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MSC Report to the Board of Directors
January 19, 2001
Contained in this report are the following documents:
This report provides a status of the actions of the Membership Services Department. Some key points include:
You should read this detailed report as it contains significant information on this very important project. Development of specs is underway and should be completed in a few weeks, after which time bids will be prepared. Funding ideas have been coordinated with A & F.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rick Roderick, K5UR
Chairman, MSC
MSD Report
DXCC
We believe the DXCC program is functioning well. Complaints have been surprizingly few during our The application turn-around time leveled off at eight weeks during the September rush. A favorable manpower situation during the last quarter enabled DXCC to limit the turn-around to eight weeks, and to bring the backlog of cards down to 110,000 by the first of the year 2001. In the last three weeks, limited manpower has caused the turn-around to rise to nine weeks. Considerable overtime was utilized during the last quarter of 2000. Since we are practically not able to require enough overtime by regular staffers, we utilized time from Eileen Sapko (Awards Branch) and Tom Hogerty of Jon Bloom's group.We are currently interviewing to replace our top data entry person who resigned to join the Marines. On an ongoing basis, we need to replace Tim Giles. In order to reduce the backlog to a desirable three to four weeks, an additional half or full time position is probably necessary. While we did include some overtime in the 2001 budget, a regular time employee is probably a better alternative for the next year or so. Manpower needs should stabilize in the medium-term as electronic applications and QSLs begin to become significant.
The year 2000 saw an increase in card total of 23% to approximately 470,000. This was due not only to the periodic peak in sunspots, but to the new awards which have been offered. The 17 meter DXCC was announced on the second of January, and the last band, 12 meters is still scheduled to begin on the 1st of July, 2001. The DXCC Challenge was begun, and the first Challenge list will be published in the DXCC Yearbook. The first Clinton B. DeSoto Cup was won by Bob Eshleman, W4DR, and will be presented in Dayton. During the year, we saw an increase in member applications of 6%, and a total of DXCC applications. This increase in new applications is 5% greater than in 1999.
Strong Systems continues to work on the new DXCC software. Bill Moore and I (along with Don Durand) have visited SS twice at their offices in Waltham, MA. Functional and Design specifications have been developed and approved. We expect to have the initial working version to begin testing within the next month. The software has the capability and functionality to interface with electronic applications and eQSL as well as output data for web presentation. The in-house relationship between DXCC and ISD is good.
DXCC Card Checking Program
The DXCC Card Checker program seems to be a success. We have a total of 110 checkers. 83 of these are domestic, 41 SM nominations, and 42 DX club nominations. There are 30 ARRL Sections for which there are no checkers. Off shore, we have 27 checkers in seven countries, Canada (12), Japan (6), England (3), Spain (3), Germany (1), Italy (1) and Sweden (1). A list of US Card Checkers is available online at the DXCC Website.
As of January 12, 2001, we had received a total of 1,009 applications checked from checkers. This includes foreign applications, but it does not include those applications checked by staff personnel, domestic and off-shore.
Millennium Award
To date, approximately 2,100 Millennium awards have been issued. Of these, 44% have gone to non-DXCC individuals. Approximately 39% have gone to non-ARRL members. This program has been quite successful, and we are looking at doing another, similar program with a different theme.
Contests
HF contest activity is up for 2000. VHF/UHF contest activity is mixed. In its second year, the Field Day pin program is bigger than the first, with about 7,600 pins sold. We will offer pins for activity in the ARRL DX Contests this year. A pin will also be offered for the RTTY Round-up. The pin and mug program for the November SS continued to be profitable (1999).
The conversion to the Cabrillo log contest log format has been successful. A high percentage of electronic logs have been received for this season's contests, and of those a high percentage of them are in the Cabrillo format. We have exercised flexibility in cases where the contester is for some reason unable to comply, but willing to work with us.
