[NLRS] Rovermania: Reaching out to others to generate growth

[jcplatt1 at mmm.com]

Attached is a cut & paste that I sent to the VHFContesting reflector
yesterday.    While we have had good growth and lots of fun locally with
Rovermania, we have not seen the same level of growth nationally.    In
2003 there were 140 logs submitted for the August UHF contest.   For 2004,
the first year for Rovermania, it jumped to 169 logs.    This growth of +29
logs was almost solely due to activity in our area.     If we can get local
clubs in other areas of the nation to coordinate their own version of
Rovermania, even if its just a couple of guys running to a grid corner for
a few hours on Saturday afternoon with 432, we should be able to generate
well over 200 logs.    That's the goal.      If you have friends in other
clubs outside of NLRS land, talk it up with them.   If your reading this as
a NLRS reflector subscriber who is outside of NLRS land, think about what
you can do in your area.    I would be glad to help with ideas.     Its all
about growth via fun via roving, even if its with just a couple of FM bands
for a few hours.     Earl, N0HZ, is working on a UHF Contest press release
to share with our local FM clubs.

73, Jon
W0ZQ



With the June VHF contest behind us its time to think about the ARRL August
UHF contest and Rovermania II.    You may remember that last year the
Northern Lights Radio Society (NLRS) sponsored Rovermania in our clubs
area.   Rovermania resulted in a significant increase in local activity and
first place finishes for all categories (except multiop) for the Upper
Midwest, all without any tropo.

This year the NLRS is once again organizing for Rovermania II.    Our
planning process has the following attributes:
   1.   Rovers are always free to do what they want to do.    They can
   change their plans at any time.
   2.   Given #1 above, rovers are encouraged to publish a route that
   includes what grids they will be in and about what time, along with what
   bands they have.
   3.   Given #1 above, we share rover operating locations, equipment,
   antennas, and operating ideas.
   4.   Given #1 above, each rover is provided with a primary frequency for
   222 and 432 (ex: 222.135, 432.135).    This is where other stations can
   most likely look to find the rover.

At this time, it looks like the NLRS will have eight to twelve rovers
activating somewhere around 25 to 40 grids ..... our planning is still
coming together.    Think about that level of activity in your area !

My purpose for posting this to VHFContesting is to share with you and your
club how it is that we have been successful in generating UHF contest
activity in NLRS land with the thought that you and your local club can
replicate what we have had success with.     The UHF contest is one of the
premier contests for roving because you can leave the big antennas home (no
6m or 2m) and amazing things can be worked with a few watts given short
feedlines.

Last year, with very average conditions across the USA/Canada, we saw a
slight increase in total logs submitted.   Almost all of that growth was
due to logs from NLRS land and that in turn was due almost solely to
Rovermania.    This year with other clubs sponsoring Rovermania in their
areas, we could expect to see a significant growth in log submissions.

If you or your club want any help with setting up Rovermania in your area,
take a look at what NLRS has done via our website at http://www.nlrs.org/
and look for the link near the top with the name "August UHF Contest Rover
Schedules (Rovermania !)".   You can also drop me a direct email at
W0ZQ at aol.com.

Good luck to all in the UHF contest and Rovermania !

73, Jon
W0ZQ
Pres NLRS