[PaQSO] Keystone Award

[Ron Lape]

It still is a challange to have 100 "qso's" w/PA stations. Mine was awarded
for NOT working them during a contest.

Since I'm sitting here waiting for the CA Party I might as well throw my two
cents into the pot. Everyone should remember that NOTHING is perfect. But
until the it gets perfect, the PAQSO Party is well received by our peers in
other states. I could sit here and speak of many things that need, maybe not
changed but 'tweaked' a little, but, until I or the others that want
changes, actually give up their time and effort instead of relying on
others....well you know the rest of the story.

My first PAQP effort was with my 599  'Twins'. I did pretty good tuning
freqs, changing bands, retuning, etc. Scored more than any other Fayette
County station. Did I win?, No, a Portable QRP station set the record that
year (Thanks to bonus points gallore--no flames there, I thought it was
great) I submitted my list as a "Newbie" "No BIG GUNS I beleive the rules
said.
Did I win, you guessed it..no. Did it make me mad and rant and rave and
promise that I wasn't EVER coming back and I'll hold my breath until I turn
blue in the face and those guys that make the rules sure are dumb and what
was that guy who doesn't even live here doing in Fayette County just to beat
me anyway? Nope! Just made me try harder the next year, scope thing out and
see what I needed to do to make my station better. Didn't get mad until I
found out that the "Newbie" "NOT a Big gun station" that won the newbie
category was a club that had just gotten rgeir new Vanity call. Now THAT,
Ladies and Gentlemen DOES have to change. We will not get the newbie's to
participate if they know the cards are stacked against them.
Just my 2.73689 cents worth.
73's and counting the days
Ron, K3MI