Trey Garlough N5KO has been a great help in getting the log checking up to speed. The contest robot is running, and the flow of logs seems good. We have added Larry Weaver to the (quasi) volunteer staff of log checkers to do the IARU contest, and Eddy, G0AZT/W6 to do the RTTY contest. In addition, we still have N5TR and K8CC doing SS, ARRL DX, 160 meter and 10 meter contests.
QSL Bureau
The Outgoing QSL bureau shipped over 1.8 million cards in 2000. This represented a 1% increase over 1999. With the advent of a (approximately) 8% increase in postage rates, there will be a rate increase in the cost of service from the outgoing QSL bureau. In addition to a rate increase, the structure of the charges will be changed. Instead of one pound increments, breaks will occur at one-half pound units. The low quantity classes, one dollar for ten cards, two dollars for twenty cards, and three dollars for thirty cards will be eliminated. These are a problem since the charge doesn't cover expenses for these small quantities, and often the folks who use them often don't bother to sort the cards. In their place, we will create a minimum of $3 for up to 75 cards. After than, the cost will go up in $4 per half pound increments.
The incoming bureau budget situation is coming under control, with more attention being paid to expense reports submitted by bureau managers. Martin is keeping a close eye on these expenses. 2001 will be a year of adjustment and re-definition for the incoming bureau managers.
W1AW
W1AW continues to operate normally. On the weekend of January 12, W1AW conducted an operating event involving the PSK31 digital mode. As the result of a particular OO report involving frequency and near-band-edge operation, we are considering conducting a Frequency Measuring Test (FMT) as was done many years in the past. Although it may seem that with the availability of highly accurate transceivers that this would be unnecessary, it may be that FMTs could serve a useful function. While we have very accurate equipment, many of us do not know how to use it. Other W1AW operating events will be considered.
Awards
Extra Class Certificate is about ready for re-introduction. Eileen has done overtime for DXCC, and has spend about two hours per day doing DXCC during the fourth quarter.
The A-1 Operator Award continues at a slow pace. Currently it is expensive since it generates no revenue and it requires considerable research. We are considering a web-based application procedure wherein the first nominator would essentially do the research of finding the candidate's full name, address, etc. This would greatly increase the productivity in processing this award. At this point, we could expand the scope of this type of award.
The ARRL's Logbook of the World
Internal and External Costs and Benefits
The development of an alternative to traditional QSLing is an exciting and promising endeavor. As we enter the new Millennium it has become obvious to those operators who pursue various Amateur Radio operating awards that: (1) costs for postage, return postage, materials, QSL cards, shipping risks, and the awards fees have all risen; (2) new technologies associated with the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) have become perceptively secure enough to allow people to use their credit cards and other personal information in the cyber-world; (3) The ARRL must place its "stamp of approval" on electronic QSLing and/or verification before any such activity will become meaningful; and (4) there are persons attempting to implement EQSLing on the WWW who are pressing full-speed ahead in their efforts to persuade the ARRL to accept same.
In parallel action, the ARRL's Board of Directors has tasked HQ staff with developing and implementing some sort of electronic QSL system. Technically EQSLing has long been taking place through the use of informal Emails back and forth between operators confirming on-air activity. There is no question that the act of QSLing electronically can easily take place at any time. HQ staff determined that the real need for this project surrounds the necessity for applying awards' credits electronically--either by verifying the authenticity of EQSLs or by some other method. We also believe that this requires the use of some level of authentication or security that determines the identity and validity of participants. The concept for the Logbook of the World was created in an effort to satisfy this need. In short, Logbook of the World requires ARRL to become depository of QSO information that will be used to automatically confirm contacts among participants. Confirmation data may be used to automatically update ARRL awards programs and possibly those programs sponsored by others. Visual images may or may not be attached to the QSO data and sent via the Web to users. Some coarse options for consideration:
While doing nothing at this time on this project represents a valid option, it is intuitive to most that the ARRL as the world's largest Amateur Radio Association with the world's most popular awards programs, should make every effort to be the leader in this field. The costs for doing nothing are difficult to quantify but would likely show up in the future through lower membership numbers, less participation in awards programs, increased pessimism associated with ARRL activities, and never-ending pressure on staff, Directors, and Officers to either create or accept such a program. There already have been, and there will be increasing numbers of, attempts to thwart present DXCC rules that prohibit the use of electronic confirmations for award credit. The only possible outcome of doing nothing is a weakened DXCC program that will suffer from an increased loss of status.
