[NLRS] Amateur Radio Resources and flexible (creative?) use thereof

[John (JK) Kalenowsky, K9JK]

Daring to throw some kerosene on this fire (even though I 
probably shouldn't...or *might* this be viewed as an attempt to 
quell the flames?).

What about other HF Bands, 30, 17 and 12 meters, that the major 
contest sponsors exclude from contest operations?

The use of another available BAND when the "standard" frequency 
is being encroached on by the contesters might be some good 
practice for those so devoted to any 'service' such as the IMM 
Net.

Our local emergency services group (EMA/ARES/RACES) has a weekly 
net that, on occasion will disable the 'standard' repeater to 
help remind that a 'standard' resource may not be available in 
an emergency and they have procedures as far as which alternate 
resource should be tried next (another repeater or even 
simplex). While contests are not an issue for repeater users, I 
see some commonality to the situation that initiated this 
'discussion'.

I suggest that practicing alternatives would *enhance* the 
aspect of "voluntary noncommercial communication service, 
particularly with respect to providing emergency communications" 
cited as the basis and purpose of our hobby in our governing 
rules at 97.1(a).

Some (including me) might also argue that "contesting" offers 
some relevant training and similar *enhancement* in the same 
aspect of our hobby, i.e. quick and preferably accurate exchange 
of specified information in very crowded band conditions. 
Further, for those that submit logs, there is a ranking of the 
effectiveness of a station's participation, cross-checking and 
reporting accuracy of the information exchanged and rankings of 
station performance.

Yes, the timing of what happened this past weekend with Sandy's 
northward path up off the east coast of the U.S. coinciding with 
a 48 hour event that encourages aggressive, frequency crowding 
activity from hams around the world (not JUST the U.S.) was 
unfortunate.

I would submit that BOTH have a place in our hobby and "we" need 
to learn to get along and be flexible.

73, JK