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Author Topic: Hamfest Damage Report  (Read 75391 times)

W3WN

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RE: Hamfest Damage Report
« Reply #60 on: May 24, 2017, 09:05:16 AM »

I get the sense that he's furious it wasn't the all-out disaster he was praying for.
It amazes me how some of you try so hard to defend DARA on this cluster fart.

Not nearly as much as it amazes me how you refuse to admit you were wrong and that you are still pissed that DARA booted you out.
Did DARA actually boot him out?

It would explain everything, but I have yet to hear that definitively.
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W8JX

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RE: Hamfest Damage Report
« Reply #61 on: May 24, 2017, 09:10:09 AM »

You weren't there.  That much is obvious from constant harping on the restroom situation alone; had you been there, you would have seen that there were plenty of them, and that they were clean, well maintained, and more than adequate for the crowd.

I did not have to be, I saw a lot of media and private pictures of mud-fest flea market. Saw news reports of over 300 cars being towed out that you seem to ignore. Then repair costs too. Nobody but DARA would attempt to line up a 1000 vendors on a flat grass field in a rainy season. Not unless you are brain dead

So you are not harping on DARA from actual experience, but clearly from a long-seated resentment of the organization that goes well beyond Hamvention.

I would be first to give them a kudo if they did it right but it was a cluster fart worthy of the sheep that think porta poties are the norm for world class events because DARA has used them for so long.

You have no credibility whatsoever.

You are one without it not me. You spend a lot of time defending the indefensible.  BTW did you visit the DARA compound to see where money not spent on venues is going????

PS you wish I got booted out, I quit long ago because of brain dead politics in group. I never was sheep material.
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W3WN

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RE: Hamfest Damage Report
« Reply #62 on: May 24, 2017, 09:17:53 AM »

< snip >
PS you wish I got booted out, I quit long ago because of brain dead politics in group. I never was sheep material.
Whatever.

So you sat at home 20 miles away, but were never actually there.  Yet you are an expert.  Right.

---

And here, gentle readers, is the crux of it.

It is very, very easy to sit back and criticize, using 20/20 hindsight and Monday Morning Quarterbacking, what someone else should have done.  It's an entirely different thing to actually get your proverbial hands dirty -- making the phone calls, visiting the prospective venues and vendors, lining up the supplies and materials, and being on hand to put things together, run the event, and take them apart at the end.

I don't know about anyone else who has been commenting on, or at least reading, this and related threads.  At least I've been involved in multiple hamfests to one degree or another, including helping to run my own club's hamfest for the last 22 years.  Now I'm not going to pretend that this gives me a license to be an expert on everything involved in as big an event as Hamvention is, or anything even close; there's a huge difference of scale between a one day hamfest of ~500 attendees, and an undertaking like a three or four day, 15,000 - 20,000 attendee event like this.  But at least I have an idea of what they are going through, even on a smaller scale.

So W8JX will continue to sit in his easy chair, call everyone names, spew venom at DARA, and generally talk trash about Hamvention.  And every now and then, he may actually manage by accident to make a point.

Just keep in mind that it doesn't mean that he has a clue. 

This is the easy part.  Telling us all what's wrong.  Actually doing something about it?  Well, that's not so easy... that actually requires work, sweat, and commitment. 
« Last Edit: May 24, 2017, 09:26:45 AM by W3WN »
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W9ZIM

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RE: Hamfest Damage Report
« Reply #63 on: May 24, 2017, 09:46:36 AM »

I get the sense that he's furious it wasn't the all-out disaster he was praying for.
It amazes me how some of you try so hard to defend DARA on this cluster fart.

Not nearly as much as it amazes me how you refuse to admit you were wrong and that you are still pissed that DARA booted you out.
Did DARA actually boot him out?

It would explain everything, but I have yet to hear that definitively.

I get the sense it was a mutual  "Get out!" "I was leaving anyway!" sort of thing.
« Last Edit: May 24, 2017, 09:56:29 AM by W9ZIM »
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W9ZIM

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RE: Hamfest Damage Report
« Reply #64 on: May 24, 2017, 09:51:27 AM »

I did not have to be, I saw a lot of media and private pictures of mud-fest flea market. Saw news reports...

Haven't you been harping on people for being "fake" experts because they quoted something to you they read on the internet, or saw in the local media?  And here you are doing the exact same thing while pretending to be an expert.  Such a hypocrite.

