[VHFcontesting] An Open Letter to the EME Community

[Marshall Williams]

In what can only be described as a "coup at midnight" a 
few Anti-Assistance folks on the VUAC have removed the Assisted classes 
from the ARRL EME contest. This was done essentially in secret, out of 
the view of the bulk of the EME operators. Only one VUAC member voted 
against this insanity--Wayne, N6NB. The effect of this, will be to make 
it very hard for the small EME stations to work anyone in the EME 
contest. Why these people decided that they needed to harm the smaller 
stations is hard to understand, especially since the Assisted classes 
were the most popular classes--there were more logs submitted in the 
Assisted classes than any other class.

Using digital EME, small stations can work other small stations if they 
can use coordination to set up schedules. They can then slug it out 
against the conditions until a valid contact is achieved. Without 
coordination, a small station will be able to find a few of the "big 
guns", but they will not be able to work each other because they 
literally cannot find another trace.

I will not be participating in the EME contest this year, as there is 
now no class for me. I will submit a log with NO contacts in protest. I 
urge you to do the same. Other small EME stations are saying the same 
thing and will not participate for the same reasons. I believe that 
there will be a significant drop in participation from the smaller 
stations because of this extremely ill advised action. I ask that other 
EME capable stations to contact the ARRL and let them know that you are 
very upset.  It is very important that you send your comments to 
Sean(skutzko at arrl.org <mailto:skutzko at arrl.org>) and request that your 
email be forwarded to the VUAC representatives. 

I don't know why the Anti-Assistance people believe that their way is 
the only way and we must operate exactly the way that they do. But that 
is precisely what they believe. Bumbling around the band hoping that you 
might bump into someone to work is just a very poor way to run a 
railroad. Please contact me if you agree with these thoughts, we need to 
get the word out to as many EME operators as possible. Thank you.

Below, is a list of ARRL Officers, Directors, and Vice-Directors.  
Please send your letters to each and every one of them.  Politely, but 
firmly, voice your outrage at this action, which can only hurt the 
smaller stations and limit their participation.  Please pass this email 
along to anyone that corrently operates EME or is interested in EME.  We 
need to maximize the participation in EME, not restrict it.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

Marshall Williams, K5QE

 

Sean <skutzko at arrl.org <mailto:skutzko at arrl.org>>
Joel <w5zn at arrl.org <mailto:w5zn at arrl.org>>
Kay <n3kn at arrl.org <mailto:n3kn at arrl.org>>
Rick <k5ur at arrl.org <mailto:k5ur at arrl.org>>
David <k1zz at arrl.org <mailto:k1zz at arrl.org>>

Bill <n3llr at arrl.org <mailto:n3llr at arrl.org>>
Tom <w3tom at arrl.org <mailto:w3tom at arrl.org>>
George <w9gig at arrl.org <mailto:w9gig at arrl.org>>
Howard <k9km at arrl.org <mailto:k9km at arrl.org>>
Jay <k0qb at arrl.org <mailto:k0qb at arrl.org>>
David <k5uz at arrl.org <mailto:k5uz at arrl.org>>
Jim <k8je at arrl.org <mailto:k8je at arrl.org>>
Gary <ki4la at arrl.org <mailto:ki4la at arrl.org>>
Frank <n2ff at arrl.org <mailto:n2ff at arrl.org>>
Joyce <ka2anf at arrl.org <mailto:ka2anf at arrl.org>>
Bruce <k0bj at arrl.org <mailto:k0bj at arrl.org>>
Clifford <k0ca at arrl.org <mailto:k0ca at arrl.org>>
Tom <k1ki at arrl.org <mailto:k1ki at arrl.org>>
Mike <k1twf at arrl.org <mailto:k1twf at arrl.org>>
Jim <k9jf at arrl.org <mailto:k9jf at arrl.org>>
William <k7zm at arrl.org <mailto:k7zm at arrl.org>>
Bob <w6rgg at arrl.org <mailto:w6rgg at arrl.org>>
Jim <k6jat at arrl.org <mailto:k6jat at arrl.org>>
Dennis <w4pwf at arrl.org <mailto:w4pwf at arrl.org>>
Patricia <n4ros at arrl.org <mailto:n4ros at arrl.org>>
Brian <n5zgt at arrl.org <mailto:n5zgt at arrl.org>>
Dwayne <wy7fd at arrl.org <mailto:wy7fd at arrl.org>>
Greg <w4ozk at arrl.org <mailto:w4ozk at arrl.org>>
Jeffrey <wa4aw at arrl.org <mailto:wa4aw at arrl.org>>
Richard <n6aa at arrl.org <mailto:n6aa at arrl.org>>
Marty <n6vi at arrl.org <mailto:n6vi at arrl.org>>
David <k5rav at arrl.org <mailto:k5rav at arrl.org>>
John <wb5syt at arrl.org <mailto:wb5syt at arrl.org>>