[SEDXC] Fwd: Hosstraders - Is It Just a Memory (Part II)
Ed Tanton
n4xy@earthlink.net
Tue, 08 Oct 2002 17:38:08 -0400
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>Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 17:30:21 -0400
>Reply-To: Michael Crestohl <mc@SOVER.NET>
>Sender: Boat Anchor Owners and Collectors
>List <BOATANCHORS@LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV>
>From: Michael Crestohl <mc@SOVER.NET>
>Subject: Hosstraders - Is It Just a Memory (Part II)
>To: BOATANCHORS@LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV
>
>(continued)
>
>But will there be an event next spring or for that matter ever again? This
>remains to be seen. It has been the Hosstraders custom to print the next
>years dates on the tickets every year but if you were there last October
>4th or 5th and looked at yours you may have wondered why there were no
>2003 dates on it. Here's why.
>
>There has not been a contract signed with the Fair Committee for any
>future events because last May several unknown persons stole three 25 kV
>power utility step-down transformers, commonly called "Pole Pigs", from
>the fairgrounds during the Hosstraders weekend. For those of you
>unfamiliar with these things, pole pigs are very large and heavy. Two guys
>in a Dodge Neon couldn't have done this. It would take at least three
>strong people with a big pick-em-up truck to haul them away. The only use
>these things have to hams is to reverse connect them and use them for a
>(very) high power transmitter or amplifier. They have little scrap value
>and even less resale value because they are all numbered and no power
>company would touch them.
>
>The three "Hosstraders" announced this news to the assembled crowd at the
>one o'clock prize drawing and made an appeal for anyone with knowledge or
>any information about this theft to step forward and help get them back.
>As it stands there will be no questions asked the matter will be dropped
>if the transformers are returned. If you know anything about this you may
>contact any one of the Hosstraders or any of the undersigned and help us
>get these back to the Fairgrounds as soon as possible. Your identity will
>not be revealed to anyone else involved. The transformers may be dropped
>off at several locations and no one will see anything. That will be the
>end of it.
>
>However if the stolen transformers are not recovered soon the
>investigation by the authorities will proceed. The owners intend to
>vigorously prosecute anyone found to be involved in the theft and it is a
>pretty sure bet that there will be jail time if they are convicted. The
>Hosstraders have offered to assume financial responsibility for the
>missing items and pay for them. This is a substantial amount - several
>thousand dollars that would otherwise go to the Shriners and their
>hospitals. The other consequence to us all is that there will be no future
>contracts signed for the Hopkinton Fairgrounds and it is a sure bet that
>no other such facility will sign one either. This would mean the end of
>Hosstraders!
>
>We are personally outraged by this theft and the prospect of not having
>the Hosstraders events to look forward to in the future. We want to help
>get this matter resolved to everyone's satisfaction as soon as possible so
>plans for May and October 2003 can proceed. We want to help Norm, Joe and
>Bob raise a second million for the hospitals. We want more Hosstraders,
>more stuff, more good times and more memories!
>
>Of course we are hoping that someone will step forward and help get the
>transformers back and as mentioned we will act as intermediaries. We can
>guarantee your anonymity and assure you that no questions will be asked.
>For the rest of you please do not speculate or point fingers at anyone or
>any particular groups of hams. It will not solve anything and only serve
>to alienate and divide us at a time when we must all stand together to
>save our Hosstraders. It has been suggested that publicizing this
>unfortunate incident will reflect poorly on amateur radio but we do not
>feel that it is so. We should not nor cannot assume legal responsibility
>for the acts of a few criminal individuals. Remember, the Hosstraders is a
>public event and anyone with the price of admission is eligible to enter.
>There is no hard evidence that we know of as to exactly when these items
>disappeared or that the persons who stole these items were attending the
>flea market or are licensed hams, although practically speaking, who else
>would have any use for them?
>
>Nonetheless, we need to take the practical responsibility here and see to
>it that this incident is quickly resolved to the satisfaction of the Fair
>Committee and the Hosstraders organizers to ensure that the event does not
>die due to the criminal and irresponsible acts of a small group of
>individuals. It is conceivable that in the five months that has elapsed
>these transformers have been disassembled or even disposed of and are
>simply not available for return. If for whatever reason they do not
>surface within a reasonable time, say the end of October, we would like to
>recommend the following course of action Suitable and equivalent
>replacements be located, purchased and offered to the Fairgrounds
>Committee requesting them to sign the 2003 contract thus allowing us to
>continue holding the event at Hopkinton. We figure that three new
>custom-made replacements can be purchased for about $1,000.00 apiece from
>a manufacturer in the Midwest. Then next May and October if necessary,
>have a "drop bucket" for people to contribute to the cost of purchasing
>the replacements. As an alternative a surcharge be added to the gate fees
>until the cost has been recovered with any overage going to the Shriners.
>Knowing the Hosstraders community as we do we have no doubt that this sum
>will be quickly and cheerfully raised.
>
>It would gall us to have to pay for what the thieves stole last May but we
>all must collectively bear the financial responsibility and not permit the
>Shriners Hospitals to lose out which they would in the final analysis. A
>million bucks buys a lot of equipment which can save lives and alleviate
>suffering of sick and injured children and we'd like to see this
>outstanding act of benevolence on the part of Norm, Joe and Bob and
>everyone else involved in this wonderful happening that has become a very
>important part of our lives to continue to the two or even three million
>dollar level. We just cannot and will not allow three or four common
>thieves to take this away from us.
>
>Signed
>
>Michael Crestohl, W1RC
>mc@sover.net
>(802) 296-5050
>PO Box 511
>Hartford VT 05047-0511
>
>Michael N Raisbeck, K1TWF
>k1twf@arrl.org
>(978) 250-1235
>85 High Street,
>Chelmsford MA 01824
>
>Allen H Weiner, WBCQ The Planet,
>wbcq@gwi.net
>97 High Street
>Kennebunk ME 04043
>(207)985-7547
>
>Timothy M Smith, WA1HLR,
>timtron@hotmail.com
>
>The Hosstraders official Web site is: http://www.qsl.net/k1rqg.
>It is the only source for official news about the Hosstraders and their
>events.
>
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73 Ed Tanton N4XY <n4xy@earthlink.net>
Ed Tanton N4XY
189 Pioneer Trail
Marietta, GA 30068-3466
website: http://www.n4xy.com
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