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Post by Admin on Feb 28, 2018 23:29:37 GMT
In other words, where do we go from here.
This upcoming weekend, we are going to have an ALPB meeting.
There hasn't been much feedback given via these Forums as to where members want the ALPB to go.
It could mean that people are waiting for this meeting to give their opinions.
It could mean that people are satisfied with the way things are right now (and that's OK).
It could mean that people don't care.
And finally, maybe some only visit the Forum occasionally, and don't know what's going on.
I had hoped for some suggestions and ideas, communicated via the Forum, that could be taken to the meeting and discussed.
I had also hoped that more would take a direct interest in getting involved, and volunteer some of their time moving forward. That's the only way that we're going to be able to get more done than what has been accomplished to date. To be fair, one individual has, but that occurred on another Forum!
So I'm in a bit of a quandry.
I could come up with an agenda, but I strongly believe that the ALPB members should drive this process, not a (Temporary) Chairman.
We could draw up an agenda at the meeting, but based on experience elsewhere, that usually doesn't work. It's far too easy to spend most of your time coming up with the agenda, and not be able to address it. Combine that with the limitations of TeamSpeak, and I don't think we'd get much done.
Here's what I suggest. I'll throw a few ideas out here. Perhaps others can comment on them, and suggest their own. Out of that, we can come up with something that will serve as the framework for the meeting. I'm open to postponing the meeting as well, if we get a lively dialogue going here,
Here goes, in no particular order.
1. Focus. It's a lot of work and worry to run a Forum, website, etc. I believe that we should focus on what makes us different than others out there, and that's Programming. Even rework the Forum to emphasize that focus.
2. Structure. You need more than a Chairman to run a group, particularly to avoid burnout of key individuals. It would be nice to have a Chairman, several moderators, a website admin, etc. If we want to grow, then we're going to have to look at other avenues of communication, such as social media.
3. Internal Mechanisms. Meetings provide a useful tool to communicate internally, but they can be unwieldy if they grow too large (not much of problem so far, but if we grow...). Some like the social aspects as well. However, not everyone is comfortable in meetings, or has the available time to attend. I'd like to see the ALPB use the Forum in lieu of some meetings for business, and come up with a mechanism for that. Perhaps have 2 types of meetings - business, which are limited in number, and social (same as we have now).
That's just a start. Any and all comments are welcome.
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Post by mark on Mar 1, 2018 0:23:11 GMT
I agree that this forum should be a 'little" different then the others. How?, well it is already to the extent that this forum welcomes members from other countries and accomodates unlicensed operation in those countries other than just part 15 in the USA. This is true when comparing to HB where it seems that this is not the case there and the restrictions in even being able to join.
I really don't know how to differ it significantly from Part 15.US. Programming as a focus?, programming is talked about there too. If this forum and the others are about legal unlicensed broadcasting they are pretty much the same.
This forum is called the ALPB which implies low power broadcasting which is different from unlicensed....but to focus on what the name implies would not accommodate the hobby people which it does now, but it would be different.
Keeping the status quo is a good idea as it seems to have worked up till now and if it ain't broke.....
My input...keep it the way it is with a section on programming in the board as you have now....I don't know how you focus on that more. Does that put on the back burner the other things?
For me the status quo is my input.
As for needing moderators I don't know if I could volunteer for this as I don't know enough about everything, and I don't seem qualified to to do this.
I'm just one of the guys. Also doesn't having more than one moderator have the problem of the moderators having a difference of opinion between them?
Quite a judgement call when to end a thread or delete a post.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2018 0:33:30 GMT
Limited Expectations
The ALPB consists of the same group of members that left the outgoing Chairman with the feeling we were spinning our wheels.
Yet our Charter Members and more recent members are the best of the hobby, individuals up and running with successful radio stations.
Robert Part15 Engineer has expressed an interest to be involved at the organizational level, perhaps helping with the website, so it is up to the Admin to find the way of fitting him in.
The idea of branding the ALPB based on specialization in Programs over other interests must be explored, but I worry that the field of programs has limitations for several reasons... most member stations have set formats and are not seeking programs. There are a finite number of programs out there and once we have a database of available programs things will slow to a crawl.
Talk of producing original programs doesn't go very far because other than voicing a few drop-ins for music playlists most operators do not have aspirations.
