Greetings, fellow aficiandos of the ruff and tumble!
I've had a couple of people respond privately to me about
the type of topics and this has pinged me to suggest the
following. I trust that those who are thinking of
spearheading such a venture will consider it and integrate
it as you see fit. I would also like others to consider
this as 'food for thought' and a tool to achieve what we
desire-
Which is.. furthering contesting by introduction,
assimilation, and encouragement amongst the faithful,
newcomers, and those outside the fold.
Here are my ideas.. Hope you find them useful
It's a bit long, but I trust you'll read it and ponder it.
Comments apprecaited.
73
Chuck K3FT
================================
THE ISSUE!
How do you address the multiple contest oriented areas of
interest WHILE at the same time keeping it interesting to a
broad spectrum of folks?
Personally.. what I see here are several discrete issues
which are ALL tied together.
To tie an old story to it.. think back to the poem (author
I have forgotten) where 5 blind men were describing an
elephant.
Each provided their interpretation of the elephant's
configuration based on what THEY perceived through their
senses.
Separately, each one was factually right, in their
description, but wrong in their individual conclusions..
but TOGETHER.. their descriptive comments COULD allow a
reasonably decent conclusion as to the elephants'
configuration, within reason.
So.. what we have here are MANY individuals detailing THIER
perceptions and ideas about what the contest 'elephant'
looks like, to them. Each is 100 percent correct as far as
it goes, yet many have foused on a particular niche/niches
that they enjoy and/or have specialized in and may have
chosen to NOT fully developed the picture into something
coherent that an outsider could envision and recognize.
I see it as follows -
Some like 'the high performance end' which would benefit
the already active and interested contester by helping
them improve skills and give ideas.
Some like the 'beginner's corner' which would benefit the
rank newcomer or person who just got exposed to contesting
andhas no real knowledge of the fun, excitement, and
'sizzle' that contesting provides - much less the benefits
available from learning to contest.
Some like the 'speciality articles' - "Operating SO2R",
"Stacking and Phasing Beams for optimal EU performance",
"Techniques for 'staying in the chair' and maintaining the
rate"
Some like the technical side such as 'Optimizing your
filters', 'Effective Mods to reduce inter-station
interference'
Some like the war stories, fellowship aspects, line scores,
'Murphyisms' and the descriptions (folksy story-telling
style) of 'how we did it and what we did and where we went'
type.
Some like the skills and teaching aspect.
Some like the topics of 'how contesting helps public
service', 'how to meld contesting, public service, and
operating events'
Some like the adminstration and management side.
Some like the software side.
Most have multiple interests that cross the boundaries I've
noted above.
Put them all together and what you DO have is a very good
representation of contesting as a whole.
OK.. THE QUESTION - ALL ARE GOOD, but HOW do you address
it?
I think.. the key (as I see it) is to write topics and
group them in logical collections.
You have 4 separate areas to consider..
1) A 'sell the sizzle and tantilize the rank newcomer or
outsider' to COME AND SEE. Get them hooked and then direct
them to other places for more information
2) A 'nuts and bolts' for the beginner/slightly past
beginner level which assumes they've DONE a contest and
need further ELMER'ING to get them more established and
expose them to newer things, without frigthening them off.
This exposes them to the higher level skills, gadgets,
ideas, etc. and funnels them to the higher level, more
specialized areas for information.
3) The intermeidate/advanced informataion. This assumes the
person is somewhat a seasoned veteran and gets into things
like the health aspect, hints and kinks for better opping
and scoring. More advanced goodies and gadgets. Assumes a
level of competence from having been active for a while
andknowing the ropes. Moves them to seek the more esoteric
stuff.
4) The expert and/or esoteric stuff like SO2R specifics,
stacking/tuning beams, multi tower, multi-op., etc.. You
know - ALL the 'stuff all us 'little guns' want but is
more tuned to the guys with the bux or location to support
it.
Those 4 texts can be separate and should be, (A 4 volume
set??) BUT.. each should mention the rest so people will
know they are out there and can go find them when they want
or when they are ready. Pix, commentary, etc.
That way.. specialists in EACH area can concentrate on
their area of interest. A central person or group collects
and assembles them together and coordinates the editing
process. Finally.. a set emerges. Peer review has taken
place and all the necessary items required for a good,
honest, accurate reference/operation/instruction text
exists.
When dealing with the technical a peer review is essential
and checking facts and statements when needed is important
tomaintain the integrity of the information. After all.. we
would like others to use what we have done as reference AND
as a springboard for their own success and learning. If our
information is accurate and factual, the others can build
on it since the foundation is solid.
Distribution? That's for others to ponder. but we have
ideas. Cost - no,not inexpensive as it relates to
publication BUT we have a lot of volunteer experts on these
reflectors who ahve already volunteered their time to make
the necessary effort to work on a project worth doing.
Look.. it's not easy.. but we ALL Know it is needed.
I have seen the effort a lot of you put forth in to what we
do.. Let us channel it and do it to it.
As they say on my local PBS TV station 'If not US? Then
WHO?'
We are.. the Pros From Dover. Let's Roll!
Not meaning to get rah rah.. but hey. Nobody does what we
do and nobody is going to do what we do.
__________________________________________________
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