First of all, I'd like to apologize for putting Jim Maxwell on the spot with
this one, he shouldn't have to be the only one taking the heat for this.
I don't want anyone to misunderstand me. My attachment is to contesting,
not to DXCC. I work plenty of DX by my standards, but I don't collect QSL
cards, and I don't count up my countries anymore, except when countries
count as multipliers. My discussion of the way that the DXCC was
endangered with cutbacks was an extension of the discussion of cutbacks
in contest coverage in QST.
However, any proposal to cut back on operating events and activities that
are sponsored by the ARRL concerns me because of the huge changes
that are underway in demographics of the amateur radio population at
present, and the consequences that I foresee.
Re-reading my original post, I can see that I wasn't quite cautious enough
to separate the actions actually taken by the Board of Directors from the
dangers to the DXCC program. As you can see by Jim's post, the Board
has not taken any action to eliminate the DXCC.
This does not provide the assurance that the program is not in danger
of serious changes as were reported to me last year by my director.
Jim points out:
"The ARRL BOD certainly does look at all options.
They would be derelict if they didn't. The Board
has the fiduciary responsibility to make certain that
the League is operated in a financially responsible
manner. Lots of ideas are discussed, most of which
are discarded after discussion."
Perhaps what was reported to me last year was simply an exercise taken
by the board out of fiduciary responsibility. But it was very clear when
the
SW Division director report last year that the idea of cutting back or
cutting
off the DACCA due to its failure to pay for itself was still on the table.
I
don't share Jim Maxwell's rosy outlook on the future of DACCA since last
year. It still appears very much "on the table" to me, and in need of our
aid.
And that is clearly the state of contesting as well as has previously been
reported here. I hope Jim's presence on the board will have the effect we
desire -- he is an advocate for our interest group who deserves our full
support.
But even if guys like Jim filled all of the board positions the danger
wouldn't be eliminated. Sometimes it's not enough to be optimistic and
well intentioned. It's going to take more than a smile to keep the ARR.
afloat, and the future of ham radio hangs in the balance.
----- Original Message -----
From: <jmax@attglobal.net>
To: "Lou Mecseri" <loumecseri@bestnetpc.com>
Cc: "Zack Widup" <w9sz@prairienet.org>; <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2002 14:03
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] I watch with interest, but with great sadness
>
> Lou -
>
> 1. There has been no proposal to eliminate DXCC.
> 2. There has been no proposal to eliminate staff travel related
> to DXCC.
>
> Additionally, you should understand that the League is in
> the middle of a major effort to upgrade DXCC software
> at HQ. Design continues on the so-called Logbook of
> the World project.
>
> Your two issues are non-issues.
>
> 73. Jim, W6CF
>
>
> Lou Mecseri wrote:
>
> > When the "Staff" propose and BOD eliminates DXCC, ARRL will continue to
> > exist without subscriber KE1F.
> >
> > Before eliminating DXCC, perhaps some staff positions should be
eliminated.
> >
> > If travel cost is high for DXCC staff, eliminate traveling, but NOT the
> > program!
> >
> > I must be missing something!
> >
> > 73s
> >
> > Lou KE1F / ZF2LM
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Zack Widup <w9sz@prairienet.org>
> > To: <cq-contest@contesting.com>
> > Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2002 18:47 PM
> > Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] I watch with interest, but with great sadness
> >
> > :
> > : On Wed, 13 Feb 2002, Jim Reisert wrote:
> > :
> > : >
> > : >
> > : > --- "Leigh S. Jones, KR6X" <kr6x@kr6x.com> wrote:
> > : >
> > : > > So the DXCC certificate is in danger of elimination. Someone
produces
> > : > > data that says the cost of sending HQ staffers to the convention
isn't
> > : > > being offset by all of the money being spent by DXers on their
DXCC
> > : > > stamps. Someone produces statistics saying that only a fraction
of
> > the
> > : > > ARRL members have DXCC certificates -- therefore certainly only a
> > : > > fraction must believe that the ARRL should continue to underwrite
the
> > : > > cost of administration of the DXCC program. How's DXCC going to
> > : > > survive in this climate?
> > : >
> > : > By selling a piece of paper for $10 called "QRP DXCC" that requires
them
> > to do
> > : > nothing more than make sure the list you sent them has 100+
different
> > entities
> > : > listed. No QSL cards required.
> > : >
> > : > 73 - Jim AD1C
> > : >
> > :
> > : This whole thing brings up several interesting questions. Who ARE
these
> > : mysterious majority of ARRL members? What do they do with ham radio?
> > : What do THEY want out of the ARRL, or do they even care?
> > :
> > : The DXCC program is something marvellous, quirky and unusual. The
rules
> > : for it are also very odd and quirky. I think it's unlikely that a
brand
> > : new program, invented today, would include "entities" such as all the
> > : uninhabited islands of the DXCC program. It would probably be more
like
> > : the WorldRadio W-100-N award. (I'm not knocking that, either; it's
just a
> > : different program with its own rules. It's also a lot of fun.)
> > :
> > : We find a LOT of non-U.S. hams in the pileups trying to work these
> > : uninhabited rocks that count for DXCC. This indicates to me that
these
> > : hams are also going for DXCC, or that they are participating in some
other
> > : award program based on DXCC. The DXCC program has become something
beyond
> > : the borders of the American national radio society. I think that
should
> > : be taken into consideration.
> > :
> > : 73, Zack W9SZ
> > :
> > :
> > : --
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> > :
> > :
> > :
> >
> > --
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>
>
> --
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>
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