbies I participate in, the ones I do the most reading about are email reflectors - the traffice can get quite high and the messages are not in a nice by subject format but I do get the chance to see every message posted daily.

The other sites like this I browse once in awhile and will join subjects I think I want to know more about so I get emailed when ever a post is made.

Looks like a nice site - I'll have to spend some more time on it someday, if I remember it's here.

de KIĜOT, Brad QTH Aurora, Co

[K4KRO]

I understand how you feel about trying to promote something worthwhile that just isn't catching on. The main problem is that we just don't know who we are and something needs to be done about it. I have been active in the Cairo, GA branch of the Albany, GA stake for over a year now and only know one other LDS ham in the area. I know we have a stake emergency director and there are several other hams in the stake but I don't have a clue as to who they are. I am sure many other LDS hams share this situation. We need to create a list of LDS hams with call sign, location, e-mail and phone number. Maybe we can find volunteers to do this in each stake. If your stake is already organized then you should find hams in neighboring stakes to help spread the word. An occasional e-mail update is a great idea. See how it's working now?   

Good luck!

[W7KBH]

Rob and ALL - I think Mike W3DIF and Bruce K4KRO have hit the nail on the head - the whole thing is that nobody know anybody outside their own little click.  I can understand UR frustration since I have been trying to get LDS Hams together across the nation for more than five years now on Echolink - Using two Nodes *LDSHAMS* and *WW-MARA* - I have run into some opposition from sources that would prefer we NOT associate with the ERC or other related Amature attempts like MARA - Im sorry - But I just dont get it!!! - What hapened to Love thy Neighbor, etc.  How about KNOW thy neighbor first. We all travel in our small circles and never get very far moving ahead.  I chose Echolink as a format because I saw it work back in 2005 during the Great Tsunami crisis and before that on the First and Second Post 911 Echolink Nets - where literally 100's of hams were checking in and communicating with each other around the world and across our great nation.  That's what I call Communications on a Grand Scale.  And why is it that "we" as the greatest religious body in the world cant get it together???  Email is a great tool - but unfortunately it takes a great deal of effort to continually update when people change their email address as often as they move or feel the need for a change.  I have collected over 900 Amateur Call signs over the last 6+ years that are (or were at one time) Amateur Radio operators and members of the church.  At one time I had over 100 that were connected with Echolink as well.  Currently I have logged about 60+ that have shown up on Echolink over the last 6 months.  But when I try to set up a net and email everyone - I get very little response.  I guess every body is just too busy or not interested in communitating with each other any more.  My biggest net a few years ago only had about 15 check in (from Coast to Coast).  Well - Im still here and so are my Echolink nodes (24/7) for your use to anyone that needs them - thats why I built them - Come on down - setup a Net - UR welcome to use them for your needs - local or International - ALSO - Rob - if you would like I can Put your Website on my Echolink opening page for advertisement - but just dont want to have folks think its mine - so I can disclamer it by adding UR Call & Name for a contact person - Thats an offer you can consider - My Best to you - Hope things Grow - It's for our own (and others) good in the troubled future - Thanks for ALL UR trying to do!!!    - JAY - W7KBH - Las Vegas

[wb7sgl]

On Tue, May 12, 2009 at 7:12 PM, <steve@pabin.com> wrote:
Rob,

Wow,  I just looked at the website for the first time. Pretty nice.  For
me, I just needed a reminder to have a look at the website.  I simply
forgot all about it.

Remember that CTR really stands for Call To Remind.

I do work on websites at work and at home and I would like to help out
with this one.  I am also starting to do a wiki at work.  I work for the
State a ADEQ (Environmental Quality) as a programmer and technical writer.

Let me spend some time this week looking over your website.  Since I have
not looked at it before today I will be able to tell you what my first
impressions are.  I will write down some notes and send them to you.

I have done a lot of work with EMCOMM and CERT over the years.  I am also
a retired Air Force officer (once enlisted)so I might be able to supply
you with some ideas.

I think the website is a great way to get info out.

Steve Pabin
N7ZZS
Peoria, AZ

[N4OLW]

    I didn't know about the site until this morning.  A friend sent me the link by e-mail, and here I am.  I really need information on planning, organizing and implementing a Stake Em-Comm system.  Our Stake covers a area about 120 miles by 100, and we have about 12 hams, mostly in the Northern area.  I'm VERY glad to find the site, and look forward to enjoying it.  Thanks so much.

      Ed Mallory
      N4OLW
      Albany Ga Stake Em-Comm Spec.