From my vantage I believe the most critical need is the promotion of the hobby itself and we can't do that from within the forum, we'd need to send missionaries out into the world to sell the idea.
Even little tweaks like some of us have been hot under the collar about, such as wider breadth of content, they can't make the ALPB significantly better or worse than it is, it can only set up scapegoats... i.e., if things don't go well blame it on the liberals.
If the ALPB has reached an impasse my wish would be to keep it alive as a stopover for low power radio hobbyists who aren't inclined to define themselves in a useful sociological way, people who generally aren't self-analytical or inclined to join causes that don't directly benefit the lives they are already living.
The problem comes down to a select person or persons willing to keep the infrastructure functioning including website, forum, member correspondence and administrative chores.
Trying to be an educational institution cannot be sustained in an enduring sense, only in a case by case exchange among members as we have already had under Bob's administration.
Boomer and I are interested in promoting a "design and present a low power AM transmitter (kit) schematic" along the lines of the Big Talker Shortwave Transmitter designed by committee at part15_us, but our work will receive a deaf response from most members who don't dabble in electronics.
Having 90+ members means zilch because most of them never post nor attend meetings. If we collected dues from so many people we could actually afford to show greater pride.
A philosopher I knew said, "The trouble with other people is that they don't do what you want them to."
Mine is the voice of neo-pessimism, with the possibility of provoking an optimistic rebuttle.
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Post by Admin on Mar 1, 2018 3:04:11 GMT
Some questions to consider.
Why 'almost' duplicate the Forums that are already out there, and do a good job? Why come here? Why do YOU come here?
What can a loose association, or club (if you will), of low power broadcasters do that these other entities can't? Anything? And are people willing to volunteer their time and energy to do them? Realistically?
The social aspects of the meetings have been brought forward, but can that be handled in a different way, without the umbrella of the ALPB?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2018 3:59:08 GMT
Item by Item
Q. Why 'almost' duplicate the Forums that are already out there, and do a good job? Why come here? Why do YOU come here?
A. It times I've preferred being here because of perceived differences with part15_us, but adjustments made here at ALPB have made the two forums essentially alike. The "3rd" forum, HB, is not an option at all because of their exclusive members only stance. Unless clear differences can be invented to give ALPB Forum a distinct diversity, we are talking in circles. I have no idea what we can do to be more diverse.
Q. What can a loose association, or club (if you will), of low power broadcasters do that these other entities can't? Anything? And are people willing to volunteer their time and energy to do them? Realistically?
A. The membership has not been inclined to become involved in "extra-curricular" projects, and what projects we've had seem to have lacked a true audience. The meetings are high tech coffee stops.
Q. The social aspects of the meetings have been brought forward, but can that be handled in a different way, without the umbrella of the ALPB?
A. Any two or more people can set up a TeamSpeak arrangement.
Perhaps the ALPB has been a romantic escapade, in the literary sense. It might be time for us to return to our daily lives with something of a fond memory.
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Post by mark on Mar 1, 2018 5:46:49 GMT
I have to agree with Carl's "limited expectations" post and most of what he said.
As the new admin. you have the control to take the forum in the direction you see best as you are in the drivers seat.
I and maybe we just don't know what to do that would make this different from the other or what to suggest.
I myself have been trying to think of something but I can't unless the forum gets away from being focused on legal unlicensed broadcasting.
There already is lots of talk about programs in fact it's quite substantial in content already. On both forums.
There's also the Facebook forum which hasn't been mentioned but is also out there and it is again similar to the others.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2018 13:11:16 GMT
Liquidation As An Option
As an established enterprise with a member base the ALPB has a value in the cyber world.
If sold as a package the Admin would call a meeting to talk about distribution of the funds as recommended by the membership. Certainly a recognition to the Founding Chairman would be in order.
The membership status and roster would belong to new owners and a new future would arise.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2018 13:16:38 GMT
Flash Bulletin
By my mathematics there is only one other part 15 site in the known world, Part15_US.
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT PART15_US PLANS TO CONTINUE IN EXISTENCE?
IT ALSO SUFFERS FROM STAGNANT ACTIVITY.
THE OWNER OF PART15_us IS A BUSINESS PERSON. WHY DOES HE CONTINUE TO OPERATE A DUD OF A FORUM SITE?
