[arrl-odv:34544] A Radiogram!
I received an ARRL Radiogram in the mail today, the first I've seen in many, many years. It was originated from a ham I worked in FL on my big VOTA weekend, then went through a ham in ID, who mailed me the Radiogram postcard. The originator basically thanked me for my VOTA contact, and his points. Thanks to the ECS-FS subcommittee that is working hard to restore NTS. Something seems to be working! 73; Mike W7VO
You know—it might not be a bad idea to add a "bonus" into the VOTA scoring, where stations can earn an additional 50 points after contacting a director, vice director, or section manager by sending him or her a follow up radiogram message. (I mention these officers specifically because our addresses, email addresses and phone numbers are published in QST.) Phil, K9HI On Fri, Jan 27, 2023 at 8:02 PM Michael Ritz <w7vo@comcast.net> wrote:
I received an ARRL Radiogram in the mail today, the first I've seen in many, many years. It was originated from a ham I worked in FL on my big VOTA weekend, then went through a ham in ID, who mailed me the Radiogram postcard. The originator basically thanked me for my VOTA contact, and his points.
Thanks to the ECS-FS subcommittee that is working hard to restore NTS. Something seems to be working!
73; Mike W7VO _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv
-- Phil Temples <phil@temples.com>
Crickets ... I gather that no one else thinks this is a good idea? ;-) -Phil On Fri, Jan 27, 2023 at 8:39 PM Phil Temples <phil@temples.com> wrote:
You know—it might not be a bad idea to add a "bonus" into the VOTA scoring, where stations can earn an additional 50 points after contacting a director, vice director, or section manager by sending him or her a follow up radiogram message.
(I mention these officers specifically because our addresses, email addresses and phone numbers are published in QST.)
Phil, K9HI
On Fri, Jan 27, 2023 at 8:02 PM Michael Ritz <w7vo@comcast.net> wrote:
I received an ARRL Radiogram in the mail today, the first I've seen in many, many years. It was originated from a ham I worked in FL on my big VOTA weekend, then went through a ham in ID, who mailed me the Radiogram postcard. The originator basically thanked me for my VOTA contact, and his points.
Thanks to the ECS-FS subcommittee that is working hard to restore NTS. Something seems to be working!
73; Mike W7VO _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv
-- Phil Temples <phil@temples.com>
-- Phil Temples <phil@temples.com>
Sorry Phil, I have been out of pocket since the BoD meeting. I think this is an interesting idea. Even if we did it for a limited time, it would be fun. -- Dale WA8EFK On 1/31/2023 4:41 PM, Phil Temples wrote:
Crickets ... I gather that no one else thinks this is a good idea? ;-)
-Phil
On Fri, Jan 27, 2023 at 8:39 PM Phil Temples <phil@temples.com> wrote:
You know—it might not be a bad idea to add a "bonus" into the VOTA scoring, where stations can earn an additional 50 points after contacting a director, vice director, or section manager by sending him or her a follow up radiogram message.
(I mention these officers specifically because our addresses, email addresses and phone numbers are published in QST.)
Phil, K9HI
On Fri, Jan 27, 2023 at 8:02 PM Michael Ritz <w7vo@comcast.net> wrote:
I received an ARRL Radiogram in the mail today, the first I've seen in many, many years. It was originated from a ham I worked in FL on my big VOTA weekend, then went through a ham in ID, who mailed me the Radiogram postcard. The originator basically thanked me for my VOTA contact, and his points.
Thanks to the ECS-FS subcommittee that is working hard to restore NTS. Something seems to be working!
