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****************************
ARRL/VEC
VE Express Newsletter
May 1, 2008
****************************
IN THIS EDITION:
* National Volunteer Week
* Extra Class (Element 4) Exams
* 2008 ARRL National Exam Day Weekends
* Test Session Reminders
* VE Corner
==========================================================================
National Volunteer Week is April 27 - May 3, 2008. This week is about thanking one of America's most valuable assets - our volunteers. The 2008 national theme is "Volunteer to Change the World".
The ARRL/VEC would like to take the opportunity to personally thank our Volunteers, for their dedication and service to the amateur radio community. We recognize and appreciate all that our VEs do to help our population grow.
Thank you for your support and for choosing to become an ARRL Volunteer Examiner!
A revised Extra class question pool will take effect for all Element 4 Extra class license written exams on July 1, 2008. The new question pool was released to the public in December 2007 (and revised in February 2008) by the Question Pool Committee (QPC) of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiners. All question pools can be found on our web page www.arrl.org/arrlvec/pools.html .
Due to the Extra class exam question pool change, new test designs (VEC printed test booklets and VE team computer generated tests) must be created from this new pool and implemented on July 1st.
Exam Booklets : The ARRL/VEC will be supplying all its (near 1,000) Field Stocked VE teams with new test booklets about the 3rd week in June. Current ARRL/VEC supplied Extra class test booklets versions (4-1-2002, 4-2-2002, 4-3-2002, 4-4-2002 and 4-5-2002) are valid only until June 30, 2008.
Software : The ARRL/VEC software will get updated as well. The ExamWin Software, cumbersome in association with today’s technology, will no longer be used. Instead we are working on a new contemporary program tool. A web based exam generating utility will replace our current ExamWin software to better serve our exam creation needs. Stay tuned!
2008 ARRL National Exam Day Weekends
ARRL sponsored national exam day weekends are held annually on the last full weekends of April and September.
Fall national exam day weekend is September 27-28, 2008. We thank you for your support of these events.
Exam room noise and a few other test session issues have been brought to our attention. Therefore we are asking teams to go over the following concerns before their next test session.
Quiet Please - Keep noise levels to a minimum : The largest number of complaints we now receive cite examiners as the greatest noise source and distraction to the candidates. VE Teams should strive to keep the test session conducive to a classroom setting for the candidates. Most candidates will already be in a quiet posture, ready to concentrate on taking the exam. The team should use good judgment when talking at the session to not disturb the candidates. Do your best to keep noise levels of examiner administrative discussions to a minimum. The VE Team should suppress any unnecessary or excessive noise in the exam room no matter who is the source (a VE Team member, a candidate or an observer).
Calculators : ARRL/VEC guidelines are that the candidate can use a "calculator" at the test session, provided they can prove to the VE Team that the memory has been cleared. A cell phone or other device that has a calculator function or feature is undesirable. Allowing a candidate to use the calculator function on their cell phone creates the potential for abuse. A candidate could text someone for the answer to a question or they could access the web and obtain answers to all the questions!! We should not give the candidates the means to cheat.
Excerpt from VE Manual (9th edition): The candidate’s possessions must be put away before the exam begins. Watches that give any kind of alarm or hourly chimes should be disabled. Cell phones and pagers should be turned off. Using any kind of aid on the test, other than a calculator, is not allowed. Most applicants will bring some type of scientific calculator to use on their exams. The candidate must, at the VEs' request, demonstrate that all of the calculator's memories have been cleared. The VE Team has the right to refuse a candidate the use of a calculator if the team isn't convinced that this has been accomplished.
Written Element Answer Sheet Grading : The VEs must grade the answer sheet and must log the score in the VE grading box. Please remember to specify the number of correct answers and check the appropriate box indicating whether the candidate passed or failed. Always clearly mark the candidates’ incorrect answers and make certain the test design number or test serial number and template number is provided. Candidates must provide all requested information in the “Candidate Information” section. VEs should review candidate information for accuracy and completeness. All answer sheets, regardless of whether they were passed or failed, must be returned to VEC. Missing or incomplete information will delay the transmission to the FCC.
In the spirit of National Volunteer Week, I offer these poems to all of you, our Volunteer Examiners.
The first poem “ARRL VE Appreciation” is written by Maria Somma, AB1FM (hopefully I don’t need an introduction!).
