[NLRS] Promoting the ARRL UHF Contest through Rovermania

[W0ZQ at aol.com]

The following letter was sent out this morning:
 
 
Hello fellow VHF/UHF & microwave club members.  This open letter  is being 
sent to the contact name for 27 ARRL affiliated clubs who have  submitted club 
aggregate scores during 2004.  These 27 clubs, along with  the Northern Lights 
Radio Society (NLRS), represent nearly 5,000 VHF  contesters.   The purpose of 
the letter is to solicit your support for  the 2005 ARRL UHF contest.

In 2004 the NLRS advanced the concept of  "Rovermania" for the ARRL's August 
UHF contest.  Rovermania was born at our  annual Spring Conference in April.  
During the summer months it quickly  became a point of discussion and planning 
on our clubs reflector.  Check  out our 2004 Rovermania planning at our 
club's website at  http://www.nlrs.org/RoverPlans/2004-08/RoverMania.htm .

The  results?   Check out the contest write up at  
http://www.remote.arrl.org/members-only/contests/results/2004/Aug-UHF/  .   Overall, the contest saw an 
increase of 29 logs (from 140 in 2003  to 169 in 2004).   Of this increase, 13 
were from Dakota Division, 2  were from the Central Division, and 7 were from 
the Midwest Division, all areas  of NLRS influence.  These 22 logs represent 
about 75% of the growth from  2003 to 2004.

Its clear that Rovermania had a significant impact on  growth, but that 
growth was only regional, and this is where the purpose of this  letter come in.   
I would like to strongly encourage your club to  sponsor your own version of 
Rovermania in your area.   What might that  involve ?
1.  Take a look at the NLRS link above to  see how we organized in our area.  
2.  Make an  announcement at your club function, club meeting, or club 
breakfast.  Take  on the challenge of increasing logs.   Find a Rovermania champion 
for  your club.
3.  Encourage sharing of rover ideas,  equipment, locations, etc.   
4.  Promote  the event within your club.

For 2005 the NLRS will  once again be sponsoring Rovermania for our club 
(actually Rovermania II) in  parallel with the ARRL's August UHF contest.  We plan 
to have even more  rovers in the field this year with more bands.   I think 
all of you  know how exciting a contest can be when there is one well equipped 
rover  operating in your area.  Now think of three such rovers, five, seven,  
ten.

The NLRS will be posting this letter onto our website at  
http://www.nlrs.org/ , probably as part of our Rovermania II  planning.   I hope to hear back 
from each of you and your club as to  your thoughts about supporting the UHF 
contest and Rovermania.   I  would be glad to post any such replies on our website 
for all clubs to  see.    

Share this open letter with others whom you think  may be interested.  Lets 
make the 2005 ARRL UHF contest one to  remember.   Be a champion for Rovermania 
in your area and lets  demonstrate the same regional growth we had 
nationally.    

73,
W0ZQ
President, NLRS.


Club List:
Mt. Airy  VHF Radio  Club                    
Rochester VHF  Group                            
Potomac Valley Radio Club
North East Weak Signal  Group           
South Mountain Contest  Club                 
Society of Midwest Contesters
Pacific Northwest VHF  Society           
Western States Weak Signal Society     
Badger Contesters
Yankee Clipper Contest  Club              
Florida Contest  Group                            
Mad River Radio Club
Crawford County  ARC                        
Contest Club  Ontario                              
South Jersey Radio Association
Carolina DX  Association                     
Northern California Contest  Club              
Bergen ARA
Tennessee Contest  Group                  
Warminster  ARC                                    
Delaware Valley VHF Society
Eastern Panhandle  ARC                     
North Texas Microwave  Society              
Roadrunners Microwave Group
Grand Mesa Contesters of  Colorado    
Downey  ARC                                         
Dauberville DX Association
 
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