[PaQSO] 07 PAQSO Special Event Station news

[Goody K3NG]

If the Party isn't competitive enough for some, the Party probably isn't 
for them.  Records come and go.  Plaques gather dust.  Paper 
certificates fade.  Multi-multi groups and stations disband.  I honestly 
wouldn't remember the multi-multi record score that we set with W3HA 
years ago without looking it up.  I do remember the fun time we had 
doing it, though.

And the hub bub over the digital modes was and continues to be much ado 
about nothing.  There was no windfall of points for digital stations, 
massive interference to CW stations, or shattered records as some were 
predicting.  The very foundations of PA QSO were not brought down like 
some who abandoned the Party said.  The addition of digital modes to 
PAQP is a mere footnote in its history that some chose to exploit 
negatively.

We have the distinction of having the most polite party on the air each 
year with a true environment of fellowship, and this is one Party that 
I'll recommend any day to hams of any operating skill or experience.  
That, above all, is what we need to maintain.  If one has abandoned the 
Party, they have abandoned that legacy and shouldn't be concerned with 
its future.

I may not think the multi-station bonus station is the greatest thing 
since sliced bread, but I have to commend Mike for exploring options.  
It's certainly not a dumb idea.  Anyone can white-out and update the 
year on the rules and entry forms, make copies, and mail them out.  
Leaders will explore new ideas.

73
Goody
K3NG

Michael Coslo wrote:
> Since this one went to the list, I'll reply there.
>
>
> On Apr 5, 2007, at 2:41 PM, William N. Goodman, CPA wrote:
>
>> I think the idea is dumb!  A special event station should be one 
>> station at
>> one location, in one county, not many stations.  Next year we can ALL 
>> enter
>> as W3P.  How silly.  Go back to the original intent, which was to 
>> have one
>> station using a club or special call.
>
> The original Special event station was at the Columbus Chapel in 
> Boalsburg, PA, run by W3YA. The multiple station concept was 
> introduced in 2003. It has proven to be popular. There is no 
> particular philosophy behind the selection or operating conditions of 
> the special event station. I just continue to stand on the shoulders 
> or the giants that came before me. If we were to have a strict 
> competitive policy, there would be no special event station 
> whatsoever. Why should anyone get 200 points for one single QSO? Ever?
>
>
>> This is out of hand, and one of the
>> reasons I abandoned the PA QSO Party.  I speak from experience after 
>> we set
>> a new multi multi record as W3FRC from K3ANS and many years of top 
>> scores,
>> single op at K3ANS.
>
>     I address this below.
>
>
>>   I also think adding all of the new classes has diluted
>> the intent of the contest.  It was supposed to demonstrate the station
>> building and operating skills of high rate QSOs with many multipliers.
>
>     The PAQSO Party is a party, not a contest. We have awards and such 
> but we are first and foremost a party. We advertise ourselves as "The 
> Friendly QSO Party", and we mean it. Here you'll see blatantly non 
> competitive actions such as giving up a frequency to another Op, or 
> allowing another Op to get that rare county that he or she hear us 
> working on our run frequency. From a strictly competitive standpoint 
> that is stupid. Why help your competitor? That person you let contact 
> the rare county might beat you by one QSO in the end! It only makes 
> sense if you see the party as a fun weekend. There are certificates 
> and plaques, and awards for working all counties. But overall, the 
> idea is to have fun, and to promote some ideals that we can compete 
> with each other without being cutthroat about it. It is about winning, 
> but it is also about having a good time while doing it.
>
>     And that will not change!
>
>
>> Now
>> you have so many categories to make all participants happy, it 
>> reminds me of
>> socialism.  All participants win.  Do not let any ham be left behind. 
>> Do not
>> hurt the feelings of the incompetent.
>
> All participants do not win. Perhaps 20 percent get a certificate or 
> something like that. One club wins a trophy, four get certificates. A 
> few people get all 67 counties. The idea is that you look at that 
> certificate on the wall and think "I really had a good time that 
> weekend", not "I really showed those other Jerks just who rules 40 
> meters!" I am competitive by nature, and I know the thought process.
>
>     And you weren't calling me a socialist were you? 8^)
>
>>   If you want to have a computer
>> digital contest, make that a separate event, not mingled with the SSB 
>> and
>> CW.  Keep the PA QSO Party simple and focused.
>
>     As I learned a long time ago, the PAQSO is not simple. And it 
> wasn't simple a long, long, time before I was involved with it. 1.5 
> point QSO's anyone?
>
>
>> The ARRL has done the same
>> confusion and diluting with Field Day.  Too many categories!
>
>     I think there might be a fundamental issue with operator 
> perceptions here Bill. Field Day is emphatically NOT a contest.
>
>     In any event, I have said it in other places. The PAQSO party is 
> not for everyone. There are people who are exceptionally competitive 
> by nature, and the party may very well be "Not Good Enough" for them.
>
>     Thanks for your input, Bill.
>
> -73 de Mike KB3EIA -
>
>
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