Sorry, JX, but I'm going to take the word of the people who were actually there over someone like you who sat at home complaining about sour grapes.
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W9ZIM

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RE: Hamfest Damage Report
« Reply #65 on: May 24, 2017, 09:55:20 AM »

It's an entirely different thing to actually get your proverbial hands dirty -- making the phone calls, visiting the prospective venues and vendors, lining up the supplies and materials, and being on hand to put things together, run the event, and take them apart at the end.

Oh, don't you worry, I'm sure JX is on the phone right now securing reservations at the Ohio Fairgrounds and getting pricing for the chartered buses he's planning to use to transport all the volunteers back and forth.  The W8JX HamfestTM is going to be great!  World class, baby.  Just you wait and see...  8)
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N9FB

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RE: Hamfest Damage Report
« Reply #66 on: May 24, 2017, 10:44:19 AM »

Quote from: W3WN
[JX is] not harping on DARA from actual experience, but clearly from a long-seated resentment of the organization that goes well beyond Hamvention.

his shack-envy when it comes to DARA is not pretty to see, i wonder if the last straw was when they spent money on equipment brands he hadnt recommended?   ;)

if only JX would channel his resentment into something positive rather than looking to gripe about the mountains he makes out of molehills.
The 2017 Columbus W8JX HamfestTM (thanks ZIM) could be marketed to anyone who is unaware that life aint like the brochure.  Noone has yet offered to help JX with such an endeavor, but let's all wish him luck -- it might mean less posts from our resident "expert" ;)
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N2SR

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RE: Hamfest Damage Report
« Reply #67 on: May 24, 2017, 10:49:16 AM »

So how about that viable alternative to the Greene County Fairgrounds, hmmm?  

Well, if you can discuss civilly....

University of Dayton arena.  1801 S Edwin C Moses Blvd, Dayton, OH

First, let us discuss the feasibility of the venue - only.  Civilly.  

When hara closed, there were numerous threads here and on other ham radio message boards about "where to hold the hamfest."  Many comments were, "there is no other place big enough."  Obviously, dara also figured that out.  

Since we know there is no other venue with as much indoor space as hara, and dara did use tents for the additional "indoor" space for vendors this year, tents would also need to be used at UD.   There is a HUGE PAVED parking lot, a stadium, and even what looks like a practice field.  

Accessibility is easy with an exit right off I-75 which leads to a two lane in each direction road.  

You wanted a viable alternative.  I'm not talking about the dates, or anything else.  Just the venue.  

If you can reply to me civilly, I will also reply - civilly.  If not...well.  

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KF7CG

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RE: Hamfest Damage Report
« Reply #68 on: May 24, 2017, 11:19:22 AM »

The cars having to be towed after the rain is an old thing! Cars were having to be towed out of parking swamps in the late 90's and early 2000's when Hara was not too run down. I know, I was there. Drove in every day and drove back home every night. Trotwood isn't that far from Mechanicsburg.

University of Dayton, how receptive is the University to Ham Radio? In Florida a couple of radio clubs have been run off university campuses and others are just tolerated. So, maybe the question is would the University of Dayton allow the event? Hams, tend to be very conservative and that might not be the intellectual climate that was wanted. How about the disruption caused by a large event just about finals time?

Too many imponderables here?

KF7CG
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W9ZIM

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RE: Hamfest Damage Report
« Reply #69 on: May 24, 2017, 11:25:13 AM »

So how about that viable alternative to the Greene County Fairgrounds, hmmm?  

Well, if you can discuss civilly....

University of Dayton arena.  1801 S Edwin C Moses Blvd, Dayton, OH

First, let us discuss the feasibility of the venue - only.  Civilly.  

When hara closed, there were numerous threads here and on other ham radio message boards about "where to hold the hamfest."  Many comments were, "there is no other place big enough."  Obviously, dara also figured that out.  

Since we know there is no other venue with as much indoor space as hara, and dara did use tents for the additional "indoor" space for vendors this year, tents would also need to be used at UD.   There is a HUGE PAVED parking lot, a stadium, and even what looks like a practice field.  

Accessibility is easy with an exit right off I-75 which leads to a two lane in each direction road.  

You wanted a viable alternative.  I'm not talking about the dates, or anything else.  Just the venue.  

If you can reply to me civilly, I will also reply - civilly.  If not...well.  

And what makes you certain that DARA didn't consider the University of Dayton and found it unsuitable for one reason or another?

Frankly, I doubt any of us here could come up with an idea that DARA didn't already think of, mull over, investigate, and reject.
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W3WN

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RE: Hamfest Damage Report
« Reply #70 on: May 24, 2017, 11:30:13 AM »

So how about that viable alternative to the Greene County Fairgrounds, hmmm?  

Well, if you can discuss civilly....