PERHAPS THE ALPB IS THE LAST HOPE FOR REPRESENTING THIS RARE HOBBY ON LINE!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2018 23:19:02 GMT
Still Coming Up with Ideas for the Big Re-Make
When a hobby radio station is fully built, running smoothly, has no more technical or program needs, where can the owner go to socialize?
One site says "technical only", and if the only other site says "programs only", the mature radio stations will be social outcasts.
It happened to me.
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Post by mark on Mar 2, 2018 0:16:55 GMT
Still Coming Up with Ideas for the Big Re-MakeWhen a hobby radio station is fully built, running smoothly, has no more technical or program needs, where can the owner go to socialize? One site says "technical only", and if the only other site says "programs only", the mature radio stations will be social outcasts. It happened to me. Carl hits a bulls eye. Like it is with me, the station is all put together, did all the work to do this quite awhile ago, it just runs itself now and there's not much to continue to do once it's done. No ongoing new programs, jingles, station ID's, even the playlist has enough stuff and you can only have so big a playlist, so it stagnates. So this and the other forum(s) are for socializing with others doing the same thing as a hobby, at least for me that's the way it is. "When a hobby radio station is fully built, running smoothly, has no more technical, program, and I will add....playlist needs.....where can the owner go to socialize? Carl speaks the truth. |
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Post by part15engineer on Mar 2, 2018 1:34:42 GMT
i have 2700 track and it cues up 3 random and 4 least recently played and 1 PSA at a time so all the tracks see rotation time over the course of the week.
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Post by jimhenry2000 on Mar 2, 2018 11:02:05 GMT
OK, I am going to say my piece. Bob Felmly has decided to step down. David C is now in charge of the ALPB. Looking through the ALPB web site, I don't recall or see the procedures that allow for or have facilitated this change nor do I recall any election on this. I may have missed it so please enlighten me if that is the case. I have no doubt that David C is a fine person, but in the one year or so that I have been a member, David C has not attended a single meeting, the best I can recall, and his moderation of the forums has been heavy handed. As an example, personal attacks against our President or his family has been allowed, because they are "public figures", but questioning the financial resources of a Congress woman who must also be considered a public figure who has a net worth of $40-$50 million while she only earns $175,000 per year is not allowed and is considered racist. Do not misunderstand me. I am not campaigning for the position to run the ALPB. Based on my past experience I am sure I could do so just fine, but my main concern here is just transparency,\.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2018 14:54:03 GMT
Point By Point Response
Jim Henry's post line-by-line:
Looking through the ALPB web site, I don't recall or see the procedures that allow for or have facilitated this change nor do I recall any election on this. I may have missed it so please enlighten me if that is the case.
During several recent meetings Chairman Bob F. expressed his desire to hand control of the domain name, website, forum, and chairmanship to someone else. The members present were unable to vote on the matter because no on stepped forward with an interest in taking the helm.
Bob F. made several pleas here on the Forum for someone, anyone, to accept the leadership. At first there was no response.
Bob F. declared that he was closing the ALPB so as to free himself from the responsibility and DavidC agreed to keep the ALPB running until the membership could meet and further decide the future of the organization. The upcoming March 3 Meeting will be that deciding moment.
I have no doubt that David C is a fine person, but in the one year or so that I have been a member, David C has not attended a single meeting, the best I can recall, and his moderation of the forums has been heavy handed. As an example, personal attacks against our President or his family has been allowed, because they are "public figures", but questioning the financial resources of a Congress woman who must also be considered a public figure who has a net worth of $40-$50 million while she only earns $175,000 per year is not allowed and is considered racist.
It has already been decided that no personal attacks were made against the Trumps, but only critical comments made. The singling out of the black Congresswoman for an attack by you based on no existing news story is a complete non sequitur and has all the earmarks of being misogynist and racist. We're going over this again... I hope you move on to something else.
Do not misunderstand me. I am not campaigning for the position to run the ALPB. Based on my past experience I am sure I could do so just fine, but my main concern here is just transparency.
I hope this feedback provides the requested transparency.
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Post by Druid Hills Radio on Mar 2, 2018 15:05:33 GMT
I think I would single out ALL members of Congress who somehow manage to leave as millionaires that involve themselves with insider trading.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2018 15:08:46 GMT
Doing Things the Right Way
DHR fair and balanced: "I think I would single out ALL members of Congress who somehow manage to leave as millionaires that involve themselves with insider trading."
The ALPB agrees.
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