Amateur Radio Society

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 45, 24 May 1929, Page 11

Amateur Radio Society

Address by Mr.

Owen

HE annual meeting of the Amateur Radio Society, Wellington, will be held in the Dominion Farmers’ Institute Building on Monday, May 27, at 8p.m. It is hoped that a large attendance of members and other listeners will be recorded. Following the discharge of the formal business, the late president of the society, Mr. J. H. Owen, will give an address on his experiences of broadcasting in other countries and a demonstration with a portable receiving set. Mr. Owen has just returned from an extended tour, and it is certain that his remarks will be of great interest to listeners. Apart from this attraction, the society is desirous of the special support of listeners. It fulfils a very useful function to the cause of radio, and listeners will be consulting their own interests by giving it support. Me. R. L. JONES writes:-I should like to make an appeal to listeners in the Wellington district to join the Wellington Amateur Radio Society and attend the next annual meeting. It is obvious to those who care to study the facts that district societies of listeners are essential if radio broadcasting is to progress on the right lines; for no matter what those in control of broadeasting may think and believe, due reeognition to the requests of listeners must be given by those in authority over broadcasting. The work of the society is done voluntarily by a body of keen men-men who are actuated by the very best desires and ideals; and the close attention given to detail on behalf of listeners as a whole could not be amply paid for out of the small subscription; the latter being only sufficient to cover cost of meeting rooms, postage, and other petty expenses. The society depends upon subscriptions for its existence, Apart from subscriptions and finance generally, comes the matter of attendance at meetings. It is very disconcerting to a president and his executive officers if metings are not well attended. The least listeners can do is to attend the meetings, which are held approximately each month. It is no sinecure to run a society on small rations; and much worse to try and run a society if members do not roll up regularly; worst still, if the public won’t even join the society. The society jumped from, roughly, 30 or so members about two years ago to somewhere in the vicinity of 300 or more members, and it should be ten times that number and more. Wellington is known as a city "hard to shift’; only an earthquake seems to liven people up. Let us hope that this stigma will be removed as far as radio listening-in is concerned. Whether a member or not, all listeners should attend the next meeting. .