[VHFcontesting] AUGUST UHF CONTEST

[Keith Morehouse]

I'll make one more set of comment on this (unless specifically addressed)
then let it evolve or die on it's own, since I have not really been a
supporter of the UHF test in the past due to lack of equipment or lack of
local participation.  I simply feel this is another example of a wider loss
of interest to contesting in general by the ARRL.



Why take the easy way out and simply cancel the contest ?  Those who DO
participate probably feel disenfranchised.  Is someone at the ARRL looking
for a way to cut out staff hours ?  How much staff commitment goes into the
contest anyway ?  Let it go ahead while alternatives are discussed.

Who makes up the "Contest Revitalization Committee" ?  This decision
couldn't have been that widely know if the ARRL's own VHF/UHF column writer
didn't know about it.

You want to have the UHF contest in the Spring ?  When there is less
troposcatter ?  There are a whole series of VHF/UHF contests in the Spring
already - the non-ARRL Spring Sprints.  Ask those who participate about
conditions on 222 and above during that time.  "Hottest time of the year" ?
- please...

Keith J Morehouse
Managing Partner
Calmesa Partners G.P.
Olathe, CO

On Fri, Mar 11, 2016 at 10:03 AM, Kermit Carlson via VHFcontesting <
vhfcontesting at contesting.com> wrote:

> Hello Tom;
>            Please note the full text of the article released this
> morning.This has been as the result of many hours of discussion and it
> isjust the beginning of the process.  Please feel free to distribute thisas
> widely as possible.
>                         73, Kermit Carlson
> W9XA>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>03/11/2016 The ARRL August UHF Contest for
> 2016 has been cancelled, while the ARRL VHF Contest Revitalization
> Committee considers alternatives.
> The Contest Revitalization Committee fielded dozens of comments from
> members concerning possible changes to this annual UHF operating event,
> traditionally held on the first weekend of August each year. Many
> commenters expressed dissatisfaction with the timing of the contest,
> occurring as it does at the hottest time of the year, and that it was too
> close on the calendar to other VHF/UHF events.
> In response to this member input, the Contest Revitalization Committee
> recommended to the Programs and Services Committee (PSC) that the 2016
> August UHF Contest be cancelled, and the PSC agreed.
> The ARRL VHF Contest Revitalization Committee continues to study the
> possibility of redesigning or replacing the August UHF Contest with a
> similar event at another point in the calendar — possibly in the spring —
> for 2017.The Committee will solicit member comments in the near future, as
> it weighs several alternatives.
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
> Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2016 11:03:16 -0500
> From: "Tom Holmes" <tholmes at woh.rr.com>
> To: "'VHF Contesting Reflector'" <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] 2016 ARRL UHF Contest Cancelled
> Message-ID: <02d101d17baf$86608220$93218660$@woh.rr.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="us-ascii"
>
> I have to assume that the folks on these committees are people who care
> about our unique form of contesting and arrived at their decision based on
> careful thought.
>
> The above is NOT meant to be sarcastic, so please do not take it that way.
>
> I am disappointed in this as well, and wonder what facts and inputs guided
> them. I hope that there will be a more detailed explanation available to us
> soon. Until then, any comments about what was decided are really just
> meaningless speculation.
>
>
> Tom Holmes, N8ZM
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