[CQ-Contest] Contesting Extinction

[sawyered at earthlink.net]

Some very interesting and meaningful posts on this.  The key point coming through to me is young costester encouragement and deed restricted challenges.  This reflector has talked a lot about more categories.  It sure would seem that 2 categories that SHOULD be added for the long term health of contesting is a YOUNG CONTESTER class (I would propose age 30 and under) and a DEED RESTRICTED class (I would propose that you have to agree as you submit that you are legally deed restricted on antennas and you have to include your antennas described in the soapbox section).

Such categories should be added to the ARRL general classifications for HF contests and to the CQ WW contests.  I can think of no better add to HF Contesting that has happened in the 10 years that I have been back in it.

So, how do we do this?  Some people need to STEP UP TO THE TABLE.  I will lead the effort if people are interested.  My thought is to create a steering committee of about half a dozen contesters who could participate in a virtual roundtable and emerge with a draft wording of the category.  Then post the wordings in this forum and other contesting clubs etc.  Get a tsunami of support through the contesting.com survey and emails supporting, and submit the changes along with the support to the major sponsoring efforts.

If someone else wants to lead the effort, please do so.  I will be happy to join them.  By the way, I would like first dibs on sponsoring the ARRL DX plaques for YOUNG CONTESTER.  Anyone else interested in stepping up to a sponsorship?

So who's interested in joining me?

Ed N1UR  sawyered at earthlink.net