The second poem “A Tribute to Volunteer Examiners” is written by a fellow VE, Daryl Stout, N5VLZ from Arkansas (thank you Daryl for sharing your poem with us!).
Thanks again for your support! 73, Maria AB1FM
===============================================
ARRL VE Appreciation
Written by Maria Somma AB1FM
In honor of Volunteer week, please listen to what I’d like to say,
I want to thank our VEs, so let’s get under way.
Serving the amateur public, with pride and dedication,
Our VEs are 30,000 strong, scattered throughout the nation.
To satisfy the candidates’ needs and to complying with FCC,
You provide amateur radio exams, in your local community.
You’re our ambassadors, when you give exams in the field,
A strong amateur population is what we all hope to yield.
Your sessions are conducted with integrity and expertise,
Simple words of encouragement help candidate’s feel at ease.
Taking us into the future, we’ve all set the stage,
Amateur radio will be the winner, if we’re all on the same page.
ARRL VEs please know, we recognize everything you do,
Because we couldn’t have done it, without all of you.
We appreciate your service and the contribution of your time,
A big “thank you” to all our VEs, as I now conclude my rhyme.
===============================================
"A Tribute To Volunteer Examiners"
Written by Daryl Stout, N5VLZ
ARRL/VEC Amateur Extra Class VE
1. Through ham radio history, a license to be earned.
Examinations given, on the hobbys every turn.
To prove that one is qualified, for the license class;
Testing that the licensee, must there take, and pass.
2. The FCC for many years, gave the license tests.
At their Field Offices, in ones license quest.
But with cutbacks years ago, the FCC therein;
The future of the license tests, certainly looked grim.
3. The American Radio Relay League, worked with the FCC.
Volunteer Examiner Coordinator, the program would now be.
The VEC accrediting many licensed hams,
To give tests, with integrity, all across the land.
4. Morse Code Tests, at different speeds, for a license grade.
Five, thirteen, or twenty words...CW to be made.
Novice, Technician, General, Advanced, and Amateur Extra, there.
All of these different steps, up the license stair.
5. But, while code tests are no more, the written tests remain.
Integrity of the tests is high, to keep out tarnished stain.
Technician, General, and Amateur Extra, the exams today.
With so much in the hobby now, rewarding many ways.
6. Covering the rules, in Part 97 there.
Along with various bands and modes, to get on the air.
RF Safety, Propagation, and the theory, too,
So the amateur radio licensee will know what's right to do.
7. If a General, Advanced, or Extra Class, and at least eighteen.
License not suspended or revoked, therein to be seen.
You can give back to the hobby, becoming a VE.
Accreditation process, it really is easy.
8. An open book test, with license sent, to A R R L.
After review, you'll get a badge, and be proud to tell.
A Volunteer Examiner, you’ll gladly service with pride.
For when the new hams pass their test, it brings much joy inside.
9. While some may fail their exams, there is no disgrace.
For a different set of questions, in new exam there placed.
This time, they may pass the test, and all hold their heads high.
For new hams entering the hobby, will not let it die.
10. With ham radios many things, that one today can do.
Of all the things that I've done, this thing enjoyed, so true.
Rewarding in the task, full of integrity;
I'm proud to serve the hobby, as an accredited VE.
73, Daryl Stout, N5VLZ, Little Rock, Arkansas ARRL/VEC Amateur Extra Class VE, ARRL Life Member
===============================================
Dayton Hamvention: If you are planning to attend the Dayton Hamvention this year,
VEC service representative Amanda Grimaldi and I will be operating the ARRL/VEC booth.
Please stop by and say hello! Maria AB1FM
==========================================================================
VE Express Newsletter is published by the
American Radio Relay League, Inc. - the national association for Amateur Radio
Material from the ARRL VE Express Newsletter may be republished or reproduced
in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to
The American Radio Relay League VEC.
ARRL VEC
225 Main Street
Newington CT 06111 USA
Email: vec@arrl.org
ARRL VEC telephone: 860-594-0300
ARRL VEC Fax: 860-594-0339
ARRL telephone: 860-594-0200
Joel Harrison, W5ZN - President
David Sumner, K1ZZ - Chief Executive Officer
Harold Kramer, WJ1B - Chief Operating Officer
Maria Somma, AB1FM - VEC Manager / Editor
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Copyright 2008 American Radio Relay League, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
============================================
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