Consultants have nearly completed specifications for Logbook of the World with recommendations therein for ARRL to pursue a totally in-house operation. Cost estimates will not be available until ISD staff have a chance to review hardware options and make adjustments. Then the project can be let for bid at which time we will have a solid cost proposal. Much of the work for the web interface can be accomplished in-house with the assistance of Jon Bloom's staff, while outside software writers will be necessary for several sections of the specified system.
Following are some of the internal (HQ) and external (participants) costs and benefits that are affected by Logbook of the World.
External Advantages
Cost reduction associated with obtaining confirmations. After the latest increase in postage rates in the U.S., the cost of obtaining a card from most anyplace overseas, through the mail, has risen to between 2 and 3 dollars. Obtaining a card for stateside confirmations or manager handling is now approximately 70 cents (including cost of envelope materials). 5BWAS obtained this way will cost a minimum of $175. 5BDXCC obtained this way is a minimum of $1000. Using the QSL bureaus can easily confirm a 5BDXCC at the expense of much longer time frames for completion. 500 QSLs presently would cost an ARRL member $20 to send through the bureau.
These costs increase perhaps as much as double for foreign award hunters. For people in the former Soviet block and most third world countries, the cost of QSLing can exceed yearly income. Clearly the greatest benefit from postal cost reduction will occur for those outside the U.S.
Remove the risk associated with mailing QSL cards to HQ for checking. HQ staff is fast discovering just how important this risk has become. European Amateurs bringing their cards to Friedrichshafen for DXCC checking stated that they would never send their cards to HQ. They asked forgiveness for the large numbers of cards they wanted credited and would bring more and buy more awards if we allowed it. In another example, N5KO personally transported a few hundred of HC8GR's cards to the U.S. from the Galapagos Islands because GR believed that his cards would likely be lost or destroyed by the Ecuadorian postal system. Add to the risk of sending cards, the actual cost to send the cards (usually via registered, or some other maximally secure method), and once again the greatest benefit to Logbook of the World will accrue to foreign participants.
Far less expensive US -- US confirmations. As previously mentioned, there is at present no inexpensive way for US Amateurs to exchange QSLs. Many ARRL awards requiring cards are for domestic awards--WAS and VUCC. According to MSD, there have been just over 50,000 WAS awards issued since 1936, and only about 7500 WAS specialty awards. The WAS may arguably be the most popular, and achievable, awards in the World--but obtaining the cards is prohibitive. VUCC (counting grid squares on VHF and UHF) is a difficult award to attain in the U.S. on the bands above and including 144 MHz, and could be made more popular through Logbook of the World by lessening the expense of obtaining cards through the postal service. Clearly U.S. participants stand to benefit greatly from Logbook of the World when it comes to domestic awards.
Increased DXCC participation. Logbook of the World has entirely positive implications for the DXCC program. Since the inception of the Desoto Cup and the DXCC challenge, it is more important than ever to recognize DXCC's competitive aspects. Traditionally, DXCC has been recognized as an award that participants worked towards for their own satisfaction. Of course, the Honor Roll is coveted, and injects a greater element of competition to DXing, but the Challenge (which counts DXCC countries per band) has raised the stakes. Most people will want to obtain a traditional QSL card once or twice from most stations (i.e., for 6 or 160 meters), but after that electronic confirmations will present a huge boost to participation in the award. Additionally, the move to electronic confirmation will lead to electronic presentation on the ARRL Web site. Participants will be able to view their DXCC records on-line, view their pending confirmations on-line, buy awards, certificates and plaques on-line, and even see daily DXCC standings updates--one can literally watch their DXCC standings climb up the charts along with those of the competition. Since DXCC monthly listings were removed from QST, web standings would answer one of the more common DXCC participant complaints.
