Harold, et al.,

Offering my opinion, the current system of retaining SK’s on the DXCC roll is a good one.  It truly does leave a legacy for the ham that has achieved DXCC status and makes that achievement all the more valuable.  It would be preferable that the SK’s call could remain on the list in some manner, even if their call is reassigned afterwards.  I see that has been accomplished using both call and name on the A-1 operator lists.  Perhaps a similar system could be used for DXCC, now that data is kept electronically.

We all know that the SK issue is a potential mine field.  Documentation is never complete, and people get very touchy when they are reported as an SK, and they are not(!).  I remember that Maria is handling the SK database, and there are documentation requirements prior to adding to that database. There  should be some way of the databases communicating with each other.

After this is in place, I’m sure there will still be complaints that someone is not listed as an SK on the DXCC list.  If that is the case, they can be referred to the department that handles the SK database, and offered the opportunity to aid in supplying the documentation.

As far as the VE program, I suppose there could be an active and inactive list, so that those who volunteered as VE’s would also have a legacy.  Hopefully this database could communicate with the SK database as well.

As far as other awards/appointments and legacies, that would be up for debate.  Fortunately, listings on the web are not as restricted as in the print edition of QST.

’73 de JIM N2ZZ

ARRL Vice Director

Roanoke Division

From: arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org [mailto:arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org] On Behalf Of Kramer, Harold, WJ1B
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2012 10:17 AM
To: arrl-odv
Cc: Moore, Bill, NC1L (ARRL Awards Branch); Patton, David NN1N
Subject: [arrl-odv:21319] SK Policy for DXCC Listings

Hi,

Here is my response to Director Norton’s questions.  These are issues that we are, regrettably,  going to have to grapple with more and more.

Harold

------------------------------------------------

From: Dick Norton:

1) I just had an inquiry from a member asking about the ARRL's policy regarding listing of callsigns on the DXCC Honor Roll that are Silent Keys.

The DCXX lists include only call signs. A reasonable number of the 6th call-area DXCC Honor Roll members have passed away, and others now hold the call signs.

2) I notice the same thing on the list of A-1 Operators. However, since these are identified not only by callsign, but also include name, there should not be any confusion.

3) The same situation probably exists on the VE list.

I did not have an answer regarding the DXCC list question. Do we have a policy? If so, what is it

----------------------------------------------------------------------

                I asked Bill Moore about this.  While we do not have a formal policy,  according to Bill, he has never had any reason to immediately delete SKs for the DXCC list. He believes that keeping them on the list is a nice way for friends and family to remember amateurs who have passed away.   Also, with DXCC lists now published on the website, limited print space is no longer a consideration. While Bill does have access to the SK files, there is no automatic method to delete those Amateurs who are SK unless he has personal knowledge of the situation or someone brings it to his attention.   He notes that there is one specific instance when he removes an SK’s callsign and that is when the callsign is reissued. Bill said that it is important to update the DXCC database in this instance, because if we do not, we run the risk of adding the past record to the new callsign holder. This has happened, but it is rare. 

                He believes that there are a number of people on the current DXCC list who are SK’s.  If he is alerted that someone on the list is SK, he verifies the information and updates the file.   He also notes that the DXCC list is a recognition of someone’s life long achievement and wiping it out with the push of a button just “does not feel right” to him.  The SK’s QSL data is retained for historical purposes even if it is removed from the published list.  While you did not ask specifically about LoTW, you should be aware that  we do not delete LoTW data because QSO records are retained for matching purposes.   Bill and Dave Patton are currently working on creating of a list of SKs and their final DXCC numbers and we hope to publish this information on the website apart from the daily DXCC listings.

The same unofficial policy applies to the A-1 Operator Award.  On the A-1 Operator Club Roster, as Dick correctly points out, we do list names and we also put an “SK” next to their callsign if we know that an Amateur is  SK.

                For Volunteer Examiners, we disable their record if we are alerted to the fact that they are SK.  If we are alerted by the FCC that an Amateur has been deleted from their database, then they are automatically removed as a Volunteer Examiner.

73,

Harold

Harold Kramer, WJ1B

Chief Operating Officer

ARRL -the national association for Amateur Radio

225 Main Street

Newington, CT 06111

(860) 594 -0220