[UK-CONTEST] Chairman of RSGB Contest Committee

[Ray James]

--- On Fri, 17/7/09, Richard Newstead <g3cwi at btconnect.com> wrote:

> Ray was the first person I thought of too!
 
and

> Anyway you need not worry as I suspect that this very point will be
near the top of Ray's agenda when he is in post.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Richard, though I thought you would be a good prospect myself!
I'd like to take the opportunity of nipping this in the bud before anyone takes either yourself or Alex seriously.

A couple of the main reasons I wouldn't put my name forward.
Based upon what has occurred since inception, I don't believe in a combined HF and VHF Contest Committee.
In my opinion it has done a pretty good job for those whose main interest can be found with HF contesting but this continues not be the case for VHF+. If we went back to individual committees then I would certainly consider volunteering to assist as an ordinary member. 
The other main reason is a bit of a quandary. 
I believe the next Chairman should be someone who currently already is a member of the committee rather than someone coming in completely unknown with a fresh ideas that point in a direction or goal they have not previously been focused on. Saying that, we are certainly in need of a new direction to focus making UK VHF+ contests fun for ALL UK participants and encouraging much higher levels of participation in every point of the British Isle. How many more times do we have to read complaints from so many quarters that UK operators are fed up to the back teeth with pissing against a south east wind off the back of so many operators antennas?
I am prepared to accept a current member of the CC take over Don's role and Pete G4CLA carries my remit for someone with HF, VHF and Microwave contest experience if a combined committee format continues.
If we only see sameness and no new direction then I for one would be very disappointed indeed. We need RSGB UK VHF+ contests that are inclusive for all UK operators for starters, contest rules that encourage greater inter-UK communication, a recognition that technology doesn't automatically mean everyone is tarred with a suspicion of cheating, a communication channel of events for club secretaries to uplift to read out to members, if not weekly then certainly monthly, RSGB Zonal or Country awards (pdf pickup), much improved methods of attracting foundation and intermediate licence holders to participate regularly in VHF+ contests, a extra incentive for running a 23cm station during VHFFD! Loads more ideas spring to mind but I'll stop there. Perhaps others would like to suggest what would be on their own wish list?      

Good luck to whoever gets the job. 

73 Ray GM4CXM