Additionally, on-line awards clients will not have to go through the long and laborious process of filling out the DXCC application forms. These advantages benefit all DXers with foreign participants faring even better considering the lesser shipping expenses.
A web browser will be all that is needed to participate. We anticipate that all that will be necessary to upload log data and participate in any supported award is a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.
Data supplied for other award sponsors. We envision a system whereby the Logbook of the World is used by other award sponsors. ARRL will provide confirmed QSO data to other sponsors at the demand of the participant. The interface may be at the other sponsors' web site(s), or provided turn-key at the ARRL web site. No access to the confirmed QSO database that makes up Logbook of the World will be given to anyone outside HQ. Participants pay normal award fees while the sponsor pays ARRL for information and also possibly a percentage of award income. There is no ceiling on the possibilities for new awards that could be created and implemented/supported by Logbook of the World.
Contesters will love it. We anticipate contesters to be among the most prolific users of Logbook of the World. When each contest ends, a participant may upload his log to the contest sponsor and to the ARRL for QSO confirmation purposes. It is possible that some stations may have to issue only a handful of traditional QSLs in the future.
DXpeditioners can benefit too. Traditionally, DXpeditions have relied on the QSLing process to help fund their operation. As costs rise, QSLing donations will be worth less and less. It may be highly beneficial for some to maximize use of the Logbook of the World and print only nominal numbers of traditional QSLs which will save on manpower in answering the cards, and save the actual cost of printing. If electronic confirmations are available it would be ethical for to raise money by charging for "souvenir" paper cards.
Logging programmers will go to work. It is likely that various logging programs will need to add slightly to their capabilities to produce output files that contain enough information to be useable by Logbook of the World.--likely a version of the popularly supported Cabrillo file format.
Printing QSLs--not as many. Users of Logbook will find savings in the fact that they will not need to pay for printing as many traditional QSLs as in the past.
SWL participation easily incorporated. The ARRL does not have SWL participation for its awards as of yet. Using Logbook will easily facilitate SWLs' (and those who are licensed but cannot transmit) ability to confirm their listenings. The cost savings for SWLs is large--especially considering their likely increase in confirmations which no longer have to be obtained via traditional cards. Additionally, SWLs and others would be able to participate in an SWL DXCC system, obtain WAS, VUCC and possibly other awards both sponsored by the ARRL and other organizations.
Electronic QSL card images could be facilitated. Most of what has been written above has dealt with the great advantages to automatically updating awards records, creating confirmed QSOs, and facilitating award purchases. It would be simple for ARRL to take the final step and provide electronic "image QSLs" to those who request them based upon the data contained in the Logbook of the World. It is possible that users could select stock graphic designs on file for their cards (either sent or received), or upload custom graphics that would be used on any confirmation from them. The ARRL would likely charge for this service, but it is also an option for the ARRL to cooperate with others in this endeavor.
External Disadvantages
DXpeditions will have to evolve in a manner such that funds are raised differently. We recognize that DXpeditions using Logbook of the World will have to rely on other methods of obtaining funds to replace those that would have come with QSL requests. First, obviously, DXpeditions will realize a cost savings from not having to print as many cards. Second, they may be able to "sell" commemorative QSLs and other items before, during, and after submission of log data. They may also opt not to participate in Logbook, but public outcry might force some concessions.
Sorry, I only QSL via Logbook of the World. This may be a bigger problem. There will continue to be many hundreds--perhaps thousands, of awards hunters who will not use a computer or the WWW for QSLing. A station operator who will not send traditional QSLs will be a problem. A solution might be found if this same operator allowed the ARRL to name a QSL manager (for traditional cards only) who would use the submitted log data to answer traditional requests.
QSL printers will be affected. It is not unreasonable to assume that QSL printers will suffer a shift in business in that cards will be more expensive and produced by fewer printers.
