[PVRCNC] Re: [PVRC] WX3B Comments on the Circle Proposal: Q&A

[Jim Jordan, K4QPL]

Hi Jim,

Thanks again for your efforts and high standards in this matter. This an 
evolutionary struggle to deal with a very positive situation---growth and 
transition in the club and growth and transition in contesting. Technology 
has made it practical to define a precise circle and communications 
technology, like this email, have made it possible to be directly involved 
in the club beyond the "commuting range" for single unit club meetings.

Nothing can be done that can satisfy everyone 100%. As is often said, "The 
mark of a good settlement is that no one is entirely happy but all can live 
with it."

That has been mostly achieved even though we can all try to share the 
disappointment of those directly affected to the extent their contribution 
of points to club scores cannot be accepted.

What has been proposed, and should be accepted for now, should not be 
considered "carved in stone forever."  As an evolutionary process, we should 
continue to look at ways to grow and improve which could involve further 
change.

Thanks to the officers and trustees for their hard work and tough decisions 
on this and to all the members for sharing their concerns and suggestions. 
As for me, I'll try to QRT on this subject so we can move on down the 
calendar--FD, IARU, WAE, and only 5 months away---SS 07!

73,

Jim, K4QPL

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Nitzberg" <wx3b at yahoo.com>
To: <pvrc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2007 1:27 AM
Subject: [PVRC] WX3B Comments on the Circle Proposal: Q&A


