[Boatanchors] [BoatAnchors] HamCom 2012, Plano, Texas Report

[john]

Good stuff!

Thanks Dave and also to Nick England and others who take the time to share 
hamfest photos. It's great to be able to participate in remote fests 
vicariously :-)

73
John K5MO




At 11:21 AM 6/11/2012, David Stinson wrote:
>HamCom in Plano, Texas, June 8-9 was great fun
>and it was good to see both old and new friends.
>Hot outside, but not nearly as bad as the last two years.
>Crowd did seem somewhat down from previous years,
>especially the outdoor flea market.
>The flea-market problem had two roots:
>First, the weather was predicted to be rainy and,
>of course, was not.  Arrrgh!
>Second, and IMHO more important:  As in other
>places, some pointy-headed, John Lennon-glasses local
>government idiot put on his "Little Napoleon" hat and
>decided that the $12.87 he collected in *sales taxes*
>from individuals was more important than
>the economic activity of hundreds of people buying
>food, lodging etc. in Plano.  Moron....
>
>Anyways... there was a fair selection of boatanchors
>and a good amount of interest in the WWII rig display.
>Of course, my beautiful daughters, Amanda and little Annabelle
>helped with that ;-) (Amber was otherwise occupied this year).
>
>Link to HamCom 2012 boatanchor photos:
>
>http://s948.photobucket.com/albums/ad321/arc5stinson/
>
>Again, please accept my humble thanks to everyone
>who lent a hand (and sometimes a foot, leg and misc. eyeball)
>in making the display a success.
>
>If The Almighty decides to put-up with my nonsense
>for another year,  I'll be doing another at HamCom 2013-
>also assuming the world doesn't end on 21 Dec. ;-)
>Will for sure include a Women's Army Service Pilot section;
>they don't get the recognition they deserve, and I have a
>very cool WASP radio for the centerpiece of that.
>Haven't decided on the other rigs yet.
>Open to suggestions.
>In the "restore" queue: ATD, RAX, GF/RU, GP-7, TCS,
>ARA/ATA, RAT and, in case we decide to branch into infantry,
>SCR-288, SCR-194, SCR-156.
>
>Couple of tips for anyone who, like me, lacks good sense
>and decides to do this:  Don't print more than 100 handouts.
>Most people don't take them.
>Keep your signs brief and to-the-point.  Some of mine
>were still too "wordy."  Even those who think it's "neat" won't
>read beyond three sentances.  You're not going to interest
>everyone, but you're only after "the elite" anyway.
>Have one rig with which everyone is familiar- "ARC-5" if
>aircraft, something like BC-611 if Infantry.  This grabs
>their attention and they will take the time to look at the other rigs.
>Do NOT leave things that are easily pocketed or hidden
>in a coat unattended.  A loose BC-611 without someone
>watching it will walk out the door in two seconds flat.
>Original tuning knobs on an ARC-5 receiver will magically
>evaporate, even with you standing there.  Don't include them.
>Remember- in a hamfest with, say, 1500 attending,
>if only 1 percent are crooks, that's 15 crooks running around-
>plenty to create some nastyness.
>The little Japanese radio went home with me Friday night.
>
>All that aside, it was a terrific time with lots of good
>folks, great stories and good fellowship.
>Sore feet, but worth it.  See ya next year.
>
>GL OM ES 73 DE Dave AB5S
>
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