Internal Advantages
Increased participation in ARRL awards programs. According to DXCC staff there were 6712 different people submitting applications for DXCC in 2000. 4203 of those were members and 2509 were non-members. Presently, U.S. participants must be members of ARRL. There are 21,000 active DXCC records on-file at HQ and many others (approximately 15,000) which are inactive (no submittals since computerization about ten years ago). Estimating for participation increase is difficult, but there are some numbers which help. According to N7NG, the TX0DX DXpedition to the Chesterfields yielded QSOs with over 72,000 stations of which 24,000 were with different individuals. The ZA1A operation in the early 90s saw over 63,000 QSOs of which over 32,000 were with different stations. From the K5K, Kingman Reef operation of 2000, we learned that of 81,000 total QSOs, 17,000 were with different stations. This data shows that many stations are making multiple QSOs on multiple bands in order to collect band countries. Over the last ten years the average number of QSOs per individual with a DXpedition station has risen from 2 to 3 (K5K's experience shows nearly 5 to 1). The data also shows that there are more people making QSOs than are participating in DXCC.
ARRL's Millennium Award, offered for working 100 countries in 2000, is a simple but attractive award that may be obtained without receiving QSLs , or sending cards to HQ. As of Jan 10, 2001, there were 2240 Millennium awards issued--1000 of them went to people who did NOT have a DXCC record. It would be wrong to conclude that the only reason these people do not participate in DXCC is because they are unwilling, or cannot, obtain cards or send them in for checking, but clearly these are people who would participate in electronic QSLing for credit. Also, they each filled out traditional, burdensome paperwork and paid ten dollars.
Part of an increase in DXCC participation will come from those individuals who have been dormant in their DXCC activity (and are not deceased!). Another segment of people will come into DXCC from the newer Amateur ranks--licensed in the 90s and later. More participants will also come from the ranks of those long-time DXers who have become enthused with our technical advance and who will also likely get their traditional QSLs checked through the field checking system. Field checkers will also be able to submit electronic data via the Web site.
As for WAS and VUCC, according to MSD, there have been just over 50,000 WAS awards issued since 1936, and only about 7500 WAS specialty awards. The WAS may arguably be the most popular award in the World--but obtaining the cards is prohibitive. VUCC (counting grid squares on VHF and UHF) is a difficult award to attain in the U.S. on the bands above and including 144 MHz, and could be made more popular through Logbook of the World by lessening the expense of obtaining cards through the postal service. Clearly U.S. participants stand to benefit greatly from Logbook of the World when it comes to domestic-oriented awards.
Estimated participation: WAS: 25,000 new awards. VUCC: 10,000 new awards.
DXCC: 10,000 new awards
Proactive notification of awards qualification. It will be easy to query the Logbook to find confirmations for any station who has not yet asked for award credit, but has submitted log data. An Email could be automatically generated saying "Congratulations, you have 100 countries confirmed in the Logbook of the World on 24 MHz and have qualified for a certificate and endorsement bar for your 5BDXCC! Just visit the ARRL web site (click on link below) and proceed with the instructions provided."
Promotes greater web interaction at ARRL.org. Thousands of additional users will go to the web site for the purposes listed above including log submission, log queries, awards requests, paraphernalia purchases, DXCC listings, DXCC records review, and information searches.
Eliminates QSO data entry from the DXCC process. Manpower will go farther by reducing MSD's processing workload.
Improved integrity of DXCC. As Amateur Radio's premier operating award, DXCC's value will improve in the eyes of participants because the Logbook process is more accurate than is presently achievable through traditional QSL cards--assuming internal security is good and there are no major hacking attacks on the data. There is presently confusion in the DXing community over what constitutes a valid QSL card. DXCC does not presently accept EQSLs or printed EQSLs, but the latter are nearly indistinguishable from QSL cards that are created on a computer and which contain all the QSO data printed thereon. Using Logbook forces two operators to submit log data that matches data in each of five fields (callsigns, dates, times, bands, and modes) before they are accepted into the Logbook as part of a confirmed QSO.
