[CQ-Contest] Re: [FCG] QST editing decisions

[K7LXC at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/20/02 9:16:12 AM Pacific Standard Time,
k4vud at hotmail.com writes:

 > QST has a big responsibility.  It is fulfilling it badly.

     I totally agree with your observations, particularly about the amount of
pages devoted to construction articles of highly complicated (IMO - I'm not
an EE), extremely narrow appeal devices. I'm really surprised no one has
mentioned this disconnect before.

     While I haven't really determined that QST is "talking down" to its
readership, I take your point. At the opposite end, they're "talking up" to a
very small universe of technically adroit people who ARE interested in these
construction articles (how about they appear in QEX instead, eh?).

     So that leaves us "average" hams as the ones being left out - especially
in our core interest; i.e. contesting. I wish I had a solution but I don't.
Unfortunately posts like this are just preaching to the choir since no one at
League HQ reads this stuff and they have their own reasons and agendas for
their actions anyway.

Cheers,
Steve     K7LXC 


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>From Peter Grillo, Sr." <ah3c at frii.com  Sun Jan 20 18:55:32 2002
From: Peter Grillo, Sr." <ah3c at frii.com (Peter Grillo, Sr.)
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2002 11:55:32 -0700
Subject: QST, CRe: [CQ-Contest] Re: [FCG] QST editing decisions
Message-ID: <000c01c1a1e4$273cdc80$0100a8c0 at ah3c>


To anyone who continues to be in awe with radio communication..........

There is a great PBS television program:  "The antique road show".  Every
week it displays rare items and the appraisers relish in telling the history
of what makes these items rare and treasured.  100 years from now, will
there be some rare memorabilia of contesting that will astound the world in
its value?  Did memorable contributors to contesting or others leave
something behind for our successors to discover and review in awe?  Will the
thrill of competition through contesting still be alive?  Will we have run
out of new technological advances in our contesting hobby that will cause it
to become a relic?  Relics are good for antique road shows........

Early QST issues in good condition are likely today to draw hundreds, maybe
even thousands of dollars in value, because they capture history.  Real
people doing amazing things.  Fledgling entrepreneurs inventing new devices,
ideas, warming our hearts with their dreams of doing something special.
Teaching us the art of communication and electronics.  To criticize the
continuing contributions that are made on a daily basis by what I truly
believe is a seed for pioneers in communication technology is appalling.
Our league representatives put their heart and soul into the publishing
effort and get very little in return.  Sure, many of the articles get passed
on by the reader.  But once in a while you will come across something that
is great reading.

My elmer, W9FQN introduced me to QST.  I devoured articles, simple in
concept to some, but totally new to me.  How can we encourage totally new
blood into this hobby without passing on some of the basics?  QST does that.

The greatest monetary value I have ever received from amateur radio is my
life membership to ARRL.  The greatest overall value has been the
friendships gained through contesting and dxing.  No, I'm not very active in
radio these days, but that doesn't exclude me from the joy.  This gap in
activity happens to most of us.  QST, CQ, NCJ keep the window open.  They
hold that connection we don't get with on-the-air results.  The flame
flickers, but doesn't get extinguished.

When Todd Olson came to me a few years back, asking me if I could keep the
NCJ flame alive, I recognized that he simply couldn't find the time to do
the right thing.  When I passed it on, I was experiencing the same issue.
When the League picked it up, I was delighted to see the flame burning
brightly again.  Why? Because we all are linked together in the contesting
community through our competitive spirit.  ARRL is our cornerstone.

I expect that many of the discussions during the upcoming board meeting will
be based on the very premise of keeping the flame brightly burning.  I sense
a genuine concern on their part.  My thoughts and prayers are with them.

Amateur radio is a truly great hobby.  It is not politically motivated,
although we are required to perform within the laws of the land.  Contesting
is only a part of this endeavor.  Give the League room to review the whole
picture.  Let's keep the flame alive.  Isn't that the bottom line?

Thanks for listening...
Pete
W0RTT, ex-AH3C, etc.


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