[CQ-Contest] Field Day GOTA operation

[Draper, Bruce L]

I've seen a couple of odd statements about the "Get On The Air" stations in some of the Field Day reports on the 3830 reflector. Observing some of the local clubs, I know there's a lot of misunderstanding about what that station is supposed to be used for. Here's what the ARRL package says about it:

Q. What is the GOTA station? 

A. It is an opportunity for Novice, Technician, Technician Plus 
licensees, other generally inactive licensees, and non-licensed 
persons to experience first-hand the fun of amateur radio by 
allowing them to GET ON THE AIR. 

A couple of guidelines to keep in mind when allowing persons to operate the GOTA station: 

		1) Any licensee who has never made HF contacts would be considered inactive. 

2) Someone who has made no QSOs in the last two years would be considered inactive. 

3) A person who operated the GOTA station as a generally inactive licensee last year would not be eligible to operate the GOTA station in the following Field Day. 

-------------------end of ARRL quotes

Yeah, I know it's not a big deal and FD isn't supposed to be a contest, but we do keep score...

    -Bruce AA5B