Increased accuracy in the DXCC program records. Because humans enter data into the present system, there is a certain amount of bogus data that survives and is credited. Awards and credits given to an individual by Logbook will be free of human error occurring at HQ thereby improving the overall accuracy of DXCC records.
Logbook of the World data is useable beyond awards purposes. There will be opportunities for staff or interested parties to make scientific use of the data contained in Logbook. Articles, surveys and other works may spring from studying this data and may also constitute a revenue opportunity for ARRL.
Incorporation of non-traditional members into ARRL. SWLs and other radio listening enthusiasts may be enticed to join ARRL with the new functionality of Logbook. We may also consider adding new awards that cater to those who do not or cannot transmit which in the long run may positively affect membership.
Internal Disadvantages
Costs. The ARRL will have to absorb most of the cost of this initiative up front. We anticipate that there will be staff time expended on web programming, database construction, hardware implementation, and answering questions. Once a system is running, staff will be required to send postcards (containing passwords for web access to the digital certificates) to some participants and answer associated questions. There will be continual maintenance on the system just like other systems at HQ. We are investigating issues such as whether to locate the hardware on-or off-site, projected ISD and web programming staff workloads, and the possible need for a project manager outside HQ staff. There will also be the inevitable need for someone on staff to answer questions from users such as "How do I transfer my certificate to a different computer?" and "Why didn't my QSO data match the DX station's data?"
DXCC Card Checking Program Status
January 12, 2001
This is a report of the current status of the DXCC Card Checking program. This program began on April 1, 2000 upon termination of the old program on March 31, 2000.
As of this date the roster consists of 111 card checkers. Here is the breakdown:
41 Section Manager nominations
43 DX Club nominations
27 Foreign Society nominations (Pilot program)
Of 71 ARRL sections there are 30 sections whose nomination is still available. Section Managers are currently aware if their nomination is still available.
Of the 27 foreign nominations here is a breakdown by country:
12 -- Canada (RAC)
6 -- Japan (JARL)
3 -- England (RSGB)
3 -- Spain (URE)
1 -- Germany (DARC)
1 -- Italy (ARI)
1 -- Sweden (SSA)
A list of the US card checkers is available online at the DXCC web site at:
http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/checkers.html
This list is broken down by Division, then Sections. They are also shown in The ARRL DXCC List publication. Note, many did not get listed since, due to the deadline to go to the printer, many were not approved by that time. Also, at this time non -- US cards checkers are not listed in The ARRL DXCC List publication.
We are in the final stages of setting up the card checker reflector. We hope to be online in February 2001.
A report generated as of November 28, 2000 showed 681 applications checked by card checkers. As of January 12, 2001 there were 1,009 applications checked by card checkers. This includes foreign applications who normally send us larger batches.
Attached is a report broken down by Division then Section of the card checkers.
With discussions ongoing regarding areas many feel may not be covered by card checkers, complaints seem to have been greatly reduced and I think it is because they know that were are on top of things.
WAM/bm
DXCC Card Checkers by Division/Section
Atlantic Division - 5
MDC
SNJ
WNY - 2
WPA
Central Division - 5
IL -- 2
IN
WI -- 2
Dakota Division - 2
MN -- 2
Delta Division - 6
AR
LA
MS -- 2
TN -- 2
Great Lakes Division - 4
OH -- 2
MI -- 2
Hudson Division - 3
NLI
NNJ -- 2
Midwest Division - 6
IA
KS -- 2
MO
NE -- 2
New England Division - 4
EMA
NH -- 2
WMA
Northwest Division - 4
AK
EWA
WWA -- 2
Pacific Division - 9
SF
PAC -- 2
SJV
SV -- 3
SCV
Roanoke Division - 7
NC
SC -- 2
VA -- 3
WV
Rocky Mountain Division - 2
NM -- 2
Southeastern Division - 8
GA -- 2
NFL -- 2
SFL
PR -- 2
WCF
Southwestern Division - 6
AZ
LAX -- 3
SB -- 2
SDG -- 2
West Gulf Division - 8
NTX -- 2
OK -- 2
STX -- 3
WTX
