[UK-CONTEST] Contesting + support

[Roger G3SXW]

Well said, Dominic.

Maybe we could also look to other countries to understand where we are going 
wrong. I've noticed in all my travels that the problem with an ageing 
population and with attracting new blood is really worst in West Europe and 
maybe in North America. In East Europe, Asia and South America, even in 
Scandinavia the hobby is flourishing with lots of new, young blood. What are 
they doing that is so different? You guessed it: they encourage contesting! 
They have contest clubs. Most countries have contest clubs. Why not in UK? 
THAT is the solution! We know what happens when a young, thrusting newcomer 
walks into a local club meeting and gets the cold shoulder. Shudder.

So, let's develop a network of Contest Clubs. Even a dozen would make a 
difference. Folks can travel 100 miles these days, just for a few weekends a 
year.

Maybe the bigger, active clubs like Norfolk, Torbay, Warrington, Reading, 
Newbury, Shefford etc etc develop a Contest Section as a separate entity 
that folks could join. Then (maybe even better) completely separate clubs 
could be formed to cater for this need. Take the G6PZ model and add just a 
little structure, membership and a bit of a programme, and bingo!

It is the way forward for our hobby, one of the only ways in which we can 
stave off a withering on the vine.
73 de Roger/G3SXW.




----- Original Message ----- 
From: <m0blf at domsmith.co.uk>
To: <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2008 8:59 PM
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Contesting + support


> Hi all,
>
> Interesting thread, and as Don has mentioned WWYC, I thought now
> would be a good opportunity to add my 2p, as one of the younger
> generation...
>
> Although I don't have any statistics to back this up, I think
> contesting is a growth area among young amateurs, who are
> attracted by the competitive nature of the events and the fact
> that it is less time-consuming than other branches of the hobby.
> (One can choose to give up a handful of weekends a year, and make
> many hundreds or thousands of QSOs in that time, rather than
> spending whole evenings on ragchewing or trying to break a DX
> pile-up).  The efficient operating style involved is also
> something where 'self-training' is still key in these days of
> black box radios, and which can also be a useful skill in the
> wider world (everything from accurate message handling to the
> ability to type one thing while listening to another!).
>
> I think, however, that this thread has raised a couple of issues
> which it is worth dwelling on:
>
> Firstly, that the current licensing system (which I generally see
> as positive) probably requires us to be mentors as much as
> instructors. I know that in the courses I have been involved in
> running, we have in the past been content to get the candidates
> their licences and then leave them to it. I have recently become
> more concerned that we need to be following the tuition up and
> developing a system more akin to the US 'elmers'.  Through this,
> we can start looking at encouraging newly-licensed M6s and 2Es
> into contesting.
>
> Linked to this, we need to be able to provide the opportunities
> for new licensees in general, and youngsters in particular, to
> start contesting. G6PZ deserves a mention for the excellent work
> he has done in opening up his shack to many young contesters in
> the UK (am I the only one who hasn't operated from there at some
> point?!)  I have also said on this list before that at G6UW/M4A,
> we take the view that our score even in the biggest contests (CQ
> WW etc.) is often a secondary concern to getting newly-licensed
> students into the shack for the contest.  This is partly why the
> UBN I received today reveals a large penalty for violations of
> the M/S band-change rule!
>
> In summary, I am sure that the enthusiasm is there. Yes, a
> thorough 'how-to' article in RadCom could certainly help (My
> first ever contest was the 1999 REF Union contest, which I was
> inspired to do following an article in the now-defunct DIY Radio
> magazine, the RSGB's magazine specifically designed for the
> Novice licence. I needed that encouragement because when I started
> the hobby, I too was influenced by local anti-contest opinions
> which others have mentioned.) Beyond that, however, we need
> contest stations to actively encourage new blood and regularly
> advertise for new operators. In the last month alone, two young
> amateurs have asked me if I knew of a place where they could
> contest from, and I was sorry not to be able to give them
> appropriate pointers.
>
> Sorry for the long message, 73,
>
> Dominic M0BLF
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