Names and Callsigns
All my life I have struggled with the problem of remembering peoples names, and over the years have tried various strategies to assist in this matter. As Australians we're lucky because we can call everyone "Mate".
As I've become involved with amateur radio and Famparc I have now faced the additional problem of remembering names and callsigns. To help me I carry a spreadsheet and numbers file, where I'm recording peoples names and callsigns as I'm going along. I have this sorted by callsigns for easy access to the names.
As the club continues to grow, we have many new members with new names and callsigns. I would like to put forward the suggestion, which we can discuss at the next general meeting, that Craig makes a copy of the membership list into a file with the following information and here is an example using Craig and my name:
Name Surname Initial Callsign
Phillip S VK3LRO
Craig S VK3NCR
This list would be in the password protected area of the website, and therefore not accessible to non club members. The above isn't very much different to information already found on our website, with the addition of the first letter of a persons surname. This helps where we have multiple people with the same first name.
I think this list would be especially useful for new members as they participate in club functions and scheduled nets. I know I found nets quite hard in the early days as I struggled to discern call signs as well as names.
I would ask that you provide some feedback on this matter and I will be raising it at the October general meeting which I believe is October 4.
If any member feels strongly against this matter, they could request that Craig doesn't include their details in the file.
Cheers
What's his name
VK3LRO
Hello Phillip,
You are not alone in your struggles to remember peoples names and callsigns.
We all do!
I also struggled in remembering names and callsigns.. However many many years ago I was told that the best way to remember, is like everything we do, practise practise, practise.
I found after speaking to dozens if not hundred's of hams since getting my license many years ago, that they were spot-on... After speaking to other hams over the air every day, over and over and over, I found that this amazingly helped..
I still struggle with new members, however after time and making many contacts over the air with them, I find that I begin to remember their name and callsign.
As well as that I suggest you use a Electronic Log Book System (Software), which also shares its logs with your phone.. I have a Mac and iPhone app that talk to each other. I can then look up instantly on my iPhone or mac the persons callsign and see their details plus other information too.
This topic has already been tabled at the club a year or so ago, and was voted that this information is NOT stored on the website even behind a password locked page.
No one and I repeat no one wanted to have their information shared in anyway.
Let me make that perfectly clear!
So.. to help you in remembering names and. callsigns, I suggest you simply make contact with the person(s), add them to your own electronic log book, so you have them on hand all the time.
To make it further clear, the constitution is not all encompassing and although you are allowed to view (View only) our club members registry, it is for your pursual only at the club rooms.. We cannot share this information any part or in full.
So.. get busy and start making contacts and logging them so you can quick and easy access to your own stored data.
Cheers.
Craig