[ADXA] DXAC Meeting, Results

[w5zn at w5zn.org]

Hi Steve,

First, thanks for this excellent summary report. I greatly appreciate 
your serving as the ARRL Delta Division representative on the DXAC and 
it is great to have you as an active ADXA member as well !!!!!!

I get pretty defensive (sometimes aggressively) when the topic of 
deleting DXCC countries from the list that haven't been active for a 
while just so someone can achieve "Honor Roll" status. That roll is 
titled "Honor" for a reason. It took me over 25 years to achieve Honor 
Roll my first Honor Roll and it was Mixed. Just because someone can't do 
it in five years, well, let's give them a participation trophy with a 
pacifier attached. Several of us refer to China and Albania as two 
countries that were impossible to work for years due to amateur radio 
not being allowed in those countries. Today, they are on the air 
literally daily. So, times and politics change.

The only country I don't have to be "#1 Honor Roll" is North Korea. When 
it was active I was traveling extensively with my job and was never home 
when he was on. So do I want that one deleted just so I can be "#1" ?? 
(I would have to award myself a pacifier!!!!)

Now, whether or not a rock in the south China sea that is only above 
water at low tide should have ever been a DXCC country in the first 
place is another matter!!!!!!!! That's, well to keep it somewhat clean, 
BRAVO SIERRA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :-)

Thanks again for the excellent summary, Steve, and for representing us 
on the DX Advisory Committee!

73 Joel W5ZN

On 2022-10-10 11:59, Steven Rutledge wrote:

> A DXAC meeting was held this past Sunday.  It was well attended.  These 
> were the items put forth for discussion:
> 
> 1) 4U1A county status
> 2) Balleny & Scott Island county status
> 3) VADXCC petition to suspend inactive countries
> (with possible consideration to reconsider honor roll threshold)
> 4) Return of RTTY only DXCC Award
> 5) Additional DXCC Award suggestions
> 6) Field "Card Checker" guidelines, rules adjustments considerations
> 7) Thoughts on DXCC 2025
> 
> Regarding  1) and 2), under current DXCC rules, neither qualify for 
> country status.
> 
> Regarding 3) It was generally agreed that this was a bad idea.  BS7 was 
> discussed but it was pointed out that it was declared a DXCC country 
> under rules that existed at that time.  If we recommended that it be 
> dropped, where does it end?
> 
> Regarding 4)  There didn't seem to be much enthusiasm for a separate 
> RTTY award.  Currently, RTTY is combined with the rest of the digital 
> modes.  Personally, I would not be against this, a Q on RTTY takes a 
> lot more effort than an FT8 Q.
> 
> Regarding 5)  There are over 20 DXCC awards.  It wasn't felt that 
> adding additional awards would increase participation, cause an 
> increase in membership or retention.
> 
> Regarding 6)  We didn't touch that one.  I personally don't see a 
> problem in my area with getting cards checked.  In any event, it isn't 
> up to the DXAC to make changes to this program.
> 
> Regarding 7)  The last review and changes to the DXCC program was DXCC 
> 2000.  Is there need for a reevaluation of DXCC 2000?  Is the DXCC 
> program healthy?  Can it be updated?  Are changes even needed?  We 
> agreed further discussion was warranted.
> 
> One member suggested that countries that had not been active for a 
> period of years be put into suspended status to give newer operators a 
> chance at the Honor Roll.  It was the ultimate feeling of the DXAC that 
> the DXCC program should be not be diminished due to a minority of 
> operators inability to achieve it.
> 
> FT8 was also discussed.  It was pointed out that new, young hams are 
> more interested in communicating via data than Phone or CW, the latter 
> of which isn't even required for an amateur license anymore.
> 
> I've tried to make this as brief as possible.  The meeting was 1.5 
> hours long and it would be impossible to recount all comments.
> 
> If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me.  And feel 
> free to pass this along to any ops in Delta who are interested and 
> might not be DXAC members.
> Steve Rutledge, N4JQQ, DXAC, Delta
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