RARC Membership Survey Results

RARC members were asked to participate in a membership survey at the beginning of January, 2005. The survey form was available on the RARC web site to allow members who could not attend the monthly club meeting to participate. The survey form consisted of 18 questions convering basic demographics (5 questions), amateur radio activities (3 questions) and RARC club activities and interests (10 questions). In additional to the questions with multiple choice answers, program topic suggestions and general comments were requested. The survey questions were very similar to previous surveys taken in 2000 and 2003.

Club members were asked to participate in the membership survey via email with a reference provided to the survey form in the email note. Survey inputs from 37 club members was received for a membership participation rate of 29%.

Survey Results

The tabulated survey results to the 18 questions is provided in the following link. The written input on program topic suggestions and general comments were provided directly to the club officers.

Survey Results Report

Observations and Comments on Survey Results

A very general characterization of the "majority" of the survey respondents is provided below:

• Has been licensed over 10 years.
• Is over 50 years of age.
• Spends over 5 hours per month on amateur radio activities.
• Operated on VHF/UHF and HF during the past 12 months.
• New amateur activities planned for the next 12 months are APRS, HF and digital modes.
• Has been a member of RARC for over 5 years.
• Participated in RARC monthly club meetings, emergency services and public service events in past 12 months.
• New club activities planned in next 12 months are field day and club picnic.
• Used 146.82 repeater and 146.625 repeater during past 12 months.
• Relies primarily on the club web site for information on club activities.
• Attends club meetings primarily for social interaction with other hams.
• Attends over 6 monthly club meetings per year.
• Does not plan to upgrade within next 12 months.

One noteable change in the survey results compared to the 2003 survey is the usage of club communication facilities. The following table indicates the percentage of survey respondents who have used the club facilities during the past 12 months. The usage of the 146.625 has increased dramatically compared to the 2003 survey due to the new repeater hardware and the availability of the KØRGR Echolink node which operates on the repeater. The usage of the 146.82 autopatch, the 443.85 repeater and the APRS digipeaters by the survey respondents is also fairly high.

Q13: Which of the following RARC communication facilities have you used during the past 12 months?
Facility	Percentage
146.82 repeater	92%
146.82 autopatch	49%
146.625 repeater	70%
443.85 repeater	30%
APRS Digipeater	35%
146.625 Echolink	41%