GM: As I was reading this morning's email I saw the following from N9FTC/4. (Greg -- Welcome to the ARRL Board ;<) ) In light of the current CQ editorial discussion it seemed worthwhile noting the following comment in Mr. Stein's email. "I have also been shown articles in CQ magazine that do not talk so highly about the ARRL and its inter-workings." 73, Jay, KØQB -----Original Message----- From: Tim & Suzanne Stein [mailto:twstein@fairpoint.net] Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 8:21 AM To: mallphin@aol.com; k1zz@arrl.org; cshalvoy@worldnet.att.net; w9wu@arrl.net; k0pc@arrl.net; af5m@cebridge.net; w8qid@arrl.net; na2r@nac.net; bmorgan@fidnet.com; w1yrc@arrl.org; n7ro@arrl.net; k6ta@arrl.net; gdixon@fmtc.net; n7ka@comcast.net; k5vt@aol.com; nt5c@texas.net; scotts@tartannet.ns.ca; k0ca@arrl.net; nn1n@arrl.org; staratula@arrl.org; w3tom@arrl.org; n3llr@arrl.org; w9gig@arrl.org; k9km@arrl.org; k0qb@arrl.org; k0gw@arrl.org; wd4q@arrl.org; wa5tmc@arrl.org; k8je@arrl.org; ki4la@arrl.org; n2ff@arrl.org; ka2anf@arrl.org; k0bj@arrl.org; k0ca@arrl.org; k1ki@arrl.org; k1twf@arrl.org; k9jf@arrl.org; k7zm@arrl.org; w6rgg@arrl.org; n6ajo@arrl.org; w4pwf@arrl.org; n4ros@arrl.org; ws7w@arrl.org; n5zgt@arrl.org; w4rh@arrl.org; w4ru@arrl.org; n6aa@arrl.org; aa7a@arrl.org; n5ok@arrl.org; k5rav@arrl.org Subject: DXCC award Modes Fellow Amateurs: I am Tim Stein N9FTC/4, a life member of the ARRL for many years, now living in Overstreet/Wewahitchka, Florida. I have just recently decided to hang some awards on the shack wall. The first was W.A.S. RTTY certificate number #474 dated 30 June 2006. I was greatly surprised and proud to have the number 474, as I thought that there must have been many more issued before I got mine. I then went to work on W.A.S. PSK-31 which I received 17 October 2006. There was no number on this award. It would have been nice if there had been one. I worked W.A.S. RTTY and W.A.S. PSK-31 both on 20 meters, however, there is no mention of the BAND worked on either award. Both awards would have been much more meaningful with more information added, such as BAND, MODE, NUMBER. I then went to work on DXCC PSK-31 20 Meters and accomplished this task on my 63rd birthday, November 4, 2007. I called the ARRL Awards Division and talked to a nice and very helpful young lady. She told me where to find the forms I needed to submit my cards for checking. While filling out the forms I noticed that there was no listing for PSK-31 on the form. I call the nice young lady again and questioned her as to how to do this. I was told that I would have to list my DXCC award under RTTY. I was dumbfounded as to why this was so. I was told that you fellows of the DX Advisory Committee had never made provisions for the new digital modes. The ARRL, as I have understood it, has used these awards programs to gain new members, retain old members, and to spur new operating activities on the bands. This has been a fundamental practice for the many years that I have been a member. I agree, it should be this way. Hopefully it will help keep the ARRL a strong working organization dedicated to us, the Amateur Radio Operators. What I cannot understand is why there is a consensus, with most all of the amateurs I have talked to in the last few weeks, about this issue of DXCC modes. I have also been shown articles in CQ magazine that do not talk so highly about the ARRL and its inter-workings. My question to you, to keep this note to the point, is: If the ARRL wants to increase membership and use its awards programs to do so, why are you so reluctant to offer awards certificates with the new digital modes, and numbers showing sequence of their issue. We the members are willing and do pay what ever fees you set for these awards. A few more dollars from us for the time it takes to put decent information on these awards would willingly be paid. I do understand there are many awards out there already for other modes like CW and SSB that you could not assign sequential numbers to. But with a little thought this could be done to the new modes and awards in the future. I await your reply. Thanks .Tim N9FTC/4 twstein@fairpoint.net