Frank,
Glad you enjoyed the symposium at sea. We would not have come as my wife is adverse to taking cruise ships, but the cost would be higher for us from Alaska (flying for two to Houston would be about $1600 on top of the cruise/symposium costs).
I last attended Symposium in 2001 in Atlanta but was single then so costs nearly half what it costs for both of us. We attended SVHF Conference in Atlanta in 2014 and it cost about $2200 to attend. We combined the trip with visiting family in MI so the flight from Detroit only added $600 plus luggage charges. Anch-Detroit cost $1600. Plus hotels, meals, and taking the L from airport to hotel. Total vacation costs $4000 for 14-days.
Had we signed up it would have been a disappointment having Cozumel dropped. But cruises are "out" as I said, before.
Most of my post-AO-40 activity has been in eme and not satellite, but with possibility of new high altitude missions we may come back top satellite (helping out with P4/P5 design group in minor way). I am a mw enabled ham so looking forward to the new sats. In meantime have acquired a FT-736R and may get my AO-40 antennas back in use with current crop in the interim.
Symposium is always scheduled in Oct. so possible conflict with ARRL EME Contest plus flying in winter conditions up here complicate attending. We will be starting to do extended travel with RV next summer in lower-48 so may hear from our sat-capable mobile (track us via APRS). But RV needs to arrive home by end of Sept. to avoid potential winter roads on northern end of the road. Travel season is Mid-may - end-Sept for Alaskans (and visitors).
73, Ed - KL7UW
Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2016 23:14:53 -0800 From: Frank Westphal [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT Symposium at Sea Message-ID: [email protected] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
I had a fantastic time at the AMSAT Symposium at Sea. I would go again next year if a cruise is offered. How about a cruise out of a Florida port. I learned a lot, had a great time meeting operators face to face that I had only talked to on the birds. Had fun in Progresso. Made a dozen QSO's from rare grids to make the operators who stayed home happy.
I went to the Baltimore Symposium two years ago and spent at least as much money as the cruise trip all expenses included. I enjoyed the Baltimore trip, but there was more opportunity to get to know the other AMSAT members on the cruise and exchange ideas.
A big thank you to Clayton, W5PFG, and his symposium committee and the AMSAT Board of Directors for believing in the idea and backing it.
As far as furthering the fund raising for AMSAT the venue of the symposium has minimal impact on attracting additional dollars. I have to believe a symposium on a cruise ship costs AMSAT less that at a tradition hotel.
Attracting additional members will of course increase the income. Getting hams exciting about working the satellites will increase membership.
The funding model for most large dxpeditions is half from the operators going on the expedition and the other half from fundraising from the ham community and corporate sponsors. AMSAT is working on the corporate donors. If every AMSAT member was a member of the President's Club at what ever level they can afford that would sure help the deficit. No hobby is inexpensive. Have you checked on the cost of a golf membership lately.
I for one think AMSAT is a terrific organization and hope the future is bright.
Frank K6FW
73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com "Kits made by KL7UW" Dubus Mag Business e-mail: [email protected]