Text 9542, 87 rader
Skriven 2016-09-14 18:03:07 av Daryl Stout (1:19/33)
     Kommentar till en text av JIMMY ANDERSON
Ärende: Hamfests              1/2
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Jimmy,

JA>Please let me know. I just checked the MARA Online website and they don't
JA>have it listed yet. I'd like to get it on my calander ASAP.

  It's usually the second Saturday in April, which for 2017, makes it
April 8th. Most hamfests don't get dates on the calendar (or on their
websites) until like 6 weeks in advance. However, with all the traffic
and road construction on Interstate 40 between Little Rock and Bartlett
(on the east side of Memphis), I'm going to have a hard time convincing
myself to make the trip...driving or riding. My legs go into spasm real
quick if I'm seated for a long time. I am going down to Caddo Valley,
Arkansas, northeast of Arkadelphia, for a square dance next month...but
I can make a stop in Malvern, about halfway there, to stretch my legs,
and get a snack.

JA>Very cool! So far we've not won anything, but have still had a great time
JA>each time! :-)

  I really don't know if I'll spend any money on prize tickets at the
All Arkansas Hamfest in Little Rock this weekend. Weather looks to be
stormy, so that'll likely cut down on the amount of attendees, as well
as possible license exam candidates. While that might improve my chances
of winning, I don't have a bunch of money burning a hole in my pocket,
as it were. They have some nice prizes, but I've seen a lot better at
other hamfests. Plus, with antenna prohibitions, RF gear does me no
good.

  I hate to "air dirty laundry", but I got into a big argument of sorts
with the hamfest chairperson. The All Arkansas Hamfest in Little Rock is
a SMALL FRACTION of what it once was, like it or not.

  He had said to me a few years ago that "I don't know WHY we do a
hamfest, as I have a heck of a time getting vendors or workers". Yet,
the place where they have it, several members are on the staff (Catholic
High School in Little Rock), so they get the facility for free. I
seriously doubt they'd do a hamfest if they couldn't have it there.

  Some have said that "I'm allowing too little time for license exams".
Well, to me, with only 3 vendors (1 embroidery and 2 radio dealers),
that's not big enough to justify longer exam times. He had on the
website that testing was in a 90 minute window...when the truth was that
the hamfest opens at 8am, but I don't start testing until 9am, to give
folks a chance to "look around" first. If I do have enough Volunteer
Examiners (VE's), I'd start at 8:30am.

  However, the cut-off time for walk-ins and re-tests is 9:30am (with an
early 8:30am start time, that gives an hour)...and because it can take
30 minutes to do the exam and the associated paperwork...not to mention
another forum following in the same room...that's why I have a
"shortened test time". The website still notes "testing from 9am to
10:30am", but they FINALLY added "you must be in the exam room by
9:30am".

  When I told him that I'd send any complainers to him because of
the discrepancy on the website and the fliers that'll be on the exam
room door, he said "do it". I'm tempted to tell the complainers "to
really tell him off". So many have said that "this hamfest is a joke".

  A few years ago, when I went to Ham Holiday in Oklahoma City, I was
helping with the exams, and while they had a longer exam time (that
hamfest was MUCH BIGGER bigger with vendors, etc.), one candidate
showed up less than 20 minutes before we had to be out of the room,
wanting to take the exam. The VE Team Liaison REFUSED his request, and
the candidate went ballistic.

  I want to avoid anything like that this weekend...but for all the
trouble I had this year, I think this will be the LAST Arkansas hamfest
I attend, or do anything with.

  The others are too long a drive or ride to make (or I have a schedule
conflict that weekend), and my legs go into spasm. In the future, the
ONLY hamfest I will attend will be the one in Shreveport, Louisiana.
With a 5 1/2 hour Amtrak train ride from Little Rock, Arkansas to
Longview, Texas...then a 1 hour Thruway Bus ride from Longview, Texas to
Shreveport, Louisiana...that's about all I can handle anymore. While I
can't move around on the bus (it literally has seat belts in it), the
train has no such seat belt restriction, and I can move around, if

(Continued to next message)
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