Mike, Bob, et.al.
A similar thing happened to us a couple years ago at Ham-Com in Arlington,
Texas in June. It seems the convention management got tired of DXers, even
though we had as many as 400 attend the DX luncheon and forums that
followed. They now devote more time and space to VHF, UHF, microwave, etc.
The convention management wanted a local DX club, to pick up all the costs
of the DX programs instead of them, even though you had to buy a ticket to
the DX luncheon and Ham-Com through the convention and the DX programs had
the largest attendance of any program. They wanted the club to pick up all
the transportation costs of speakers, etc, even though the convention had
done it for more than 10 years. In 1997 Bob, KK6EK of the VK0IR dxpedition
paid his OWN way to be the speaker. Now we have a "box" lunch and the
convention people give let us use a meeting room in the convention center
rather than a large ballroom in the hotel right next to the convention
center.
Tom Anderson, WW5L
Bedford TX
n6jm@pacbell.net wrote:
> Mike W8DN says in part:
>
> > > Here is the reply I received to my (less than polite) email to the
> > > Hamvention Chairman. My impression is that this is the way they
> > > intend to do it from here on out.......
>
> > > Mike / W8DN
>
> and Bob W2CE replies in part with:
>
> > After my last comments on the subject I was told by a well informed
> > person that, yes, this is to be the permanent locations for the DX
> > and Contest Forums.
>
> to create questions for many in the future....
>
> > ...Visalia, New Orleans, etc seem to take on more importance for DXers
> > now.
> > Maybe the Dayton Hamvention will be history before it becomes the year
> > 2000 ARRL National Convention. It might not be a bad idea to start now
> > demanding the ARRL hold the DX and Contest Forums on-site or find
> > another location.
>
> > 73, Bob, W2CE
> >
>
> I think they are trying to tell us they are not interested in contesters
> or DXers. Just run through the display area and notice how much non
> Amateur Radio suppliers are exhibitors. Exactly, what does games and
> other unrealated software programs do for us.
>
> The few Hamventions I have attended (with WORLDRADIO) have always been
> enjoyable. Some of the sessions I covered were rather stupid. But to
> move the elite groups out of site is something else.
>
> Let's mention Visalia/Fresno. When I began with that one probably about
> 25 years ago it was at Fresno in January. They they changed it to April.
> A reason given so it would be back-to-back with Dayton for overseas
> DXers. In other words, they wouldn't have to make two trips. Now
> Visalia (or Fresno depending on which club is running it) is in May.
> Why? Most likely Dayton again. Personally, I would like to see this one
> back in January. Another thing that gets me about Hamvention is they
> kiss up and make mention of that Lambda group!
>
> 73,
>
> John Minke N6JM
> DX Editor WORLDRADIO
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