[CQ-Contest] Certificates for ARRL DX - a great motivator for new contesters

[rjairam at gmail.com]

For newcomers I think they should get a mailed one. It simply isn't
the same as downloading a digital image. But I do agree they should
have it as an option.

So my compromise is this -

For first time winners, the certificate should automatically be mailed
with a congratulatory letter. For 2nd time and onwards you get a
digital certificate unless you opt-in to mail one.

> someone would have to stay on top of that and I don't see that happening.

Today we have computers that can keep track of such things. Totally doable.

73
Ria, N2RJ


On Wed, Apr 4, 2018 at 6:45 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett <w0mu at w0mu.com> wrote:
> Other than plaques the ARRL needs to go to a download your award system like
> CQ.  This would eliminate the need for a Certificates NO.
>
> For marketing purposes I can see sending out certs to new people, but
> someone would have to stay on top of that and I don't see that happening.
>
> I was actually surprised that when I go to my account on the ARRL that I am
> not able to download previous certificates.
>
> W0MU
>
>
>
>
> On 4/4/2018 3:31 PM, Jim Stahl via CQ-Contest wrote:
>>
>> Printed certificates do matter to experienced contesters; they are a waste
>> of the ARRL’s money. I’d rather have that money go to something more useful
>> like spectrum defense or RFI mitigation, than spending over a dollar to send
>> me a certificate saying I was the top low power all band section award
>> winner in a VHF contest. (I think they even send those certificates to those
>> who merely had the high score on a single band.)
>>
>> ARRL ought to adopt support of the Cabrillo "CERTIFICATES: NO” tag.  I’ve
>> suggested this to my division director, who seemed receptive. But apparently
>> at the last Board meeting there was too much other stuff going on.
>>
>>
>> 73  -  Jim   K8MR
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Apr 4, 2018, at 10:21 AM, rjairam at gmail.com wrote:
>>>
>>> I know that some contest sponsors have done away with printed
>>> certificates to cut costs, and this is understandable. I have no
>>> problem with keeping it sustainable.
>>>
>>> But I would just like to point out that I have seen quite a few people
>>> on social media sharing unexpected ARRL DX certificates. These are
>>> usually single op, low power entrants who decided to sit at the radio
>>> and work the contest even though they have zero chance of winning one
>>> of the big prizes. Some are even encouraged to try even harder and get
>>> into contesting more.
>>>
>>> I think if possible, at least for first time entries that contest
>>> sponsors should look to get the certificates to encourage these
>>> contesters. There is nothing like finding out that you did well enough
>>> to win *something* to encourage you into diving deeper into
>>> contesting. Online certifiicates are nice but there is nothing like
>>> opening the mailbox and finding a real certificate. This isn't really
>>> a participation trophy - these folks topped their section, or maybe
>>> earned a single band award. IARU also gives for 250 QSOs, which was my
>>> initial motivator for participating in the IARU contest and why it
>>> holds a special place for me.
>>>
>>> For experienced contesters like myself and others, printed
>>> certificates really don't matter - we go for the big awards or even
>>> just our callsign in the results column. So for us we can mostly opt
>>> out. But I think for the newcomers it is important,
>>>
>>> 73
>>> Ria, N2RJ
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
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