[MRCA] When Will Hamfests Resume???

[Mister Mike]

On May 26, 2020, at 4:46 PM, mrca-request at mailman.qth.net wrote:
> Date: Tue, 26 May 2020 20:46:05 +0000
> From: Ray Fantini <RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu>
> 
> Hopefully this stuff will be cleared up enough by the end of the summer that it won’t mess up Red Ball MVPA Show on September 25th and 26th, always figured that as one of the high points of the year for the MRCA with the get together and field operations there.
> 
> Its still on the schedule at this time although did see that Red Ball has canceled most of there regular meetings they still are going ahead with the show.
> 
> The MVPA Sussex event has been moved to October 25th and the 26th......

Guys:

I wouldn't hold my breath!  I seriously doubt that we will be going to any hamfests or any other big gatherings very soon.  It is not because they won’t let us.  Rather it will probably because the shows will have to resume when the people are ready.

A good barometer will be watching how professional sports starts up again.  I would think when the fans start filling Fenway Park, the Gaaden or whatever pro sports arena near you once again may indicate the time will be right to resume our hamfests and military vehicle shows.

Don’t forget that most of us are on the other side of fifty; many over sixty and are the group at highest risk.   This Corona thing is not going away just like that.  People (or their wives) are going to be naturally very cautious about returning to crowded events such as hamfests and military vehicle shows.  Show organizers are going to be faced with making a decision based on whether they think enough people will show up because if they are wrong and people don’t come they will lose money.   Running out of money will kill the whow permanently so the organizers will have to be very careful about deciding when they will resume.

Once they so announce the shows will resume you can help immeasurably by buying a ticket (or two) even if you do not feel comfortable attending.   Having solid financial reserves is what will save our shows.  We are in danger of losing some of them if we do not support them now when it is needed the most.  

73,

Michael Crestohl, W1RC