Here's the press release that went around:
To the Amateur Radio VHF, UHF and Microwave Contest Community,
John Kalenowsky, K9JK, and Steve Gilmore, W4SHG, with support from
Ham Radio Outlet of Virginia are honored to announce the "passing of
the torch" for sponsorship of the Spring VHF & Up Sprint series from
the East Tennessee DX Association to us effective with the 2007
events. This year marks the 25th consecutive "running" of the Spring
series of these Sprints since the ARRL announced and conducted the
first series in 1983.
"We are pleased that John and Steve have stepped forward to assume
the sponsorship duties for the Spring Sprints so they will continue.
We wish them success in this venture." said Lynn Lamb, W4NL, current
president of the East Tennessee DX Association. Lynn continued, "The
ETDXA's efforts to finish compiling the results for the 2006 Spring
Sprints are almost complete and will be posted on our web site
(http://www.etdxa.org) shortly. We will also be preparing and sending
the certificates out to the top scorers."
"Steve and I would like to thank the ETDXA for their sponsorship and
support of the Spring Sprints since 2000, initiated by Bert Rollen,
K4AR, and assumed later by Jeff Baker, KG4ENR/WU4O," said John. "We
also acknowledge the 'unique' way that the Sprints were sponsored in
1999, where 5 different clubs/organizations stepped forward to be the
'worker bees' for the 5 events. This was in response to the ARRL's
cessation of their sponsorship effective following 1998, having
established a solid foundation from 16 consecutive years of support
and development of the Spring Sprints, which is also worthy of
recognition and appreciation."
John and Steve will be working to keep many of the ideas and intent
of the Sprints consistent as they have evolved over their history.
One goal will be to keep the 144, 222 and 432 MHz events on the
traditional "Activity Nights" for those bands; Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday, respectively. That will ALSO include being aware of when
the NCAA Basketball Championship game falls and efforts to avoid
conflict there. (For 2008, this might lead to the 144 MHz event being
on the LAST Monday in March, which IS still "Spring" and a two week
gap between the 144 MHz and 222 MHz events.) Another piece of the
evolution that has worked nicely has been the initiation of "MAD",
the Microwave Activity Days on the first Saturday of each month (in
the morning), and that will be another goal, to keep the day for the
Microwave Sprint aligned with that first Saturday in May. The 50 MHz
event has worked well being on the 2nd Saturday in May, scheduled in
"Universal Time" rather than local time so all participants operate
the same four hours as well as falling the weekend before that big
event that happens in Dayton, Ohio, each May. That will be another
consistency target. Another part of the schedule management effort
will be to maintain awareness of the two VHF/UHF conferences that
occur in April, the Eastern VHF/UHF Conference and the SVHFS
Conference, and try to keep the individual event dates clear of those
weekends.
Considering all of the above criteria for this year, the dates for
the 2007 Spring VHF & Up Sprints are:
1. 144 MHz: 7-11 PM local time, Monday, Apr 9
2. 222 MHz: 7-11 PM local time, Tuesday, Apr 17
3. 432 MHz: 7-11 PM local time, Wednesday, Apr 25
4. Microwave--902 MHz and higher: 6 AM-1 PM local time, Saturday, May 5
5. 50 MHz: 2300Z May 12 - 0300Z May 13 ("local" Saturday evening in
the Americas)
A few enhancements will be implemented for 2007...four of them notable:
1. Urging (though NOT requiring) exchange and logging of SIX-
character Grid Square designators during the events.
2. Urging electronic/e-mailed Log Submission using the Cabrillo
format, though paper logs WILL continue to be accepted.
3. Instituting a new ROOKIE classification.
4. Shortening deadlines for log submissions.
Basically, though, as long as you know the dates for 2007, and you've
participated in a VHF & Up Sprint before, you already KNOW how to do it.
Steve is working on a web site that will contain the specific rules
and further details, particularly about the above enhancements,
announcements, maybe even a FAQ. While presently a "work in
progress", the target is for this to be "final" by mid-March so it
may be somewhat "dynamic" until then (but the "basics" of dates,
scoring, log submission deadlines, etc. ARE set). Look for the web
site at: http://www.sysadnet.com/vhfsprintrules.htm
If there is any interest in sponsoring plaques or other prizes for
participants, those are also welcome. A few such offers have been
received and we'd like to express our thanks and appreciation to
these "special" supporters. Look for more info on the web site
regarding this as well (what has already been sponsored and by whom,
unless they prefer to remain anonymous). Remember that 2007 IS the
25th running of the Spring Sprints so that makes this one a little
bit "more special."
Thank you for your interest and support for continuing the VHF & Up
Spring Sprints.
73, John & Steve
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
For further information, please e-mail:
springsprintquestions@sysadnet.com -OR- springvhfuhfsprints@gmail.com
On Mar 16, 2007, at 1:51 PM, John D'Ausilio wrote:
> On 3/16/07, David Erickson <erickson+vhf@mentis.org> wrote:
>>
>> So are there going to be Spring sprints this year? I heard some
>> talk as
>> to someone picking up the responsibility of running them but nothing
>> official. If so, when are they this year?
>>
>
> John proposed these dates:
>
> 144 MHz, Monday, April 9th
> 222 MHz, Tuesday, April 17th
> 432 MHz, Wednesday, April 25th
> Microwave, Saturday, May 5th
> 50 MHz, Saturday, May 12th
>
> but I never saw any discussion. I'm probably out of town for all the
> weekday events, but hope to be able to get some time for microwave and
> 6 ..
>
> de w1rt/r john
> _______________________________________________
> VHFcontesting mailing list
> VHFcontesting@contesting.com
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