73; Mike W7VO _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv
-- Phil Temples <phil@temples.com>
-- Phil Temples <phil@temples.com>
_______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv
Phil; No, it's been mulling in my "PSC Chair" head since you sent it! The issue is how to implement the Radiogram bonuses, as all current VOTA scoring is done via automated LoTW entries. There is very little human intervention required, it's all handled by the servers at HQ. What you suggest adds another level of complexity, and more work for HQ in handling the admin side of things to manually input the "bonuses". Plus the ODV members and SMs would have to send the information to HQ when they get a Radiogram sent to them. That might prove to be somewhat of a burden on not only staff, but ODV members that are on the air a lot throughout the year. (We are, after all, in the midst of contest season!) We need to have short PSC meeting soon to discuss the proposed point scoring for FD anyway, we can get Bart's and Bob's spin on your suggestion then. 73; Mike W7VO
On 01/31/2023 1:41 PM Phil Temples <phil@temples.com> wrote:
Crickets ... I gather that no one else thinks this is a good idea? ;-)
-Phil
On Fri, Jan 27, 2023 at 8:39 PM Phil Temples <phil@temples.com mailto:phil@temples.com > wrote:
> > You know—it might not be a bad idea to add a "bonus" into the VOTA scoring, where stations can earn an additional 50 points after contacting a director, vice director, or section manager by sending him or her a follow up radiogram message.
(I mention these officers specifically because our addresses, email addresses and phone numbers are published in QST.)
Phil, K9HI
On Fri, Jan 27, 2023 at 8:02 PM Michael Ritz <w7vo@comcast.net mailto:w7vo@comcast.net > wrote:
> > > I received an ARRL Radiogram in the mail today, the first I've seen in many, many years. It was originated from a ham I worked in FL on my big VOTA weekend, then went through a ham in ID, who mailed me the Radiogram postcard. The originator basically thanked me for my VOTA contact, and his points.
Thanks to the ECS-FS subcommittee that is working hard to restore NTS. Something seems to be working!
73; Mike W7VO _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org mailto:arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv
> >
-- Phil Temples <phil@temples.com mailto:phil@temples.com >
>
-- Phil Temples <phil@temples.com mailto:phil@temples.com > _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv
We had discussed here at HQ that during the year there might be ways to create ‘surprise’ bonuses like volunteering at Field Day or at a Club hamfest or a public service event or … I don’t get into PSC’s wheelhouse (I try not to) but there might be some creative ways to ‘insert’ the bonuses within the VOTA scoring tables. David From: arrl-odv <arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org> On Behalf Of Michael Ritz Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2023 5:10 PM To: arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org Subject: [arrl-odv:34552] Re: A Radiogram! Phil; No, it's been mulling in my "PSC Chair" head since you sent it! The issue is how to implement the Radiogram bonuses, as all current VOTA scoring is done via automated LoTW entries. There is very little human intervention required, it's all handled by the servers at HQ. What you suggest adds another level of complexity, and more work for HQ in handling the admin side of things to manually input the "bonuses". Plus the ODV members and SMs would have to send the information to HQ when they get a Radiogram sent to them. That might prove to be somewhat of a burden on not only staff, but ODV members that are on the air a lot throughout the year. (We are, after all, in the midst of contest season!) We need to have short PSC meeting soon to discuss the proposed point scoring for FD anyway, we can get Bart's and Bob's spin on your suggestion then. 73; Mike W7VO On 01/31/2023 1:41 PM Phil Temples <phil@temples.com<mailto:phil@temples.com>> wrote: Crickets ... I gather that no one else thinks this is a good idea? ;-) -Phil On Fri, Jan 27, 2023 at 8:39 PM Phil Temples <phil@temples.com<mailto:phil@temples.com>> wrote: You know—it might not be a bad idea to add a "bonus" into the VOTA scoring, where stations can earn an additional 50 points after contacting a director, vice director, or section manager by sending him or her a follow up radiogram message. (I mention these officers specifically because our addresses, email addresses and phone numbers are published in QST.) Phil, K9HI On Fri, Jan 27, 2023 at 8:02 PM Michael Ritz <w7vo@comcast.net<mailto:w7vo@comcast.net>> wrote: I received an ARRL Radiogram in the mail today, the first I've seen in many, many years. It was originated from a ham I worked in FL on my big VOTA weekend, then went through a ham in ID, who mailed me the Radiogram postcard. The originator basically thanked me for my VOTA contact, and his points. Thanks to the ECS-FS subcommittee that is working hard to restore NTS. Something seems to be working! 