Hi Rick,
This sounds like a great idea to me. This was my first Huntsville
hamfest - but Ill be going back. I thought the drive was easy, the
venue first rate (air conditioned flea market - OKAY!), and the size was
really FB - not too small, not too big. I got to see and talk with lots
of friends from the extended area as well as the ARRL. It won't be an
ARRL National Convention next year of course, but it will still be a
very good hamfest. The ARRL crew considers it one of the "top ten"
hamfests in the US each year.
We have good relations now with TCG and ACG as far as I can tell, but
working together on a project for next year will help strengthen those
relationships. The Ten-Tec/SEDCO hamfest is coming up next month (Sept
29) BTW - another good one that is an easy drive from Atlanta and a good
chance to meet and greet our TCG friends. Ill be presenting there along
with W4PA and other contesters.
I'm all for sponsoring a hospitality suite - count me in for support. A
contest forum sounds good as well.
73, Hal
N4GG
-----Original Message-----
From: secc-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:secc-bounces at contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Rick Dougherty
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2007 7:21 AM
To: SECC
Subject: [SECC] Huntsville Hamfest
Hi Guys...just got home yesterday afternoon from the Huntsville
Hamfest...Jim VE7ZO and I were asked by the Ala Contest Group to do a
pair of presentations at the Hamfest...I was really impressed with this
hamfest...it's venue was well chosen...it was perfect size and very
convenient to both the Holiday Inn Select and the Embassy Suites
hotels...the drive over was very delightful....restaurants abound in the
area....and the downtown Huntsville area has a really wonderful historic
district and a warm and homey feel to it...(no I don't work for the
Huntsville Chamber of Commerce, but I did stay at the Holiday Inn
Select)
The attendance by my estimate was over 2000 people...the fact it was the
ARRL National Convention had to have some positive impact as well...the
major equipment manufacturers were well represented, as well as the
publishers of QST and CQ magazines...the flea market was ample, and
could have been a little larger in nature...the whole event was indoors
and air conditioned!
For those who made the trip, I am sure that the event was
enjoyed...SECC'ers seen at the Huntsville hamfest include N4GG, WB4SQ,
N4NX, N5BI, KC4BVF, VE7ZO, NQ4I, K4TD, KI4MTU, WA4ILO, and I am sure
others...if I forgot to mention your attendance...I apologize...too many
faces and so little time.....
Now for the meat of my post to the reflector...a little brainstorming
session was held, and the result was whether next year at the Huntsville
Hamfest the SECC and ACG, along with TCG and other contest clubs and
maybe dx clubs to have a convention within a convention...my wife
suggested a couple of hospitality suites Friday evening with Pizza,
Beer and Wine....we could have some workshops and presentations along
with the hamfest..if the clubs were sharing the responsibility of
presentations, we could have a very interesting agenda, along with some
really neat workshops...the purpose of this letter is to see if there is
any interest in the SECC to pursue this as a possibility...sound off
...keep your comments positive please...I am very interested in
improving our relationship with some of the other clubs and forming
possible alliances...they are our neighbors, and as such we need to have
good relationships with them...I see this as a possible "small Dayton"
type of hamfest...it could really grow into a drawing factor from the SE
US all the way to Texas and maybe as far east as NC...we could sure use
the social opportunity, and the forums could be of benefit to all....
So SECC members what say you to this idea???
73 de Rick NQ4I
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