[CQ-Contest] Changes to RAC Sections in 2023 - likely changes to FD, SS CW, SS SSB, ARRL 160

[Dave G. ve3kg@rac.ca]

Hello all:

On 25 May, the RAC Board of Directors approved changes to RAC's Field
Organisation.  These changes were made for reasons that have NOTHING to do
with contests, but there are likely consequences for Field Day, SS CW, SS
SSB and the ARRL 160m contest.

Among the changes are modifications to the sections.
As of 1 January 2023, the RAC Field Organisation will have the following

sections:

Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)

Nova Scotia (NS)  - note: the Maritime Section (MAR) will be abolished

Prince Edward Island (PE)

New Brunswick (NB)  - note: the Maritime Section (MAR) will be abolished

Quebec (QC)

Ontario East (ONE)

Golden Horseshoe (GH) - note: name change only - this section is currently
called Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Ontario South (ONS)

Ontario North (ONN)

Manitoba (MB)

Saskatchewan (SK)

Alberta (AB)

British Columbia (BC)

Territories (TER) - the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut will be
combined into one section.

In summary, as of 1 Jan 2023:

- the MAR section is abolished

- NB and NS sections have been created in place of the MAR section

- GTA has been renamed GH

- NT has been renamed TER

There is a net increase of one section.

RAC has informed ARRL's President and other ARRL officials of these
changes.

I strongly suspect that ARRL will modify the rules for Field Day,
Sweepstakes CW, Sweepstakes SSB and the ARRL 160m contest, as all of these
events use RAC sections in the exchanges and the three contests all use
sections as multipliers.  That, however, is for ARRL to decide.

These changes to the RAC Field Organisation take effect on 1 January 2023.
I suspect that ARRL will make changes to FD, SS CW, SS SSB and the 160m
contest no earlier than 2023.

73,

Dave VE3KG