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Dear VE:
It's been a while since our last VE Email. Here are some recent happenings and highlights.
- Our Fall/Winter VE Express will follow in a few days.
- 2004 Test Fee - The ARRL VEC Test Fee for 2004 remains at $12.00 (Reimbursement fee remains at $6). ARRL VEs must publicize and charge $12 per applicant served during 2004.
- As found in ARRL News and on the ARRL question pools web page, the new General question pool was released yesterday by the NCVEC Question Pool Committee. See http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/pools.html This new question pool takes effect at 12:01 am local time on July 1, 2004. Test booklet and exam software updates will follow this coming Spring 2004.
- Non-ARRL-Member Renewals/Changes to be processed by ARRL VEC for a $12 fee. Be sure to handle these separately from any exam paperwork, and to label them separately.
- Exam room noise, and some other exam room organizational issues, have been brought to our attention somewhat routinely of late. Therefore, once again we ask that you and your team members discuss the following issues before your future test sessions:
Quieting the examinees--as they should already be in a quiet posture to concentrate on taking their exams; quieting the observers or family members of examinees; and lastly keeping noise levels of examiner administrative discussions to a minimum.
Quieting the examiners--yes, some of the greatest complaints we still receive cite examiners themselves as the greatest noise source/distraction. Perhaps your VE team could consider designating a person, VE or other, to basically be the "Sergeant At Arms" for room noise at your test sessions--expecting that the person will seek out and act to suppress any unnecessary or excessive noise in the exam room (no matter who is the source, examinee, observers or VE). Anyone who is disruptive during the examination, and that can include examiners, may be asked to leave the exam site.
- Ample time available to examinees--we have also heard of instances where examinees are asked if they are done yet, even though this occurs say within the first two hours of a test session. As the average session generally can last up to 3 hours or more, why would a VE team look to rush examinees? Made no sense to us either, but we though it best we share it with you as food for discussion amongst your VE teams when setting up and holding test sessions...
- For those VEs wondering if they missed a VE Express newsletter in the past several months, the answer is no, you haven't. This newsletter serves to catch you up on happenings in the ARRL VEC program. More to follow in our VE Express in the coming days.
Hope you all had a safe and happy thanksgiving, and here's wishing you continued happy holidays!
73,
Bart J. Jahnke, W9JJ
Manager
ARRL
VEC
