[EIDXA] Proposal

[Nelson Moyer]

I'm not a contester, so I won't participate in this 'award' program. I don't
have a problem with those that want to contest, as long as I'm not required
to participate to remain a member of the EIDXA (we are, after all a DX
club), and as long as my dues don't increase to subsidize trophies for the
contesters. Also, to be fair about recognitions, there should be some
acknowledgement of DX accomplishments of members. How many EIDXA members
hold 5BDXCC (or 6, 7, 8, or 9 band DXCC)? How many qualify for the Challenge
list and what are their standings? How many have worked them all? How many
hold the WPX Award of Excellence? How many have 5BWAZ or are getting close?
I think it's important to keep the club ballanced and not to stray too far
from its primary reason for existing, which is to promote DXing. Contesting,
for me is simply a means to that end. I can't get too excited about working
a string of JAs, but I don't mind cherry picking a new band country on 40 or
80 during a contest. If the contest types want to be gung ho about
contesting, perhaps it's time to form the Eastern Iowa Contest Club. I guess
the contesters are about as interested in the video from Ducie as I am about
programs on how to set up a multi-transmitter, single op contest station.
The one area of common ground between contesters and DXers has been mostly
ignored at EIDXA meetings. I'm talking about antennas, and expecially
antennas for the low bands. How many pennents or K9AY loops are out there?
What works on a town lot? What about shunt loaded towers for 80/160? It
seems to me there are a lot of relevant topics of interest to both
contesters and DXers, without subjecting either group to sensory overload.

One more thing, what happened to the photo directory and the member profiles
that K0DX was working on? I think it would be a good way to connect members
between meetings. If I know how had which rig, etc., I might want talk to
them.

Typically, the majority of EIDXA members are silent. Let's hear from
everyone this time.

Nelson, KU0A