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NEWINGTON, CT, Oct 24, 2003--Hamvention will be at Hara Arena near Dayton, Ohio, at least for another year. General Chairman Gary Des Combes, N8EMO, announced the one-show contract this week. The last Hamvention contract with Hara Arena was for five years. Des Combes also expressed confidence that behind-the scenes management changes he's instituted since taking over July 1 will translate into success for "the world's largest Amateur Radio gathering and trade show." 

"Overall, I think things are going very well," Des Combes said of progress toward pulling together Hamvention's 53rd show which will take place May 14-16. "I'm confident we're going to be successful." The always popular annual gathering attracted slightly more than 22,100 visitors in 2003. That figure is down by more than 10 percent from the 2002 crowd, and it marks the third year in a row of declining Hamvention attendance. 

Des Combes is banking that the management team and "best business practices" approach he's put into place for next spring's show will turn things around. One significant change is a shift away from jobbing out Hamvention's production to paid professionals and returning to the strong reliance on volunteers that was a hallmark of past Hamventions. 



Lunch is ready: Burgers on the grill in the Hamvention flea market. 
 

"Some of the volunteers, quite frankly, felt they were not welcome," said Des Combes, who believes that moving away from an all-volunteer Hamvention was a mistake and created some unease within the organization. Under his regime, some volunteer staffers from the past now have returned to the fold, Des Combes said. Most of the volunteers for the 2004 show are from the sponsoring Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA). 

The new order at Hamvention means that Garry Matthews, KB8GOL, is out as the show's paid production manager (See "How Hamvention Happens", by Rick Lindquist, N1RL, QST, Apr 2000). Matthews had served as the backstage impresario for more than three decades of Hamventions. Des Combes said he intends to spread out Matthews' former duties among several volunteers, saving money in the process. He's also establishing--and in some cases re-establishing--a set of committees responsible for various aspects of Hamvention. 

"We have to just work smarter and tougher," he said, adding that the management change will be invisible to those attending. "I don't think John Q. Ham will see anything much different." 



Queuing up: Hamvention is the only event throughout the year that uses all of Hara Arena's facilities.
 

While the show is still in the planning stages, Des Combes said one possible change would be to have the award winners' recognition ceremony during Hamvention itself. At the last Hamvention--the recognition event replaced the traditional Saturday evening banquet, done away with in 2003 because of slack attendance. 

A "white knight" of sorts, Des Combes made himself available to DARA as chairman after the traditional line of succession broke down following the 2003 Hamvention. Hamvention general chairmen typically have stayed on for two or three shows, stepping into the post after a period as an assistant chair. That did not happen this year, however. General Chairman, Pat Neff, N8IGS--originally the 2003 show's assistant chair--flipped jobs with then-General Chairman "JT" Trangenstein, KB8OUO, before the last Hamvention. Trangenstein had served as assistant chair for three years under past Hamvention General Chairman Jim Graver, KB8PSO. 



ARRL Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, and Advertising Manager Deb Jahnke holding down the fort at the ARRL concession at Hamvention 2002. 
 

Des Combes agreed to take on the task after Neff did not continue. Des Combes' assistant is Jim Nies, WX8F. Also on the core team that's piloting Hamvention 2004 are Jim Simpson, WB8QZZ, Bill McNabb, WD8SAY, and Greg Hoskins, N8TED--a senior DARA director who will head the all-important volunteer committee. 

A project management professional, Des Combes says he anticipates the all-volunteer approach will make it possible for Hamvention to more economically mount a show that's of the same quality or better than those of past years. 

"I can tell you I am leading sweeping changes in how we operate Hamvention," he said. All of them, he says, will better serve the vendors, DARA and the amateurs who attend Hamvention. 

"I think it's going to be good for everybody," Des Combes said. 

Ticket prices for the 2004 Hamvention will remain at the prices established prior to Des Combes' taking over the reins. Advance tickets for all three days are $20 ($23 park-n-ride bus transportation). Tickets at the gate will cost $25. All under 12 years of age are admitted free. Des Combes says arrangements are under way to enable on-line ticket purchases.