Clint,
Alan¹s comments are well stated. Let me add a little more information.
The proposal to hold the 2016 AMSAT Symposium on a cruise ship was assembled by Clayton, W5PFG. One of his major goals was to create a ³family friendly² venue. Where can we have a Symposium that non-ham members of the family can attend and have a good time?
You object to the cost of a cruise. The reality is that most cruises are similar in price to the cost of a hotel room (hotels with conference facilities and restaurants) *with* meals. Note that the Symposium is not a money-making operation and one goal is to breakeven financially.
Please note that the format of our Symposiums with published proceedings mimics that of academic conferences. This is important to the U.S. Government and helps us deal with ITAR regulations. Unfortunately, a virtual (online) conference does not meet their requirements.
I think Clayton¹s idea is a good one. Will attendance be up or down from recent Symposiums? I don¹t know, and we won¹t know until we try. I think it has a very good chance to be successful. AMSAT does a lot of experimenting with most of our activities. Every Symposium is an experiment.
In general, AMSAT Symposiums are organized by a local committee of volunteers. Dayton was organized by Steve Coy and volunteers from DARA. Baltimore was organized by Frank Bauer and volunteers from the Maryland and DC area.
In this case, Clayton stepped forward, did the investigation and leg-work, and assembled a proposal. Note that Clayton is an active satellite operator and an active rover. He is not an AMSAT board member or officer. He¹s just an AMSAT volunteer, a great guy, and a friend.
73, Steve N9IP -- Steve Belter, seb@wintek.com
On 1/10/16, 6:59 AM, "AMSAT-BB on behalf of Alan" <amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org on behalf of wa4sca@gmail.com> wrote:
Clint,
You have found a personal niche in which you can function and provide a valuable service, but it has very narrow, limited perspectives and experiences. No harm in that, as long as you recognize it. Fortunately we have members with a wider range of skills, experience, and viewpoints in AMSAT who can understand and take advantage of the additional opportunities which you deride. AMSAT has many functions beyond publicity, and extensively uses telepresence to great effect and economy, but at least so far there is no substitute for periodic face time. Also, as hard as it may be to believe, some hams have interests outside of satellites and would relish a chance to combine a family friendly cruise with their hobby. My recommendation is to take a deep breath, get some details and balance, and see what plays out over the next few months.
I will not be attending due to a prior commitment, so my only concern is what Gulf grids they will activate?
73s,
Alan WA4SCA
<-----Original Message----- <From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Clint Bradford <Sent: Saturday, January 09, 2016 10:14 PM <To: AMSAT BB amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org <Subject: [amsat-bb] Cruise with Amsat! < <Now THERE'S a guaranteed manner in which to increase <attendance: add a cruise cost to air fare. < <You gotta be kidding. < <This makes your online pleas for money raising on behalf of AMSAT-NA <for satellite projects seem trivial and unnecessary: AMSAT must <be loaded if they think this is going to enhance their stature and <bank account. < <This makes me wonder what the true desire is of AMSAT-NA. If it <is, indeed, to "disseminate info about and build birds," then the <best method available is remote, live, videocasts from presenters. <That would cost the presenter NOTHING in transportation costs. <It would involve EVERY CONTINENT on the planet. And it would <allow the largest possible audiences to "attend." Minimal charge <for password access to whatever session one wanted to see ... or <a conference package fee ... allow that access to be shown to a <classroom or audience ... those fees are TOTAL PROFIT to AMSAT <(unless honorariums are paid to some presenters). < <Overhead costs to AMSAT-NA? Virtually nothing. Largest attendance <ever of any AMSAT show in history? Guaranteed. < <Unless the same minds who thought up "let's take a cruise" are in charge <of it ... only then could someone mess up so simple a concept to bring <educational sessions to the largest audience. < <Clint Bradford <_______________________________________________ <Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available <to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed <are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. <Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! <Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb