[PaQSO] 07 PAQSO Special Event Station news

[Joe Stepansky]

At 03:52 PM 4/5/2007 -0400, Michael Coslo wrote:
>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.

After reflection (if I'm understanding this) there appears to be one major 
difference between this suggestion and what we did as W3UU in 2003 (which 
was a blast).  I may be mistaken, but I believe every station operating as 
W3UU was either owned or operated by a HRAC member.  As an example, I (a 
club member) was with KB3CO (non-club member) in his vehicle using 
W3UU/M/County.  My brother, KC3WX, who is not a club member, operated my 
station here in Dauphin County.  I seem to recall everything going pretty 
smoothly, despite the woeful pre-Party wringing of hands over the 
possibility of pandemonium, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria, 
etc. (sound familiar?)

I'd be uncomfortable signing W3P as I'm not a NARC member.  If this is 
going to be a club special event station then I think it should be just 
that.  A CLUB station or stations.  Things are in less danger of "getting 
out of hand" if it's limited to club members.

Someone mentioned PAQP being unique in having this concept, unlike some 
other parties which do this, that or the other.  But I think that's kind of 
the point, no?  Why do things as everyone else does them?  And for those 
who really, really want this to be super competitive, I'd advise them that 
they have the following alternatives:

2 weeks after PAQP (CQ WorldWide SSB)
1 week after that (ARRL Sweepstakes CW)
2 weeks after that (ARRL Sweepstakes SSB)
1 week after that (CQ Worldwide CW)

Finally, as I get older, I come to realize more and more that life is too 
short to get worked up about things like this.  There are serious issues in 
this world to get passionate about.  For me, this isn't one of 
them.  Whatever NARC decides is fine with me, we'll be out on the road in 
October.  It's a state QSO party, for crying out loud.

73, Joe KQ3F (The idiot half of KB3CO/M)