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Author Topic: Please Remind Me Again -- Why Dayton?  (Read 571097 times)

AA4HA

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RE: Please Remind Me Again -- Why Dayton?
« Reply #75 on: December 03, 2013, 05:29:24 PM »

I too am a supporter of the Huntsville hamfest. If you wander around the building you realize that they are using only about 1/4 of the space of the entire facility, you could get lost in there. The main 'fest floor could be opened up, the wall to the left is closed off from an equally big space. There are plenty of breakout rooms for classes, the bathrooms are very clean and plentiful and the air conditioning is more than sufficient to handle the occupancy.

Parking is in the multi-story garage across the street and costs around $4-5/day, the city is clean and safe. You are approximately 1 mile away from interstate 765 that is just to the north.

What Huntsville does not have; 1) a large open area parking lot for folks selling stuff out of the trunks of their cars. 1) camping facilities on-site. 3) multiple choices on where to get food.

If you go there you need to get a tour of Marshall Space Center (NASA). If you bring along family they could spend the entire day there while you shop for radio stuff at the fest or attend some of the break-out sessions.

Huntsville is a high-tech city with lots of very intelligent people. There are lots of aerospace industries in the area and many of the hams in the area are very capable engineering and sciences professionals. I spend a few days a month in Huntsville as one of my largest clients has offices just on the other side of that parking garage (they also own those white pickup trucks on the ground floor of the parking garage). (I live 75 miles away)

If you are in the area then drag your RV and bass boat along and go spend a few days up on Lake Guntersville. Some of the finest fishing in the country. You are also an hour and a half away from Nashville and places like Opryland and as I mentioned there is NASA.
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Ms. Tisha Hayes, AA4HA
Lookout Mountain, Alabama

K2CMH

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RE: Please Remind Me Again -- Why Dayton?
« Reply #76 on: December 03, 2013, 06:26:55 PM »

I will second that, Huntsville is very clean, cool, and well organized.   Plenty of rooms for seminars as well as an all indoor flea market and commercial area.
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N9LCD

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RE: Please Remind Me Again -- Why Dayton?
« Reply #77 on: December 04, 2013, 07:02:45 AM »

IMO, the problem with Dayton and many fests is the lack of adaptation, the unwillingness to change to meet the needs of tomorrow's market.

What will become of Dayton when all the OM who spent their lives there are SK's?

Will the once in a lifetime attendees carry it?

N9LCD
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K6CPO

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RE: Please Remind Me Again -- Why Dayton?
« Reply #78 on: January 05, 2014, 07:48:43 PM »

As a former treasurer for two non-profit organizations, the most important question should be:

     WHAT IS DARA DOING WITH THE $182,000 EARNED FROM THE HAMVENTION?

N9LCD

 ???

Well, they have this nifty looking communication truck...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rWnGpuTnvaY/UZpRSuTKb-I/AAAAAAAAATg/p2NK4u94XW0/s1600/IMG_20130518_161158.jpg

I'll bet what they paid for it would have paid for resurfacing the parking lot at Hara.

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N4OI

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RE: Please Remind Me Again -- Why Dayton?
« Reply #79 on: January 07, 2014, 03:45:39 AM »

Well, they have this nifty looking communication truck...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rWnGpuTnvaY/UZpRSuTKb-I/AAAAAAAAATg/p2NK4u94XW0/s1600/IMG_20130518_161158.jpg

I'll bet what they paid for it would have paid for resurfacing the parking lot at Hara.

Looks like there's a nice, clean restroom in there….. 

73
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VK3PDG

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RE: Please Remind Me Again -- Why Dayton?
« Reply #80 on: January 11, 2014, 04:15:07 AM »

I have never been to Dayton, but have read all about it. I'm not even sure if I get to travel one day to the US of A that it will be on my itinerary. But Dayton is famous the world over in amateur radio circles because of the people who plan, run and attend it. Our new, small-scale event at Rosebud in South Eastern Australia is following the same formula and it is paying off.
Attend to the people, make them welcome, help them out and show them a good time, provide good facilities (well, maybe DARA need to put in some overtime on that one, if hearsay is correct), and smile a lot. We do it, it works! People attend, leave with a good impression and next year bring more folk back with them.

No fancy gimmicks, no major expense items, a cheap one-level entry fee and tasty tucker. (Food!)

Plus...plan, plan, plan, listen to feedback and give them what they want.

It's hard work, but hey, it's a labour of love and we all have a great time.

