[UK-CONTEST] Fw: GB5HQ

[Peter Bowyer]

On 14/07/06, douglas.maxwell at virgin.net <douglas.maxwell at virgin.net> wrote:
>
>
> There seems to be two discussions getting confused here:
>
> 1) Winning IARU Champs.
>
> 2) The health of contesting in the UK.

I think they're inextricably linked. Objective 1, if done openly and
inclusively, could act as a big catalyst for objective 2.

> My agrument is that to inspire contesters and to encourage normal club
> members to participate in contesting there must be a desirable goal with a
> clear path of achieving it. One such goal might have been to represent one's
> nation in an international contest i.e. IARU champs. I have never advocated
> that inexperienced ops or casual contesters take part, quite the opposite in
> fact, let there be a clear criterion for participation and some publicity
> surrounding the selection process. Not a bad thing?

Quite so.

> Maybe a place in each station should be reserved for someone who has won an
> RSGB contest that year. It is after all the RSGB that you will be
> representing.

That's a matter of debate. The Society holds the license but currently
doesn't run the station, so the operation is only informally
representing the RSGB. Some say this is a good thing because a group
of volunteers are more likely to get something done; others say it
encourages a lack of openness and accountability. Both arguements have
their merits :-)

> If winning the IARU champs is the only desire with no regard to the effect
> on the contesting community or it's future, then we are probably doing the
> best we can.

I'm not sure I agree, but I definitely see the benefit in a win-win.

Peter G4MJS

-- 
Peter Bowyer
Email: peter at bowyer.org