Information for intending participants and other interested parties
Immediately below is an example of misleading false information which appears on a web site owned by an American based amateur radio lighthouse organisation. Similar claims appear on two other related web sites. This information is totally incorrect as there has been no change in the date of the event, the 3rd full weekend in August, nor has it been extended to a week long duration. The ILLW came into being in 1997 by Mike Dalrymple and other members of the Ayr amateur radio group. No other group, society or organization was involved at that time. A comparison with the official web site preamble appears below illustrating how the false web site has been based on the original to further add to the confusion.
While these people are quite entitled to organise amateur radio events and contests, it is quite improper to claim another event as their own by deliberately misleading the amateur fraternity and others with an interest in such events. The totally distasteful aspect of this action is the blatant use of the name of the late founder of the ILLW, Mike Dalrymple, to try and authenticate their misrepresentation thus sullying his memory.
THERE IS ONLY ONE INTERNATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE/LIGHTSHIP WEEKEND (ILLW).
IT IS HELD ON THE 3RD FULL WEEKEND IN AUGUST. IT IS NOT A CONTEST AND IT DOES NOT RUN FOR A WEEK.
| The ILLW was started in the 1900's by Mike Dalrymple (GM4SUC) and K2JXW's Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society. It originated from the Scottish Northern Lighthouse Award Weekend. In the past the event was held on the 3rd weekend in August but in response to its popularity the duration of the event has been extended to a full week starting at 0001 utc on Saturday and finishing at 2359utc on Sunday. It also now coincides with the National Lighthouse Day recognised by congress in 1976 as August 7th during which many world lighthouses will be open to the public for the day. It is up to the operators to act within the spirit of the event etc etc |
The abovementioned web site is owned by the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society (ARLHS) which had nothing to do with the formation of the ILLW. The ARLHS came into being 3 years after the ILLW was formed in 1997.
The correct situation from the ILLW official web site:-
AN ANNUAL AMATEUR RADIO
WEEKEND EVENT.
ORGANISED AND CONTROLLED SOLELY BY THE AYR AMATEUR RADIO GROUP, SCOTLAND
THIS YEAR'S EVENT - 21-22
AUGUST 2010
The ILLW was started in Scotland by Mike Dalrymple (GM4SUC) and other members of Ayr Amateur Radio Group in 1997. Today the group is committed to the long term ownership, development, administration and non-commercial operation of the event on behalf of the world-wide radio amateur community. Through its efforts in these areas AARG hopes to ensure that the ILLW and Mike's dream (of a premier international goodwill event) shall continue for many years in a truly amateur environment.
The event came into being from the Scottish Northern Lighthouses award weekend . See also the Ayr Group web site for further history and here for the original ILLW web site and 1999 list by Bob Dixon, GM3ZDH. Over the past 10 years it has grown to over 400 lighthouses in some 50 countries around the world participating in the event.
The event is always held on the 3rd full weekend in August starting at 0001 UTC on Saturday and finishing at 2359 UTC on Sunday. It also now coincides on the Sunday with the International Lighthouse Day which is an event organised by the International Association of Lighthouse Keepers whereby as many world lighthouses will be open to the public for the day.
etc etc....................