[NJARC] Hamfest Report - Timmonium, MD

[John Dilks K2TQN]

I went, I saw, I didn't enjoy.

Timmonium has always been one of my favorite hamfests. I remember in 
the past thousands of hams attending, Hundreds of ham selling in the 
flea market and real "Ham Companies" selling in the Exhibit Hall 
area.  I remember liking it so much I stayed for both days - several times.

Today it was different.  Sure there were a good number of hams 
attending the somewhat smaller and relocated Outdoor Tailgating 
fleamarket area. The Large building past the livestock area where the 
Basic Indoor Tailgating was held, was really crowded and many hams 
were in there selling, but about half of the sellers in the building 
were selling things that were non-ham related, but they were 
appropriate at least.

The big disappointment was the Main Exhibit area.  Gone are Kenwood, 
Icom and other major companies who used to come.  In their place were 
some of the smaller ham companies, such as West Mountain selling 
their power pole items.  There were a couple of ham stores selling 
too.  And we should thank them for coming.  It was good someone 
responsible showed up with ham things to sell.

In the place of the Icoms and Kenwoods was WB0W who had more space 
than any other company, (except the unsold space they filled with 
tables and chairs for dining.)  WB0W seems to me to be owned or run 
by an ugly cross-dressing guy or a real ugly woman.  Either way, 
"it's" actions of prancing around were disgusting.

Also new to me this year were several art sellers in the Main Exhibit 
area, showing oil paintings and the like.  I saw one Tattoo sign 
among them.  In one booth were two large-thighed women with extremely 
short skirts sitting un-appropriately in chairs showing off their 
underwear.  I'm not sure "what" they were selling.

I went to the hamfest this year with my 13 year-old grandson; I'm 
trying to get him interested in ham radio.  I was afraid to let him 
roam loose because of the lack of good judgement by the hamfest 
committee, or whoever was running the "so-called" hamfest.  How could 
they allow this kind of behavior?

I understand they need to pay expenses, and that location is 
expensive.  But if you have to Pimp it out, why bother?  If this 
trend continues, by next year they will have a bunch of Massage 
Parlor booths set up in there to help hams relax.  If the hamfest 
can't stand on its own, perhaps it is time to scale back or find 
another location.  It certainly is not a place to take your family or 
your grandchildren.  It is not a place that accurately promotes or 
exhibits ham radio.

As it stands now, there is no incentive to attend there again.  I 
will not encourage anyone to attend there in the future without 
assurances that things have changed.

73, John Dilks, K2TQN