HADARS Foundation Course Review & LMS Launch Planning Meeting

Summary of the meeting held on 3rd April 2025 between James Currie-Cathey, Matt Hardy, George Townend, Dean Baker, and Hardy Whiteley-Boocock:

1. LMS Demonstration (James)

• Walkthrough of the HADARS Foundation Course hosted on the new LMS.
• Emphasis on structured content: videos with summarised learning objectives, quizzes replacing worksheets, and diagrams embedded for clarity.
• Reviewers (Hardy, Dean, Max, Matt) are enrolled as instructors with the ability to navigate freely and suggest corrections.
• Participants encouraged to validate logic, quiz correctness, and overall course coherence.
• Course progress tracking and multiple attempts for quizzes enabled; no enforced pass mark roadblocks (for now).

2. Governance and Legal Considerations

• Recognition of the course’s wide appeal beyond local members; potential national interest flagged.
• Concerns raised about financial and legal structure if payments are taken:
  
  • HMRC implications if revenue exceeds thresholds.
  • Discussion around mutual trading vs charity status.
  • Agreed action: James to consult his accountant; external legal advice may also be sought.

3. Business Model & Membership

• Proposal to restrict course access to HADARS members as a club benefit.
• Discussion on structuring club membership as the gateway to training access.
• Acknowledged potential surge in national/international membership and the need to manage expectations and benefits accordingly.
• Agreed importance of strategic planning and potential long-term transition to a charitable model if warranted.

4. Publicity & Launch Strategy

• Positive attention from notable UK amateur radio figures including Tim Hughes (RadCom Basics) and Jonathan Sawyer (ex-ML&S).
• Agreed they would be invited to beta test and possibly help promote the platform, post refinement.
• Discussion of soft local launch via Grapevine, Nextdoor, and local press, with potential for national exposure via YouTube and RadCom once ready.

5. Risks & Protections

• Site content secured against casual misuse; only concern is screen recording, which can’t be prevented.
• Plan in place to monitor unauthorised distribution (e.g., YouTube) and issue copyright strikes where necessary.
• Acknowledgement that copying, while undesirable, may also signal interest and opportunity.

6. Internal Testing and Incentives

• Need to recruit internal HADARS members as beta testers for wider feedback.
• Discussion around possible incentives for testers (e.g., discounted membership, merchandise).
• Acknowledgement of challenges motivating engagement during summer months.

7. Timelines and Next Steps

• Agreement that momentum must be maintained; delays risk stalling progress.
• Proposed phased approach:
  
  • Immediate internal review and corrections.
  • Structured beta testing period with defined timeline.
  • Marketing and soft launch planning to follow.
• Tentative goal: Complete beta testing by end of April 2025.