[UK-CONTEST] HF CW Field Day

[Peter Day]

On 13/04/2012 11:55, ukcontest at btconnect.com wrote:

> May I ask just how the RSGB Contest Committee is organised? How does one
> become a member of the Committee, because as far as I can make out, the only
> way to change things is by being on the said committee, and there doesn't
> seem to be any process or framework in place to manage their activities.
>
> Perhaps in its desire to be transparent the RSGB should hold elections for
> its special interest committee's...the Contest Committee being one of them ?
>

I couldn't agree more!

I was on the RSGB Microwave Committee from 1984 to 2003 when it was 
suddenly, and without warning abolished and the Spectrum forum was set 
up instead. I was invited by the Microwave Committee's chairman to come 
along to a meeting and from then on I was a member ... no elections, 
nothing!  I believe "by invitation" was the usual method of getting on 
any committee through I think the post of chairman was advertised in Radcom

In the almost 20 years I was a member I saw various other members come 
and go but I don't recollect seeing any adverts in Radcom for their 
positions. Over those years I had various responsibilities including 
contest manager, secretary, newsletter editor and components service 
manager. Looking back now it seems a very undemocratic process and 
perhaps was just one of the reasons why many have called the RSGB a 
'secret society'. Hopefully the new board will learn lessons from the past.

Special interest committees need experienced people to run the show but 
there has to be an injection of "new blood' at regular intervals, 
otherwise the committees will become stuck in their ways. Maybe chairman 
should only occupy the position for a three year period and then have to 
make way for someone else. Perhaps committee members should also have a 
relatively short tenure.

At my local club (Sheffield ARC) we've made this part of our 
constitution.... all committee posts from Chairman down to ordinary 
committee member are 'up for grabs' at the elections held every year at 
the AGM. In any case, the chairman has a 2 year maximum tenure.

Peter, G3PHO