[amsat-bb] Fwd: Cruise with Amsat!

10 Jan 2016

      Thanks to Clayton, a non-board member, just a regular member like the rest of us who stepped up to the bat to have us try something new. I remember when amateur satellites were new to me. It was exciting and different - like this new venture. I am sure that, with all of the quantitative expertise on the board,  AMSAT has evaluated the cost-benefits of this venture and it passed.
Great to try something new.
NZ2Z
Bob - Sent from my iPad
Begin forwarded message:
...
From: John Spasojevich johnag9d@gmail.com
Date: January 10, 2016 at 12:35:37 PM EST
To: "R.T.Liddy" k8bl@ameritech.net
Cc: AMSAT BB amsat-bb@amsat.org
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Cruise with Amsat!
I don't disagree completely with Clint, that said, if you have cruised
before you know that it can be as expensive ( Penthouse Suite on the top
deck) or as inexpensive (inside stateroom on the lowest passenger deck) as
you like. I've only been on one Carnival ship and it was out of Galveston,
the next to last trip out before Hurricane Ike came ashore. I have cruised
on another line and Carnival was ok, the only issue I has was personal I
guess..and maybe it was more because it was Texas than the line...but
watching a group of guys spitting tobacco juice on the carpet in one of the
show lounges was not fun. Anyway....if you are going alone....and don't
need a porthole or balcony, I'd suggest you see about what they call the
Class 1A stateroom...they are good for single travelers but can hold 2
people (some ships are now fitted with cabins specifically for one person,
Liberty is not so there is usually a surcharge for one person in a cabin
vs. double). So if cost is a concern, there are ways to work around it.
Remember....your cabin is mainly to sleep in, typically you won't spend a
lot of time in it on a cruise so save your money on the room, you get
everything the ship has to offer.  The timing is bad for a single dad with
a kid still in H.S. so I won't be there.
Smooth Sailing & 73,
John - AG9D
...
On Sun, Jan 10, 2016 at 11:07 AM, R.T.Liddy k8bl@ameritech.net wrote:
For comparison purposes, my wife and I have found the following:
We usually go stay with relatives in Texas and Florida for the Winterfor
several weeks at a time. To avoid getting sick of each other, wetake a week
and give them/us a break. We have found that taking acruise is much cheaper
than motels/meals/travel/entertainment. So,the idea of a Cruise/Symposium
sounds very good. There are manyin the 3 and 4 day category that would be
well-suited - IMHO.73,   Bob K8BL
     From: Stephen E. Belter seb@wintek.com
To: 'AMSAT BB' amsat-bb@amsat.org
Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2016 8:39 AM
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Cruise with Amsat!
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

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