> PVRC Proposed Circle:  Questions and Answers: 06/04/07
> An insight into Our Thoughts - Plus Membership Q & A
>
> Dear PVRC Members;
>
> As you might imagine, this is a time of passionate
> discussion, debate, and high emotions for some
> members.  I want you all to know that this proposal
> you are studying is being taken VERY seriously by your
> Officers and Trustees.  We DO know that PVRC is a
> "people" club, and at the same time, we are also
> focused on spirited competition and fun.
>
> I appreciate the time and energy folks have put into
> this thought process, and have received many personal
> emails both in support of, and passionately against
> this proposal.  In reality, there are very few members
> (directly) affected by this proposal - however the
> ones that are negatively affected hate this proposal
> and the ones positively affected think it's just
> perfect.  For most members - there is no difference.
>
> We have officially entered a time in our club where we
> must accurately adhere to club competition rules -
> specifically our competition circle boundaries.
>
> Tools available today make this easy to do.  I think
> we're pretty safe in assuming that nobody wants to see
> me write another Forfeit letter like I had to write
> before Dayton this year.  This means there is an
> urgent need for an immediate solution - one that's
> within the rules, and spirit of the interpreted rules,
> in order for us to move forward for the 2007 - 2008
> competition season.
>
> I have watched a process unfold on our reflector which
> I would generally characterize as healthy, and
> familiar.  It is very similar to the threads that the
> Trustees discussed at length for several weeks.  There
> have been some zingers thrown in that at times have
> made me uncomfortable - however the overall commentary
> and brainstorming has been encouraging.
>
> One conclusion I hope all of our members have reached
> by now is:
>
> DOING NOTHING, AND ENTERING CLUB COMPETITION THE WAY
> WE DID EARLIER THIS YEAR, IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE.  WE
> WOULD BE SUBJECT TO BEING DISQUALIFIED FOR MANY OF THE
> COMPETITIONS WE ENTER!
>
> When we drew a GPS-defined circle based on our current
> center - it turns out this is the worst possible
> scenario, because it fragments both our northern and
> southern boundaries, as well as our eastern boundary.
>
>
> Our proposal, while quite unpalatable for several
> important members, is both an optimization for our
> club competition scores, and "people" - looking toward
> our future.  I am convinced that this is the best
> possible case - for the entire club.
>
> This, however, does not make it any easier to explain
> to some very good friends and PVRC Stalwarts that
> there ability to contribute PVRC club competition
> "points" just got diminished.
>
> I realize that I stand to loose a few good friends
> over this decision, and for that I am truly sorry.
> Unfortunately, this "problem" comes with being a
> leader in any organization, and I accepted that
> responsibility when I became your President.  I am
> doing my best - to find an ideal "compromise" - for
> the entire club.
>
> Those of you that know me well realize that I do make
> my decisions "in the sunshine" - out in the open, and
> other than protecting hurt feelings, I generally err
> on the side of sharing too much information, rather
> that too little.  Very little information contained in
> my correspondence is marked "confidential" - I assume
> that everything I say, could - end up on the PVRC
> reflector.
>
> Our members should join me in being VERY proud and
> appreciative of the time, energy and personal effort
> each Trustee and Officer has put forth during this
> difficult period.  We have a broad base of experience
> and character on our Board; and it takes this type of
> high quality group to navigate through these
> challenges, agree on a strategy, recommend an
> approach, and move forward.
>
> I hope this gives you some insight to our thought
> process.  I have put together some of the more common
> questions and my answer so that you can get a better
> idea of how this might unfold.  Please remember the
> open comment period continues for another few days.
>
> PVRC Circle Definition:  How might this affect me?
>
> Q:  Why can't we just leave our circle alone?
> Everything seemed to be going along just fine before
> this year!  I don't like the fact that "moving" the
> circle is going to move some folks outside the ability
> to contribute their scores to PVRC.
>
> A:  The circle as it exists today when drawn to GPS
> precision, leaves about as many PVRC members beyond
> the boundary as the proposed move.  In addition, there
> are more "fringe" areas that get split, and the
> overall impact of doing nothing is substantially worse
> than the total membership impact proposed circle.
>
>
> Q:  I just calculated my distance to the center of the
> proposed circle and realize that I'm not within 175
> miles.  Does this mean I am no longer a club member?
> Should I resign?
>
> A:  Club Membership is not based on any "circle" or
> sponsoring competition agency (ARRL, CQ, etc.).  PVRC
> membership is for life, and you may continue to enjoy
> participating in ANY contest, and participating in ANY
> PVRC function.
>
>
> Q:  Ok - I know I'm still a member; however I live 176
> miles from the circle center.  What are my options for
> contributing to PVRC club competition efforts?
>
> A:  Did you know that there are Four (4) PVRC club
> competitions that don't suffer from boundary
> limitations?  CQ WPX CW, CQ WPX SSB, CQ 160 CQ and CQ
> 160 SSB do NOT have a rigid definition and you may
> participate in these events.  CQ 160 has no geographic
> limit, and WPX sponsor talks about "Same Geographic
> Region".
>
> Another option is for you to go to a friends house
> that is within the Club Competition Sponsor's rules
> and operate at a multi-operator event.
>
> Q:  For 20+ years, I've been dedicated PVRC member; I
> have created a big station, and generated a lot of 5m
> points.   Unbelievably, I now find myself beyond the
> 175 mile boundary for most club competitions.   How
> does this affect my ability to enter contests and get
> 5m point recognition from PVRC?
>
> A:  The "Club Competition Circles" we're talking about
> do NOT affect anyone's ability to enter a contest,
> have a GREAT time in the contest, and compete for
> contest awards.  In fact, the ONLY affect this
> proposed circle has is your ability to add your
> "points" to the PVRC club score - which you may only
> do, if you live within the limitations dictated by the
> Contest Sponsor's rules.
>
> PVRC isn't telling you which contests to enter and
> which you can have a great time in, however the
> contest sponsors have their own rules that PVRC must
> adhere to.   Many of us enter contests where
> "contributing to PVRC" is one small aspect of the fun
> we have.
>
> 5m Program Comments
>
> We are modifying the 5m program to be consistent with
> our goal of promoting competition, and recognizing
> that competition within PVRC and having PVRC based
> goals is good for all of us, regardless of sponsor
> based club competition circles.
>
> Anyone formerly earning 5m awards - regardless of
> their distance to the circle center, can continue to
> participate in our 5m program and earn awards provided
> they are in the 7 state regions we serve:  PA, MD, DC,
> WV, VA, DE and NC.  Our 5m program is open to any PVRC
> member in these 7 states.  If someone moves outside of
> this region, however, they must come "inside" the
> region to earn 5m points for PVRC awards.
>
>
> Q:  I've read the ARRL rules and heard about the
> "Dancing Circle" concept.  Why don't we do that, so
> nobody gets left out?
>
> A:  I (WX3B) was one of the original proponents of the
> Dancing Circle.  This concept appeals to the most
> competitive of us (and the ones that aren't focused on
> 5m point accumulation).   The concept of a VHF circle
> is a somewhat less controversial case of the overall
> "Dancing Circle".
>
> Unfortunately - there is NOT (yet) widespread buy-in
> to this concept in my peer group of Contest Club
> Presidents.  I agree, it may not be "against the
> rules' to the letter of the law, but it does "smell
> fishy" to most outsiders.  I think the circle might
> have to crawl and walk (or take multiple forms) before
> it can dance!
>
> There are quite a few "big guns" that don't like this
> idea either, and I have to admit I don't like the hard
> feelings and the difficult administration that
> follows.  We could certainly do it; however it will
> take a process - and time - and debate - before we
> could move forward with even baby steps of this type
> of idea.
>
> We need a solution NOW - and the dancing circle is a
> future possibility.
>
> Q:  I'm tired of all this "Circle Stuff"!  How often
> is the circle going to be "moved"?
>
> A:  Quoting a derivative of a famous Multi-Operator
> Multi-Transmitter leader, the circle location will be
> periodically evaluated when it appears folks are
> having a lot of "Fun" outside of the circle, and it
> makes sense to re-align the circle to capture that
> "Fun".
>
> Practically speaking, the evaluation would likely
> occur, at most, once a year, unless a very special
> circumstance unfolded.   The process takes time that
> only PVRC Officers and Trustees (and our predecessors)
> can appreciate!
>
>
> Q:  I hear that there are actually at least "3"
> totally different circles, one for ARRL (175 mile
> radius), one for CQ (about 172 miles), and one for
> Russian DX (RUDX) and WAE that has a radius of 156
> miles -  I never knew that.
>
> The good news is that I'm 157 miles from the proposed
> Center, the Bad news is that I love the RUDX and WAE
> contests, and now I'm afraid I can't participate!  Is
> this right?
>
> A:  NO!   You may enjoy operating in any event - PVRC
> and the contest sponsor do not dictate your operation
> or ability to enjoy the fun.  The only thing that is
> being affected is dictated by the contest sponsor in
> their location rules - and that is your ability to
> "Mark your log PVRC" and generate club competition
> points for PVRC!
>
> Please remember that in contests like RUDX,
> Sweepstakes, and any other "everybody works everybody"
> (some RTTY contests) events, becoming active means you
> will work PVRC members, and this adds to our cause -
> even if you are outside of some sponsor created  club
> competition boundary.
>
> We got lucky with CQ - our proposed ARRL competition
> circle also defines an optimized CQ circle - with very
> few exceptions.
>
> We are only drawing one "Club Competition" Circle to
> start this process.
>
> There is future consideration for PVRC/ARRL discussion
> related to having a separate VHF circle - since a
> large part of our VHF efforts are "North" and in PA.
>
>
> It is also possible, that in the future, we may elect
> to draw separate, optimized circles for the RUDX and
> WAE events, however we think there may be a better
> answer:  STANDARIZATION!
>
> Pete, N4ZR has volunteered to lead a charge to have
> Contest Sponsors Standardize on one measurement -
> something at least 175 miles or greater (probably
> stated in KM) and we are hoping over time, that this
> standardization will remove the need to administer
> "separate competition circles" based on distance
> alone.  This is a great idea, however it involves
> several different contest sponsors, some quite a
> distance from us in different countries.  That
> translates into a lot of discussion.and TIME before we
> see results.
>
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