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These points apply to all kinds of public service communications: ARES / RACES, traffic nets, club service at public events ... emergencies, disasters, and routine community events. We need to be amateur psychologists to understand the attitudes and situations that affect hams' volunteer activity.
WHY PEOPLE DON'T
Too often, we say "apathy" and go no further. But there are reasons (not excuses ... reasons) why people do not volunteer.
The preceding factors have always been with us. We can do something to get rid of some of them, but others are beyond our control. However, modern American life has introduced some new factors:
Studies show that middle-class Americans are working longer and longer hours. That affects the time they have for all the other elements of their lives, including family and free time. Family structure has also changed. If you only see your children on weekends, if you only have a little time together with your family, you will not put any ham radio activity ahead of that.
For leadership officials, the "duty" angle may be primary. However, for Joe and Jane Ham, the factors related to personal feelings are probably most important. As leaders we must make sure to pay attention to the emotion-based factors that motivate people to volunteer.
We should not take it for granted that hams in all parts of the country volunteer for the same reasons. We need to think about what their needs and motivations are, not jump to conclusions.
We have all met this kind of leader ... who complains all the time ... who tries to impress us with jargon and name-dropping ... who has no time for newcomers. Maybe we have even been guilty of some of these mistakes ourselves! If we find ourselves doing these things, we need to make ourselves stop it.
