[UK-CONTEST] NFD late rule changes

[G4FNL]

I am equally astonished by the change in rules for NFD. It was bad enough
that they were initially published  late (on 19th March) - and to have
amendments published this past week is really too late to be making these
sort of significant changes. I suspect that our little group are fairly
typical in planning : we start to think about Field Day preparations in the
weeks just after Christmas.  Some of our group have now spent money and also
a large amount of effort in  making changes to suit the new set of  rules
that were published in March. To have them altered again is, well -
extremely annoying and costly.  Personally, I would have preferred a white /
green paper consultation exercise - and make the announcements for changes
at this time of year for the FOLLOWING year.

My group has taken part in NFD since 1982 - pretty much always in the
Restricted (I think the most competitive section) with just one exception
when NFD was cancelled due to the Foot and Mouth outbreak. I have to say,
that we are beginning to have second thoughts about taking part this year
-partly because we are unsure if the rules are likely to change yet again
between now and the contest and partly to protest. This isn't my normal way
of working - and no final decision has yet been made - but I wonder if other
groups may be thinking along these lines?

73 Graham G4FNL