[EIDXA] Proposal Response

[Nelson]

I'm not a contester, so I probably 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