[TOEC] "Revolutionizing" SAC

[Mats Strandberg]

Hello All,

I am also in favour of the idea presented by Kim, but the
time frame for submitting logs can be discussed of course.
24 hours could be 48 or 72 without actually making the
process "over mature"...

The speed of log processing and publishing of results should
be a stimulating factor, but we should maybe adjust the
times to be suitable for everyone, so that deadlines should
not be a factor that will prevent people from participating.

Personally after a 24 or 48 hour effort, I am quite fed up
with everything related to contesting and logs. I might
have energy to submit my 3830 scores - or I might even
be in the mood for submitting my SAC logs within minutes
of the effort, but 24 hours is in my opinion a little too quick
(Kim, forgive me, because I am both a product of the paper
logging and computer logging era) :)

However, no matter if I might have nostalgic memories of
my first contests in 1981-1984, when paper logging was the
only thing in my world, I still think that time has come to
make an END to the possibility of sending in paper logs for SAC!

One can decide to log on paper, but there are nowadays so many
tools that afterwards can create Cabrillo format logs, that the
excuse "we will loose participants in SAC if wee ban paper logs"
does not apply anymore. The suggested 72 hour deadline for log
submission will allow people to also convert paper logs into
Cabrillo logs without too much of stress.

The speed scheme suggested by Kim  (kept or modified) is for
sure a factor for attracting more participants.

My suggestion is the the following:

Log Submission:  within 72 hours from the end of the SAC contest
Final results:   2 weeks after the contest
Awards sent out:  2 weeks after published final SAC SSB results
Plaques: sent out 4 weeks after the published final SAC SSB results

The above mentioned will require a new way of organizing SAC
(most of you know what my preferences are).

Kim's comment that the SAC Organization is from the "paper age"
has definitely some truth in it. I want both that we change the
approach to working with our contest - AND that we create a mix
of experienced radiosport owls and hungry new contest lions and
tigers in the future SAC organization.

As it seems, we will have lots to talk about in the SAC Seminar that
is planned for January 23rd as part of the CCF/OHDXF Conference.

Anyone that has good suggestions about subjects for this workshop,
please email me at sm6lrr at gmail.com

See as many of you as possible in Riga!

73 de R3/SM6LRR, Mats


2009/12/14 Kim Östman <kim.ostman at abo.fi>

> Hi all,
>
> There has been a lot of talk about developing SAC,
> with valuable polls and panel discussions included
> in that process. One thing that has materialized
> is the log submission and results website that was put
> up this year; once more, thanks to those responsible for it!
>
> I do not want to sound like a whiner or point any
> fingers, as I appreciate the effort that contest
> organizers put into making things work on whatever
> timetable. But let's face it, we are in the computer age,
> and our contest organization is from the paper age. I find
> it strange that we continue living with deadlines and delays
> that have been inherited from the cumbersome age of paper logs.
>
> If we are going to attract new people into this contest
> and non-hams into this hobby, I don't think it helps
> much to say that well, you'll know how you did in about
> a year or so if you're lucky. Heck, even the peer review
> process of most scientific journals works faster than that!
>
> The Nordic countries are generally hailed as some
> of the most technologically advanced nations in the
> world. So how about we make SAC really unique among all
> contests? Let me propose a couple of drastic changes
> to modernize the SAC results process:
>
> 1. Log submission deadline: 24h after the end of the
>   contest. Exceptions may be granted to DX peditions,
>   although I think that if one can afford going to
>   some faraway country it shouldn't be a problem to
>   organize the log sending from there too. After all,
>   sending the log is an integral part of the effort.
>
> 2. Results published: 1-2 weeks after the contest.
>   For paper logs this probably requires some effort
>   from volunteers, but that shouldn't be a big problem.
>   Help was already offered to this year's organizers
>   by at least two hams.
>
> So, what does everybody think? I have been taught that
> "If there is a will, there is a way," and I continue
> to believe that.
>
> 73
> Kim OH6KZP
>
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