[Boatanchors] New Ham vs Old Ham

[John Flood]

Well said Todd,

I can't express enough how much fun this event is and how much I respect the 
time and effort the Nearfest guys put into it all.  Even if it's raining (or 
snowing, I've seen that too) it's the most fun you can have in the rain!  The 
Church Ladies Soup will help hold off hypothermia for a few hours and there is a 
good chance you'll get sunburn the next day to offset the wet and cold!!  I 
don't even care if I don't sell any of my Junque (OK I may have gone a bit to 
far there)  The speakers there are all well informed, friendly, and helpfull.  
Come to think of it, I never trusted guys in suit and ties very much and back 
when this was common atire, that old Mil. /  BA radio you dragged home was 
probably like new or still in the box so there wasn't 40 - 60 years of barn dirt 
on 'em to ruin your "Sunday Best"!  You know what?... I bet the unwashed guys 
laugh at the bathers for wasting hard earned radio funds on soap!

John Flood
KB1FQG


----- Original Message ----
> From: "Todd, KA1KAQ" <ka1kaq at gmail.com>
> To: mlangen <mlangen at execpc.com>
> Cc: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> Sent: Mon, December 6, 2010 3:41:24 PM
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] New Ham vs Old Ham
> 
> On Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 2:25 PM, mlangen <lmlangenfeld at tds.net> wrote:
> > The "good ole" hamfests were, indeed different: talks on
> > DXpeditions; demos; formal, sit-down banquets -- complete with suit & tie,
> > award presentations, a banquet speaker, door prizes and (horrors!) a cash
> > bar -- the whole deal a lot more formal, choreographed and collegial.
> 
> You described our bi-yearly NEAR-Fest almost to the letter, Mark,
> though I think Wayne Green is the only one I've seen wearing proper
> formal clothing to the event. We have many door prizes, awards given
> at the closing ceremonies, and a big AM Dinner off site on Friday
> evening. We have demos and guest speakers as varied as the GE Moto
> crowd who specialize in converting recently-obsolete gear for UHF work
> to Tom Perra discussing things from telegraph keys to the German
> Enigma machine. Well-known R-390A guru George Rancourt has provided a
> number of workshops on the receiver to standing-room-only crowds and
> has recently been offering forums on covert/'spy' radio equipment. He
> has another interesting event planned for the spring event. George
> Maier W1LSB has given talks on Collins gear. Big Gun DXer Neil K6SMF
> has not only given talks, he drives all the way from California to NH
> twice a year to attend just because he enjoys the event so much. Wayne
> Green has spoken on....well....Wayne Green-type stuff, and the list
> goes on.
> 
> I think the problem with many events is that they were started by
> local clubs who wanted to make a fast buck to buy another repeater or
> whatever. Few do it for the love of the hobby or history. And many
> attendees are no better. They show up expecting the world laid at
> their feet and show little respect for the grounds, the sellers, the
> event, or the people who work to put it on. It's the 'all about me'
> world we live in, I guess.
> 
> No doubt we have our share of "interesting" attendees too. One time
> someone even asked me who the homeless guy in the Dodge van was buying
> up all the boatanchors (just kidding Carl!!  :D  ). But overall the
> group is very considerate of the event and most vendors do well at
> policing their surroundings before leaving.
> 
> Many of the maladies described by others aren't unique to ham radio
> but pertain to society in general. I've been to restaurants where
> people smelled so badly I asked to be moved to another table. Go spend
> some time at a shopping mall some weekend and hang around near the
> food court. It makes a hamfest look like a Mensa meeting. People have
> become convinced that the world owes them something and that they'll
> be taken care of. Many folks are no doubt waiting for the government
> to come give them a sponge bath. :D
> 
> As John says, it's all we have. Make the best of it. If you think it's
> bad or wrong, step in and help make it better (not as easy as
> complaining, but what is?). At the end of the day, it's what ya make
> it. Enjoy it, life is short, and amateur radio, moreso.
> 
> ~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4
> 
> http://near-fest.com/
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