If you can't make Dayton, the ARRL National Convention is at Hamcomm this year in Dallas. I am sure plenty of ARRL officials will be there. Let them know the inequities with the VUCC fees as well. An email campaign couldn't hurt either. I have held off applying for 6m and satellite endorsements until this gets figured out because I can't afford the endorsements at the current rate.
73s John AA5JG ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Papay" <j...@papays.com> To: <amsat-bb@amsat.org> Sent: Monday, May 16, 2011 3:02 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] VUCC Fees - Dayton Hamvention > If you are planning on going to Dayton, please take > some time to visit the ARRL area not far from the AMSAT > booth. Seek out the highest ranking officials you can find > and talk with them about the VUCC program and LOTW. > > The fee schedule for VUCC applications, both paper and LOTW, > released back in mid January has not changed to my knowledge. > Very little has been said about this issue to date. The fees > were excessive and if continued, would have a negative impact > on the VUCC program. > > You can talk about the high cost of an application but there is > nothing like comparing it to the cost of a similar DXCC application. > When you do that, it is apparent that something is not right. I > prepared a one sheet comparison of three typical VUCC vs DXCC > applications to give to ARRL officials at the Orlando Hamcation. > Newington was not present at Orlando but the Florida Director was > and got a copy. I have uploaded my comparison to my website. Please > print some copies, put them in your hamfest bag and give them to > those you talk with at the ARRL. The more League officials that see > this, the better chance we have of getting these fees reduced and in > line with DXCC application fees. > > Download the comparison at: http://www.papays.com/vuccfees2011.pdf > > There are many issues with the VUCC program other than fees. I made > an application back in mid January, two days after the new few schedule > appear on arrl.org. It was processed and my totals appeared on my LOTW > page. Last week I received the endorsement stickers but have yet to > receive the "VUCC Grid Report" which lists all of your confirmed girds > on the left side of the pages and has space on the right side for you > to list the new grids you are applying for credit. Without this sheet, > you cannot file for another endorsement via an Awards Manager (card > checker) > or by sending them to the League. I know that they have been having > problems with implementing VUCC in LOTW, but the lack of information about > the status of the VUCC Program is troubling. The new website was supposed > to help disseminate information faster but it is not working in the case. > As ARRL members we should be kept informed of the VUCC issues, status and > timelines. This is another great point to discuss with ARRL officials. > > Hope to see many of you at the Hamvention. > > 73, > John K8YSE > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
