[VHFcontesting] The VHF rules....what do we want??

[Marshall-K5QE]

Jay-W9RM has posted....

ASSISTANCE: I am a supporter of the CQ WW VHF rules and would like to
see them implemented in all ARRL VHF contests.

LEGISLATIVE:  I am in favor of a ARRL committee (appointed or elected)
dedicated to VHF operations and contests WITH THE POWER to amend and
enforce rules changes independently of the ARRL CAC.

Jay W9RM


I especially like these two posts.  The ASSISTANCE post has been made by 
me and others.  It is a sound idea and should be pursued.

The LEGISLATIVE post is also a very good idea.  The VUAC _could_ have 
worked, but in practice it did not.  Many of the guys on the VUAC were 
not really active VHF operators, never mind active VHF contest 
operators.....they did not have any idea of what is really happening in 
the VHF world.  Some were there to protect a specific constituency in 
the NE.   Some were just there....

To be sure, there were some VUAC members that tried very hard to improve 
the VHF+ contesting rules.  However, they were hammered by those that 
want no changes.  Pure Protectionism, as Les said.  The VUAC was 
subordinate to the PSC(Programs and Services Committee) not to the 
CAC(Contest Advisory Committee).  The VUAC could not DO 
ANYTHING.....except make recommendations to the PSC.  Sometimes the PSC 
just ignored those recommendations. GENIUS!!!  Set up a Committee of 
supposedly top VHF ops and then ignore their recommendations.  OF 
course, when a really, really BAD recommendation was made, it sailed 
right through.

The current VUAC members were appointed, so it would be easy to find 
fault with appointments.  However, I believe elections would result in 
an even worse committee.  IF we elected our VUAC members, we would 
surely get some good ones.....and some hopeless Bubbas from the local FM 
club who were more popular than the serious VHF ops in their Division.  
I believe that appointment is still the best way, but, we need to try to 
get "real" VHFers appointed.

Whatever we do with the VUAC or some successor committee, it MUST NOT 
OPERATE IN SECRET as the current committee has.  In the early days, Jim 
Aguirre-W7DHC in the Pacific Northwest was pretty open about what was 
going on and often asked the opinion of the VHF ops in his area.  I 
praised him for that.  Recently, Steve-N2CEI has also been very 
forthright about the issues the VUAC was considering and also sought out 
the opinions of those in the SE US.

The Directors and Vice-Directors are the key.  That is where we need to 
start....after we figure out EXACTLY what we want.

Comments??

73 Marshall K5QE