[CQ-Contest] CD party nostalgia

[Patrick Barkey]

Eliminating the CD parties was one of the worst moves
the ARRL ever made, contesting-wise.  But there's no
easy way now to fix the damage.

CD parties were a perfect bridge between the world of
traffic/public service and contesting.  They were open
only to those with ARRL appointments, which was an
obvious incentive for operating junkies like myself to
get one and stay active in traffic.  And they enticed
traffic handling types (yes, they still exist) to stretch
themselves every once in a while to work other
familiar calls who were calling "CQ CD".

I could tell you right now the callsigns of at least 10
active contesters who were active in CW traffic
and got hooked on contesting via the CD party 
route.  I certainly was one.

The NAQP is a good contest (although it would be
better if it allowed 1500w.  Trying to work scatter
barefoot is not fun) but it lacks that same mechanism
for introducing operators to the world of contesting.

   - Pat
     N9RV


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