[CQ-Contest] Dayton Attendence

[Shelby Summerville]

"Eric Hall, K9GY" <k9gy at ix.netcom.com>: "The Hamvention rate is going
down...Maybe it's time to change bands to get the rate back up."

My first trip to Dayton was in April, 1981, two months after receiving my
license. My second trip was 1998! I doubt if I really missed anything,
"momentous",  during those years?  If not for the socializing and putting
faces with callsigns, I doubt if I would even attend. IMHO, not only the
organizers, but all "directly" involved with Hamvention, need to re-think
their priorities? Hotel/Motel rates are ludicrous...rates are
doubled/tripled...is this the correct way to "treat your guests"? I seem to
get impression from the "locals", that I'm an "invader", rather than a
"customer"? It's less expensive for me to "drive to/from" Dayton...only 150
miles...than it is to stay overnight? Going to Dayton, is a tradition, for
many, but like so many other traditions, it's time change the tradition? I "
don't need a reason not to go", Hamvention needs "to give me a reason to
attend"?

C'Ya, Shelby