University of Dayton arena.  1801 S Edwin C Moses Blvd, Dayton, OH

First, let us discuss the feasibility of the venue - only.  Civilly.  

When hara closed, there were numerous threads here and on other ham radio message boards about "where to hold the hamfest."  Many comments were, "there is no other place big enough."  Obviously, dara also figured that out.  

Since we know there is no other venue with as much indoor space as hara, and dara did use tents for the additional "indoor" space for vendors this year, tents would also need to be used at UD.   There is a HUGE PAVED parking lot, a stadium, and even what looks like a practice field.  

Accessibility is easy with an exit right off I-75 which leads to a two lane in each direction road.  

You wanted a viable alternative.  I'm not talking about the dates, or anything else.  Just the venue.  

If you can reply to me civilly, I will also reply - civilly.  If not...well.  
I know exactly where you mean.  My group stays at the U of Dayton dorms most years, and we drive right past there.  It's also just about 10 blocks or so due south of the main hotels in downtown Dayton, though the neighborhood(s) in between aren't exactly the best.

I do not know if the indoor facility would be big enough.  And I'm not sure how viable those tents would be for the major vendors; I know that one major vendor that was placed in "Building" 6000 spaces was quite vocally unhappy about it.

Now as I recall, there is also a field/stadium complex adjacent to the U of Dayton stadium that belongs to the public schools.  If both facilities could be used, this might work.  If not, I would not only wonder if the U of Dayton facility would be enough, but what would happen if the public schools decide to use their facilities at the same time?

I also seem to recall in the past that this was looked into, and at the time, the facility was deemed insufficient -- lack of indoor exhibit space.  Maybe that has changed; I don't know off hand.

Also, considering that I-75 in Dayton has been under reconstruction for the last few years (this year, the ramps to US 35 East were not available... as in, not there & in the process of being replaced), I would think in the short term, the access might not be all that easy.  Once construction is completed, that would be a different story, of course.

The first question would be, would the University be amenable to it?  If they are, the second question would be is it cost effective?  
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W9FIB

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RE: Hamfest Damage Report
« Reply #71 on: May 24, 2017, 11:37:21 AM »

So how about that viable alternative to the Greene County Fairgrounds, hmmm?  

Well, if you can discuss civilly....

University of Dayton arena.  1801 S Edwin C Moses Blvd, Dayton, OH

First, let us discuss the feasibility of the venue - only.  Civilly.  

When hara closed, there were numerous threads here and on other ham radio message boards about "where to hold the hamfest."  Many comments were, "there is no other place big enough."  Obviously, dara also figured that out.  

Since we know there is no other venue with as much indoor space as hara, and dara did use tents for the additional "indoor" space for vendors this year, tents would also need to be used at UD.   There is a HUGE PAVED parking lot, a stadium, and even what looks like a practice field.  

Accessibility is easy with an exit right off I-75 which leads to a two lane in each direction road.  

You wanted a viable alternative.  I'm not talking about the dates, or anything else.  Just the venue.  

If you can reply to me civilly, I will also reply - civilly.  If not...well.  



Based solely on satellite imagery and experience with the UW System here in WI, my comments are as follows:

I don't think there is enough parking area there to house both the huge flea market, tents, and local parking.

If the UD is anything like what I have seen with UW, the athletic fields would be a no go. Reason usually given is the fields must be maintained to the related sports standards of the league they are in.

Both are observations with no knowledge of UD policies and without an accurate survey of potential usable grounds. But that would be for people connected with DARA and UD to determine if the site is even feasible. But just like Xenia, there are always alternatives that could be remedied if in fact it were feasible.
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N2SR

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RE: Hamfest Damage Report
« Reply #72 on: May 24, 2017, 12:31:25 PM »

And what makes you certain that DARA didn't consider the University of Dayton and found it unsuitable for one reason or another?

Frankly, I doubt any of us here could come up with an idea that DARA didn't already think of, mull over, investigate, and reject.

Note my reply to W3WN's comment, "a viable alternative to the Greene County Fairgrounds." 

Which is exactly what I posted: a viable alternative. 

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K8PRG

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RE: Hamfest Damage Report
« Reply #73 on: May 24, 2017, 12:39:33 PM »

In talking with a few DARA committee members this past weekend, Xenia is the new "home" of Hamvention......room for improvement? Yes, but a solid foundation to grow on.
Talk of other possible venues would be pointless...or so it seems.
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KC4ZGP

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RE: Hamfest Damage Report
« Reply #74 on: May 24, 2017, 12:43:49 PM »


What's DARA?

73

Kraus
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