73; Mike W7VO _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org<mailto:arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv -- Phil Temples <phil@temples.com<mailto:phil@temples.com>> -- Phil Temples <phil@temples.com<mailto:phil@temples.com>> _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org<mailto:arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv
Thanks for your input, David and Mike. Yes, the idea that scoring is automated through LoTW was also not lost on me. To alleviate any additional burden on Hq. staff, why not make this bonus based on the honor system? I can't imagine that there would be significant cheating to win this bonus. You might also spot check this honor system by having an Hq. staffer overseeing VOTA (Bart?) reach out to a small sampling of the ODV members to confirm whether he/she did, in fact, receive a radiogram constituting the person's claimed bonus. Or, we could handle spot checks in a different way: construct a simple Google form online, where ODV members could "QSL" a radiogram for VOTA points. It would take only a minute to fill out said form. Phil On Tue, Jan 31, 2023 at 5:14 PM Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) < dminster@arrl.org> wrote:
We had discussed here at HQ that during the year there might be ways to create ‘surprise’ bonuses like volunteering at Field Day or at a Club hamfest or a public service event or …
I don’t get into PSC’s wheelhouse (I try not to) but there might be some creative ways to ‘insert’ the bonuses within the VOTA scoring tables.
David
*From:* arrl-odv <arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org> * On Behalf Of *Michael Ritz *Sent:* Tuesday, January 31, 2023 5:10 PM *To:* arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org *Subject:* [arrl-odv:34552] Re: A Radiogram!
Phil;
No, it's been mulling in my "PSC Chair" head since you sent it!
The issue is how to implement the Radiogram bonuses, as all current VOTA scoring is done via automated LoTW entries. There is very little human intervention required, it's all handled by the servers at HQ.
What you suggest adds another level of complexity, and more work for HQ in handling the admin side of things to manually input the "bonuses". Plus the ODV members and SMs would have to send the information to HQ when they get a Radiogram sent to them. That might prove to be somewhat of a burden on not only staff, but ODV members that are on the air a lot throughout the year. (We are, after all, in the midst of contest season!)
We need to have short PSC meeting soon to discuss the proposed point scoring for FD anyway, we can get Bart's and Bob's spin on your suggestion then.
73;
Mike
W7VO
On 01/31/2023 1:41 PM Phil Temples <phil@temples.com> wrote:
Crickets ... I gather that no one else thinks this is a good idea? ;-)
-Phil
On Fri, Jan 27, 2023 at 8:39 PM Phil Temples <phil@temples.com> wrote:
You know—it might not be a bad idea to add a "bonus" into the VOTA scoring, where stations can earn an additional 50 points after contacting a director, vice director, or section manager by sending him or her a follow up radiogram message.
(I mention these officers specifically because our addresses, email addresses and phone numbers are published in QST.)
Phil, K9HI
On Fri, Jan 27, 2023 at 8:02 PM Michael Ritz <w7vo@comcast.net> wrote:
I received an ARRL Radiogram in the mail today, the first I've seen in many, many years. It was originated from a ham I worked in FL on my big VOTA weekend, then went through a ham in ID, who mailed me the Radiogram postcard. The originator basically thanked me for my VOTA contact, and his points.
Thanks to the ECS-FS subcommittee that is working hard to restore NTS. Something seems to be working!
73;
Mike
W7VO
_______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv
--
Phil Temples <phil@temples.com>
--
Phil Temples <phil@temples.com>
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-- Phil Temples <phil@temples.com>
participants (4)
-
Dale Williams -
Michael Ritz -
Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) -
Phil Temples