[Kids] Certificates

[Kenneth A Louks]

Regarding the Kid's Day Awards,  I wish the certificates could be downloaded/printed PRIOR to the
event
itself, rather than after completing the survey.   I will be operating Kid's Day from a State Park
in northern
Michigan.  There will be a lot of kids there, but none of whom I have ever met previously.
In this age of identity theft and pedophiles, parents are very reluctant to give their child's
address to strangers,
or if the parent is not present, they have told their children to NEVER give their addresses or
phone numbers
to strangers.  Ham operators are not exceptions!   I wouldn't feel good about asking a strange kid
for his/her
address.

Couple that with postage and 9x12 envelope costs.  Also, I will not have internet access
while at the campground.

I would strongly suggest having downloadable certificates available before the event,
with a blank line or space to "write in" the child's
name with a marking pen after he/she makes a QSO.  These certificates could be downloaded/printed
long before the Kid's Day event.  There would be no paper cost for the certificates to the Boring
ARC.
The child would instantly get a professional looking certificate  immediately after his/her QSO.
There would be no need for obtaining the child's address, NOR having to mail it, thus instant
gratification for all the kids and $$ savings for the ham operator, and no uneasy feelings.

You could also have certificates available to download after completing the survey (per current
award) for
those who had "non-stranger" kids (grandkids, children of ham ops, nieces, nephews, cousins,
scout/church groups, neighbor kids, etc.) where the name could be written in via computer for a more
professional looking certificate,  and given to or mailed to the kids involved.

The CHOICE of "generic" certificates as well as "personalized by computer" certificates would be a
great addition to
Kid's Day.

73,   Ken, WA8REI