Clubs

[Waltk at PICA.ARMY.MIL]

Hi Rich. I want to comment on the following statement:

>One of the purposes of a club is to get people out from
>behind their radios to interact with other people of like interests
>on a direct personal basis.

Firstly, you make the assumption, or at least your comment can lead
one to conclude, that all we do is "sit behind our rigs."  I don't
speak for anyone but myself, especially not FRC.  Having a family and 
being active in that family *AND* being an active  contester, often 
creates a double-bind. Meaning, it is a difficult juggling act to manage 
a career, to be a good parent, husband, active civic volunteer, active 
in other clubs and persue other interests that lead to a balanced 
life, *AND* be an active contester.

Others (W2UP) have suggested making some of the contests and/or the 
awarding structure more "family friendly." Some have proposed limiting 
the duration of contests, or even creating categories where we, the 
encumbered, could compete on an equal footing.  I won't go to quite that 
extreme, feeling that doing the 48 is the way it is, and the way it 
should remain. Maybe contetsing isn't the thing that is right for you
at a particular time in your journey thru life.  Maybe, I'll have more
time when the kids are grown.  I can't answer these questions for you, but
I know where my priorities in life are. Recently, contesting has jumped
up several notches on the priority ladder. Fortunately, the only thing 
that suffers are my other interests such as fishing, music, and the planning 
board (not much goin' on lately).  But, I must remain flexible and go 
with the flow.

Mine idea was just a suggestion. Indeed, I am new to club participation
and really wish I could devote more time it.  I greatly appreciate the
fine fellowship that is fostered by belonging, the comradere, that 
overwhelming feeling on Friday before the start of "the big one." Those
things are new to me and they have made a lasting impression one me.
I feel that both the club and I have gained much from my involvement.

Again, don't get me wrong I am not against clubs! I fondly remember the
Beach Boys song: "Support Your School" and it captures the feeling
I have of supproting local radio club, and of my recent affiliation with a
contest club.

I may have mispoken on the issue of meeting requirements. And it is your
comments and JP's, that have made think long and hard about the entire
issue. 

.............................................................................
73 de Walt Kornienko  -   K2WK	Internet:  waltk at pica.army.mil
DX PacketCluster:  K2WK > W3MM	(FRC) Packet: K2WK at N2ERH.NJ.USA.NOAM
_____________________________________________________________________________

PS:
Excuse me for wasting bandwidth, but thats what Internet is for - exchange 
of ideas. If you don't agree, send me a letter via snail mail, I'm OK in CBK.

>From H. Ward Silver" <hwardsil at seattleu.edu  Fri Jul 29 19:44:16 1994
From: H. Ward Silver" <hwardsil at seattleu.edu (H. Ward Silver)
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 1994 11:44:16 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Contest Club milage rules
Message-ID: <Pine.3.07.9407291112.B23832-9100000 at bach>

As long as the grid squares are contiguous, I like the flexibility of the
idea.  Just so one can't pick K1AR's grid square, K4VX's grid square,
WM5G's grid square, AA6TT's grid square...etc.

The next question would be: Can the grid squares ever be rearranged as
membership in the club changes?  In this case, the club could have one set
of squares for the SS team, another for DX contests, etc.  If this would
be too loose, then could there be one rearrangement allowed per year?

73, Ward N0AX



>From H. Ward Silver" <hwardsil at seattleu.edu  Fri Jul 29 20:01:13 1994
From: H. Ward Silver" <hwardsil at seattleu.edu (H. Ward Silver)
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 1994 12:01:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Grid Square Thoughts
Message-ID: <Pine.3.07.9407291212.D23832-a100000 at bach>

My take on the grid square biz was that originally the suggestion was made
in the vein of getting rid of 59(9) and putting in something that actually
had to be copied.  Serial numbers would work just as well.  Multipliers
would not have to be changed at all.

For example:
CQWW - s/n & zone or g/s & zone
CQWPX - g/s & s/n
ARRLDX - s/n & state or g/s & state (substitute power for state in DX)

The "flavor" issue is another thing, though.  I'm sure that the top scores
would drop because of the additional "overhead" of copying essentially a
random character group.  It would have to be considered.

Frankly, although it makes sense to me to have the exchange be 100%
required copy, the biggest issue we should be dealing with in contesting
is activity and new blood.

73, Ward N0AX