In what can only be described as a "coup at midnight" a
few Anti-Assistance folks on the VUAC have removed the Assisted classes
from the ARRL EME contest. This was done essentially in secret, out of
the view of the bulk of the EME operators. Only one VUAC member voted
against this insanity--Wayne, N6NB. The effect of this, will be to make
it very hard for the small EME stations to work anyone in the EME
contest. Why these people decided that they needed to harm the smaller
stations is hard to understand, especially since the Assisted classes
were the most popular classes--there were more logs submitted in the
Assisted classes than any other class.
Using digital EME, small stations can work other small stations if they
can use coordination to set up schedules. They can then slug it out
against the conditions until a valid contact is achieved. Without
coordination, a small station will be able to find a few of the "big
guns", but they will not be able to work each other because they
literally cannot find another trace.
I will not be participating in the EME contest this year, as there is
now no class for me. I will submit a log with NO contacts in protest. I
urge you to do the same. Other small EME stations are saying the same
thing and will not participate for the same reasons. I believe that
there will be a significant drop in participation from the smaller
stations because of this extremely ill advised action. I ask that other
EME capable stations to contact the ARRL and let them know that you are
very upset. It is very important that you send your comments to
Sean(skutzko@arrl.org <mailto:skutzko@arrl.org>) and request that your
email be forwarded to the VUAC representatives.
I don't know why the Anti-Assistance people believe that their way is
the only way and we must operate exactly the way that they do. But that
is precisely what they believe. Bumbling around the band hoping that you
might bump into someone to work is just a very poor way to run a
railroad. Please contact me if you agree with these thoughts, we need to
get the word out to as many EME operators as possible. Thank you.
Below, is a list of ARRL Officers, Directors, and Vice-Directors.
Please send your letters to each and every one of them. Politely, but
firmly, voice your outrage at this action, which can only hurt the
smaller stations and limit their participation. Please pass this email
along to anyone that corrently operates EME or is interested in EME. We
need to maximize the participation in EME, not restrict it. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Marshall Williams, K5QE
Sean <skutzko@arrl.org <mailto:skutzko@arrl.org>>
Joel <w5zn@arrl.org <mailto:w5zn@arrl.org>>
Kay <n3kn@arrl.org <mailto:n3kn@arrl.org>>
Rick <k5ur@arrl.org <mailto:k5ur@arrl.org>>
David <k1zz@arrl.org <mailto:k1zz@arrl.org>>
Bill <n3llr@arrl.org <mailto:n3llr@arrl.org>>
Tom <w3tom@arrl.org <mailto:w3tom@arrl.org>>
George <w9gig@arrl.org <mailto:w9gig@arrl.org>>
Howard <k9km@arrl.org <mailto:k9km@arrl.org>>
Jay <k0qb@arrl.org <mailto:k0qb@arrl.org>>
David <k5uz@arrl.org <mailto:k5uz@arrl.org>>
Jim <k8je@arrl.org <mailto:k8je@arrl.org>>
Gary <ki4la@arrl.org <mailto:ki4la@arrl.org>>
Frank <n2ff@arrl.org <mailto:n2ff@arrl.org>>
Joyce <ka2anf@arrl.org <mailto:ka2anf@arrl.org>>
Bruce <k0bj@arrl.org <mailto:k0bj@arrl.org>>
Clifford <k0ca@arrl.org <mailto:k0ca@arrl.org>>
Tom <k1ki@arrl.org <mailto:k1ki@arrl.org>>
Mike <k1twf@arrl.org <mailto:k1twf@arrl.org>>
Jim <k9jf@arrl.org <mailto:k9jf@arrl.org>>
William <k7zm@arrl.org <mailto:k7zm@arrl.org>>
Bob <w6rgg@arrl.org <mailto:w6rgg@arrl.org>>
Jim <k6jat@arrl.org <mailto:k6jat@arrl.org>>
Dennis <w4pwf@arrl.org <mailto:w4pwf@arrl.org>>
Patricia <n4ros@arrl.org <mailto:n4ros@arrl.org>>
Brian <n5zgt@arrl.org <mailto:n5zgt@arrl.org>>
Dwayne <wy7fd@arrl.org <mailto:wy7fd@arrl.org>>
Greg <w4ozk@arrl.org <mailto:w4ozk@arrl.org>>
Jeffrey <wa4aw@arrl.org <mailto:wa4aw@arrl.org>>
Richard <n6aa@arrl.org <mailto:n6aa@arrl.org>>
Marty <n6vi@arrl.org <mailto:n6vi@arrl.org>>
David <k5rav@arrl.org <mailto:k5rav@arrl.org>>
John <wb5syt@arrl.org <mailto:wb5syt@arrl.org>>
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