Long live Dayton!     VK3PDG Mark
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K1CJS

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RE: Please Remind Me Again -- Why Dayton?
« Reply #81 on: January 19, 2014, 05:16:37 AM »

These days, its just because of one word--Dayton.  Force of habit plays a big part too.  It's no longer that Dayton has a good venue--that's been shown--but there is no other place if the event is to stay in Dayton.  'Good' food?  Maybe, but I wouldn't want what most buy there.  Most of what it's good for is building up cholesterol!

Mostly its just that it's always been the so called 'premier' event here in the states, its where most of the dealers plan on going, and its where most get together for their annual 'meet and greet.'  That's all. 
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K3GM

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RE: Please Remind Me Again -- Why Dayton?
« Reply #82 on: January 24, 2014, 09:34:23 AM »

After many years of attending Dayton, I'm staying home this year.  I've had enough of decrepit structures, bomb crater parking lot, tiny tailgate spaces, and overpriced hotel rooms.  Instead I'm going to attend the ARRL National Centennial Convention in Hartford, CT.  I'm pinning big hopes on the League that they'll put on a great event.  The Connecticut Convention Center is also a new building and is close to League HQ.

https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1248082

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KH6DC

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RE: Please Remind Me Again -- Why Dayton?
« Reply #83 on: January 25, 2014, 05:59:29 PM »

The trip to Dayton is cost prohibitive for travel from/to Honolulu, Hawaii.  Last I checked it was over $1200 for airfare alone.  My work took me to many places in the US including Huntsville, Alabama but never near Dayton, Ohio.
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73 and Aloha,
de Delwyn, KH6DC

K9MHZ

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RE: Please Remind Me Again -- Why Dayton?
« Reply #84 on: February 04, 2014, 04:47:31 PM »

After many years of attending Dayton, I'm staying home this year.  I've had enough of decrepit structures, bomb crater parking lot, tiny tailgate spaces, and overpriced hotel rooms.  Instead I'm going to attend the ARRL National Centennial Convention in Hartford, CT.  I'm pinning big hopes on the League that they'll put on a great event.  The Connecticut Convention Center is also a new building and is close to League HQ.


Ah man, you'll be missing out on so much.   Sewage river rafting into the flea market, the "Name That Odor" quiz sponsored by Right Guard and Dial soap, the Jenny Craig appetizers following the scooter 5K race, the helmet tower buildoff, the NSA satellite photos of the finest in whackermobiles in the Salem Mall parking lot.

Only Dayton provides this and so much more....
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K2YO

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RE: Please Remind Me Again -- Why Dayton?
« Reply #85 on: February 04, 2014, 05:05:57 PM »

I've only been a ham for 20 years, so I'll have to depend on the old guys for this one.

Has there ever been a time that people didn't complain about Dayton? Since I got my ticket in 1993 or so, this same conversation has been going on every year.
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KA7RRA

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RE: Please Remind Me Again -- Why Dayton?
« Reply #86 on: February 05, 2014, 03:04:52 PM »

I think one year the women were complaining that there was not enough out houses or bathrooms for the women
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K3GM

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RE: Please Remind Me Again -- Why Dayton?
« Reply #87 on: February 06, 2014, 04:41:44 AM »


Ah man, you'll be missing out on so much.   Sewage river rafting into the flea market.....

Yes, I witnessed the unfortunate Hara employee standing on the levitated manhole cover he was trying to hold down as a fan spray of sewage gushed forth all around him.  There was no escape.

I will miss the smell of the combination of starter fluid and smoldering charcoal at 7:30 in the morning as the lunch wagon start their grills.  That's up my nose forever.
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K3GM

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RE: Please Remind Me Again -- Why Dayton?
« Reply #88 on: February 06, 2014, 04:44:13 AM »


Ah man, you'll be missing out on so much.   Sewage river rafting into the flea market.....

Yes, I witnessed the unfortunate Hara employee standing on the levitated manhole cover he was trying to hold down as a fan spray of sewage gushed forth all around him.  There was no escape.

I will miss the smell of the combination of starter fluid and smoldering charcoal at 7:30 in the morning as the lunch wagon start their grills.  That's up my nose forever.

Has there ever been a time that people didn't complain about Dayton?.....

Have you ever attended the Dayton Hamvention?
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W6EM

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RE: Please Remind Me Again -- Why Dayton?
« Reply #89 on: February 07, 2014, 07:12:01 PM »

For an old timer, who's never been to it, this year will be my first time.  Hotel not a problem as my daughter lives there now.

And, can't wait for the aromas of the Hara place.  Besides, it couldn't be as bad as a turkey farm west of Fresno in the summer..... or a tallow plant near Manteca where they cook carcasses.  (there's a reason Manteca has the name it has.  In Spanish it means lard).
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