<html>
<font size=3>(continued)<br><br>
But will there be an event next spring or for that matter ever again?
This remains to be seen. It has been the Hosstraders custom to print the
next years dates on the tickets every year but if you were there last
October 4th or 5th and looked at yours you may have wondered why there
were no 2003 dates on it. Here's why.<br><br>
There has not been a contract signed with the Fair Committee for any
future events because last May several unknown persons stole three 25 kV
power utility step-down transformers, commonly called "Pole
Pigs", from the fairgrounds during the Hosstraders weekend. For
those of you unfamiliar with these things, pole pigs are very large and
heavy. Two guys in a Dodge Neon couldn't have done this. It would take at
least three strong people with a big pick-em-up truck to haul them away.
The only use these things have to hams is to reverse connect them and use
them for a (very) high power transmitter or amplifier. They have little
scrap value and even less resale value because they are all numbered and
no power company would touch them.<br><br>
The three "Hosstraders" announced this news to the assembled
crowd at the one o'clock prize drawing and made an appeal for anyone with
knowledge or any information about this theft to step forward and help
get them back. As it stands there will be no questions asked the matter
will be dropped if the transformers are returned. If you know anything
about this you may contact any one of the Hosstraders or any of the
undersigned and help us get these back to the Fairgrounds as soon as
possible. Your identity will not be revealed to anyone else involved. The
transformers may be dropped off at several locations and no one will see
anything. That will be the end of it. <br><br>
However if the stolen transformers are not recovered soon the
investigation by the authorities will proceed. The owners intend to
vigorously prosecute anyone found to be involved in the theft and it is a
pretty sure bet that there will be jail time if they are convicted. The
Hosstraders have offered to assume financial responsibility for the
missing items and pay for them. This is a substantial amount - several
thousand dollars that would otherwise go to the Shriners and their
hospitals. The other consequence to us all is that there will be no
future contracts signed for the Hopkinton Fairgrounds and it is a sure
bet that no other such facility will sign one either. This would mean the
end of Hosstraders!<br><br>
We are personally outraged by this theft and the prospect of not having
the Hosstraders events to look forward to in the future. We want to help
get this matter resolved to everyone's satisfaction as soon as possible
so plans for May and October 2003 can proceed. We want to help Norm, Joe
and Bob raise a second million for the hospitals. We want more
Hosstraders, more stuff, more good times and more memories!<br><br>
Of course we are hoping that someone will step forward and help get the
transformers back and as mentioned we will act as intermediaries. We can
guarantee your anonymity and assure you that no questions will be asked.
For the rest of you please do not speculate or point fingers at anyone or
any particular groups of hams. It will not solve anything and only serve
to alienate and divide us at a time when we must all stand together to
save our Hosstraders. It has been suggested that publicizing this
unfortunate incident will reflect poorly on amateur radio but we do not
feel that it is so. We should not nor cannot assume legal responsibility
for the acts of a few criminal individuals. Remember, the Hosstraders is
a public event and anyone with the price of admission is eligible to
enter. There is no hard evidence that we know of as to exactly when these
items disappeared or that the persons who stole these items were
attending the flea market or are licensed hams, although practically
speaking, who else would have any use for them? <br><br>
Nonetheless, we need to take the practical responsibility here and see to
it that this incident is quickly resolved to the satisfaction of the Fair
Committee and the Hosstraders organizers to ensure that the event does
not die due to the criminal and irresponsible acts of a small group of
individuals. It is conceivable that in the five months that has elapsed
these transformers have been disassembled or even disposed of and are
simply not available for return. If for whatever reason they do not
surface within a reasonable time, say the end of October, we would like
to recommend the following course of action Suitable and equivalent
replacements be located, purchased and offered to the Fairgrounds
Committee requesting them to sign the 2003 contract thus allowing us to
continue holding the event at Hopkinton. We figure that three new
custom-made replacements can be purchased for about $1,000.00 apiece from
a manufacturer in the Midwest. Then next May and October if necessary,
have a "drop bucket" for people to contribute to the cost of
purchasing the replacements. As an alternative a surcharge be added to
the gate fees until the cost has been recovered with any overage going to
the Shriners. Knowing the Hosstraders community as we do we have no doubt
that this sum will be quickly and cheerfully raised.<br><br>
It would gall us to have to pay for what the thieves stole last May but
we all must collectively bear the financial responsibility and not permit
the Shriners Hospitals to lose out which they would in the final
analysis. A million bucks buys a lot of equipment which can save lives
and alleviate suffering of sick and injured children and we'd like to see
this outstanding act of benevolence on the part of Norm, Joe and Bob and
everyone else involved in this wonderful happening that has become a very
important part of our lives to continue to the two or even three million
dollar level. We just cannot and will not allow three or four common
thieves to take this away from us.<br><br>
Signed<br><br>
Michael Crestohl, W1RC <br>
mc@sover.net <br>
(802) 296-5050<br>
PO Box 511 <br>
Hartford VT 05047-0511<br><br>
Michael N Raisbeck, K1TWF <br>
k1twf@arrl.org <br>
(978) 250-1235<br>
85 High Street,<br>
Chelmsford MA 01824<br><br>
Allen H Weiner, WBCQ The Planet,<br>
wbcq@gwi.net<br>
97 High Street<br>
Kennebunk ME 04043<br>
(207)985-7547<br><br>
Timothy M Smith, WA1HLR, <br>
timtron@hotmail.com<br><br>
The Hosstraders official Web site is:
</font><a href="http://www.qsl.net/k1rqg" eudora="autourl"><font size=3 color="#0000FF"><u>http://www.qsl.net/k1rqg</a>.
<br>
</u></font><font size=3>It is the only source for official news about the
Hosstraders and their events. <br><br>
</font></html>
-----------------------------------------------------------
This list is a public service of the City of Tempe, Arizona
-----------------------------------------------------------
Subscription control - http://www.tempe.gov/lists/control.asp?list=BOATANCHORS
To post - BOATANCHORS@LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV
Archives - http://interactive.tempe.gov/archives/BOATANCHORS.html