I really hesitate to bring this up, as our VEC is a high-performing unit within ARRL, and from the numbers I remember, they give the highest number of exams of all the VEC groups.

In my division, many Hamfests/conventions do not use the ARRL VE teams. I have not kept track of the numbers, though. WCARS and W4VEC VE teams are giving exams at many of the Roanoke Division Hamfests. The reason I have been given is that turnaround time from passed license to license grant is much less than the ARRL, sometimes with individuals obtaining a license grant within a few days.

I’m told that the reason is that the VE teams upload their data to their VEC who in turn enters it with the FCC without delay. The confirmatory paperwork comes later, and is submitted to the FCC in due course. The difference is that those VEC’s are not dependent on the Postal Service in timely granting of licenses to their successful examinees.

So, I do not know all the Rules and Regulations between the VEC and the FCC, and what the trust factor with VE’s should be, but I think there are best practices to be found in the way other VEC’s do business, and is worth investigating.

’73 de JIM N2ZZ

Director – Roanoke Division

Serving ARRL members in the Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina sections

ARRL – The National Association for Amateur Radio™

From: arrl-odv [mailto:arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org] On Behalf Of David Norris
Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2017 3:25 PM
To: Gallagher, Tom, NY2RF
Cc: arrl-odv
Subject: [arrl-odv:26277] Re: Fwd: VE Mail Times

Tom,

When are we going to have electronic filing for our VE teams in the field? What is the status of the supposed beta testing? This has been an ongoing project that commenced when I was P&SC chair. I haven't seen an update in quite a while.

73

David A. Norris, K5UZ

Director, Delta Division

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 25, 2017, at 12:07 PM, Gallagher, Tom, NY2RF <tgallagher@arrl.org> wrote:

Ladies and gentlemen:
If you noticed the down tick in January's VE revenues or hear complaints about slow VE response the reason is mail and the Newington Post Office. Maria's crew is on them every day but the Post Office is...well, the Post Office!

We have return alternatives but the are extremely expensive.

Please see below.

Gallagher 2/25/17

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:
From: Kent Olson <qtipf16@q.com>
Date: February 24, 2017 at 6:33:28 PM EST
To: "Tom Gallagher, NY2RF" <tgallagher@arrl.org>
Subject: Re: VE Mail Times
Hi Tom;

Wow, this is not good and will probably continue. I can't believe it's a one-time event, and with the Govt. hiring freeze, the Newington PO could be affected.

I agree that this would be good to share with ODV as there may be some who are or may be getting some questions regarding the processing times.

Enjoy your weekend! I'll be up at 4:30 to drive ~200 miles to a hamfest tomorrow morning.

73

Kent
KAØLDG
From: "Tom Gallagher, NY2RF" <tgallagher@arrl.org>
To: "Kent Olson, KA0LDG, (Dir, DD)" <qtipf16@q.com>
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2017 3:49:04 PM
Subject: VE Mail Times

Kent:
I followed up with Maria Somma concerning the delays we are experiencing with the return of VE packages from the field. I confirmed that over the past 30 days, the return time between senders and ARRL VE reached four weeks or more (as measured by the sender’s post mark and the received ARRL mark). This delay is entirely due to inadequate staffing at the Newington Post Officer, according to Post Master. However, the log jam broke on Wednesday and on Thursday we received and processed more than 1,000 licenses, accounting for 90% of the new licenses issued that day. In fact, the log jam accounts for the budget variance we have noted in VE’s financials, so it explains why VE revenues were off in January.

I want to advise you, however, that there is no assurance from the Post Office that we will not experience a similar situation again. However, as we are now aware of the problem, we can take whatever steps are necessary to call it to the PO’s attention when we suspect that mail is being delayed.

You may wish to share this with the PSC. I imagine Maria has shared it with the VEC system wide. Unless you object, I thought I would advise ODV since there may be complaints arriving from members.

Thanks, Tom

Tom Gallagher – NY2RF
Chief Executive Officer
ARRL Headquarters
ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio™
860 594 0404 cell 704 907 7158
tgallagher@arrl.org

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