[ILQSO] Change date of Indiana QSO PArty?

[Mel Crichton]

Jim K8MR suggested that we move the Indiana QSO Party from the first 
Saturday in May on the day before the Illinois QSO Party, which is the 
3rd Sunday in October... so the INQP would be the 3rd Saturday in 
October, or (if October would start on Sunday) the SECOND Saturday in 
October.

There's some merit in Jim's suggestion:
- Indiana gets away from the competition from the W7 QSO Party and New 
England QSO Party. Both of them seem to "swamp" the bands, and folks 
tend to work those 2 parties before they work us. (We got about 110 
logs for 2008 INQP, the other guys get twice as many).
- Mobiles from out of state (the "hired guns") would have more 
incentive to come in and help, since they would see action for two 
days, first in Indiana and then next door in Illinois. They would be 
finished by 8pm local and might be able to get home at a decent hour. 
(However, beside Jim, what other mobiles might come from outside W9?)
- Co-marketing may be possible.... make a lot of noise about the big 
"Heartland QSO party weekend"

There may be some drawbacks as well:
- October is leaf raking time and station tweaking time. Will hams, 
even serious contesters, spend TWO days in the shack with CQ WW Phone 
contest just a few days away? What will the family do without you? If 
they are on separate weekends there's a chance that you can make one 
or the other.
- Stations (especially mobiles) who have technical problems in the 
INQP may not be available for Sunday ILQP. (Seemed to be my fate, rig 
crashed in INQP, would not have made it the second day). Of course 
this is a possbibility with ANY 2 day operating event. More hours on = 
more chance for Murphy to visit.
- Even though it's a conflict, the May County Hunter Contest fits well 
with INQP, as county hunters will be looking for Indiana counties as 
well as those in W7 and New England. They are glad to work us. We'd 
lose that.

Right now, it does not look as if we could hold one big "IQP" on the 
same day (Illinois and Indiana combined). There are a total of 194 
counties and we'd be stretching many of the mobiles we use in both 
states to get all the counties on.... for example, N9JF came over from 
Illinois to help in Indiana this year, and there were two or three 
Indiana mobiles in Illinois last year. We'd need a LOT more activity 
from INSIDE each state, especially from the bigger signals,  and we're 
not there yet. On the plus side, our rules and scoring are similar.

Also, a two day single combined event might actually chase people 
away. Many people are glad that our parties are 12 hours or less.

So, readers, what do you think? We do have competition from other 
parties where we are now. Move INQP, leave it as is, or do you have a 
better idea yet?

Mel KJ9C