[PaQSO] (no subject)

[Michael Coslo]

On Nov 29, 2005, at 1:06 PM, cliff wrote:

> I just saw some interesting reading on the  KM3D home page. Does  
> this raise more questions ?
>

	I believe that a response is in order.

	Point one:

	An open letter to the Nittany ARC is of course an acceptable thing  
to do.  I find it a little odd that this open letter was posted on a  
web site without saying anything to me or any other NARC members.  
Thank you, Cliff for bringing it to my attention. Without your  
announcement, I would still not know about it. But so be it. If KM3D  
wants to broadcast to the world our deficiencies, then so be it.

	Point two:

	Doug is no longer the Administrator of the party. It is quite clear  
to me that there are a significant number of people who would be  
wonderful happy if time would somehow reverse itself and Doug once  
more handled the reins. My limited interactions with Doug have  
convinced me he is a great guy. But his administration is in the  
past, and since then, Woody, John, Chuck, and now myself have been  
doing the party.

	Point three:

	What lack of cooperation? Exactly what lack of cooperation have I  
shown to Harry? I went to contest with only one change to the rules,  
and have added nothing since then. I have discussed rules  
clarification with the assistant Chair of the contest, but at this  
time, rules are not what I am doing. Entering summary sheets and  
preparing for the "big log checkout" is what I am doing.

	Point four:

	The rules. The PAQSO party is supposed to be a fun party. Do the  
participants really want a Hammarubian set of rules? Do you want to  
have it spelled out that there is "no Feld-Hell contacts, or 160 KHz  
part 15 contacts, or even FRS? Oddly enough, even though some people  
have claimed that the rules must be much more specific, at the same  
time, they believe that anything that isn't prohibited is allowed! To  
me that sounds like an unnecessary complication.


	Here is how the rules go. If I discover an inconsistency in them -  
and a few people have pointed some out - I will fix them. If clarity  
can be added without making a rule Draconian, I'll do it. But don't  
expect me to add verbiage that says stuff like "even though we post  
suggested frequencies, the contest frequencies are anywhere in the  
bands that your privileges allow, or to tell the participants that  
they shouldn't operate phone in the CW portions of the band.

	I have been involved in rule-making for many many years, and if I  
have learned anything, it is that the more verbose, the more  
interpretation happens.


	Now for some general observations.


	I'm sorry to hear that KM3D has so many problems with me that he  
cannot participate in the contest, nor sponsor the plaque any more.  
Peoples hobbies and interests often change over time, and now that he  
is enjoying his motorcycle, there is probably no good reason to  
participate in a contest that he finds aggravating. I appreciate what  
he has done in years past. Good luck in the future, Harry.

	The passion of a lot of people for this contest is a humbling  
experience. I have received Summary sheets from people who couldn't  
participate in the contest because of health reasons, but wanted to  
give a donation - AND apologize for not being able to get on the air  
that second week in October.  I've gotten many wonderful notes in the  
logs and summary sheets from people. I've even gotten a funny cartoon  
strip from a partyer!

	But there is a line between passion, and when something becomes so  
aggravating that it is not enjoyable any more, then it is time to  
step back and assess the situation. Is it just temporary excitement,  
from which you need to gather your thoughts  from,  or is it that the  
contest (or whatever) is simply so intractable and ill conceived that  
you cannot in good faith participate any more? Or that you just don't  
enjoy it at all any more? Then the answer becomes obvious. After all  
we are supposed to be the fun QSO party.

	Thanks so much to everyone allowing me to respond to this.


	- 73 de Mike KB3EIA -