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Speak Out: Contest clubs...pro and con

Most of us probably belong to a contest club or were a member at one time. Clubs can be valuable assets for contesters, providing technical assistance, a sense of comraderie and motivation to stay in the chair. As with all organizations, they have their downsides as well. What are your views? Contest clubs... pro and con.

27 opinions on this subject. Enter your opinion at the bottom of this page.
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Opinions...

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Anonymous on 2016-02-02
How about a contest club that does not require or encourage its members to enter contests! There is a big one that conducts itself in this way.

If you're going to have a "contest" club, have a CONTEST club. If you want to have dinners where everyone eats, then goes around the table and makes excuses why they have not operated in any contests, then don't call it a contest club or claim that it is one.

PD2R on 2008-03-03
I joint one of biggest contest groups in the Netherlands, PI4COM (which is still a small station compared to the really big guns, hi).
They are fanatics so when you are not pulling your weight, they will let you know!
Personally I like that. If I wanted to relax I would have joint a different club.
Now of course we have fun and we like to joke around, but when your behind the rig your focus should be on operating and nothing else.
I´m hoping to become a good operator one day and these guys will do just about anything to help me accomplish that.
In my opinion, there are no con´s.

KI9A on 2007-09-24
I don't see any cons at all. In the SMC, even low dipole stations, like me, are appreciated, and helped a ton by the clubs big guns, both in advice, and encouragement. Anything I have acomplished in contesting is owed to the guys in the club.

73-Chuck KI9A

N0FP on 2004-09-03
Contesting without a club would be a colossal game of solitaire. For those who live in a part of the country that favors EU DX, and have the dough to make a world class station, you can play to win the game and make front page news. For the other 95%, it's a regional game. Several contest sponsors fail to understand the importance of regional competition.

I belong to the MN Wireless Association. What a great bunch of folks. Age range is from diapers to older than dirt! And man do we have fun! Rivalries among similarly situated hams gives contesting a whole new flavor. No amp? Then go LP and compete with a couple of dozen other folks in the same area. No pair of 200' towers? Then use the trusty old loop or dipole to show the seasoned vets how even a turtle can win a race! The "nothin' but wires" group has some very good ops working with what is available to have fun and turn in that 'personal best' score. It may not mean front page news, but it can provide a real sense of accomplishment.

What is most enjoyable is to watch people cooperate to help everybody maximize their scores. The hardware techies help the appliance ops make stuff work correctly. The seasoned vets tutor the newbies in technique. The wise old sages counsel the rough-and-tumble hot shots to focus on finess and help to make "lookin' smart" mean something.

Frankly, if it were not for the MWA, I would be fishing instead...

kk7k on 2004-04-09
well in my opinion contest and clubs are fun... BUT unless you have a 80 ft tower beams and a KW (or 2) the average joe like myself cant compete, Ive went to some clubs meetings in various states/countrys and find the majority of people in them are *sses, so ill keep my 80w and zepp at 45 feet and operate the old fashion way... 73s Lonnie

N7OR on 2003-08-16
Who was the following directed towards, me? Re-read my message, there is no contest club in my area. If not me, sorry. You refused to use your call, and your message did not make any sense.

"Anonymous on 2003-08-13
So many lose sight of the fact that your contest club is only as good as the members make it. Easy to take pot shots from the left field bleachers.

If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
What was your contribution to the team score? Why did you fail to get on in support of your peers? Why people cant commit to 4 weekends a years is beyond me. Talk is cheap."

Anonymous on 2003-08-13
So many lose sight of the fact that your contest club is only as good as the members make it. Easy to take pot shots from the left field bleachers.

If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
What was your contribution to the team score? Why did you fail to get on in support of your peers? Why people cant commit to 4 weekends a years is beyond me. Talk is cheap.

Anonymous on 2003-08-04
I would join if there was a club anywhere near here, but there is not. Just the joke of a DX club. All of the hotshot contesters go solo.

Not anonymous, just did not sign-in.

N7OR

N4ZR on 2003-08-03
I've been involved with my club for 26 years now. When I joined I was green as grass and had a couple of bad experiences that nearly turned me off contesting AND the club. Ultimately, though, I kept on, and now I'm glad I did. Like any other group, not everyone is congenial, but the overwhelming majority I've met are generous with their time and knowledge and nice to know, besides.

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