[Nodxa] DXCC Card Checking at Next NODXA Meeting

[Tedd Mirgliotta (KB8NW)]

From: W8AV at aol.com
To: nodxa at lists.contesting.com
Sent: 11/9/2015 9:51:31 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: DXCC Card Checking at Next NODXA Meeting
 
Fellow NODXA Members:
 
As most of you are aware, I am the new DXCC card checker for this area and I will be checking cards at the next NODXA meeting on December 7.  I can check 160 cards as well as WAS, WAC, and VUCC cards. However, I don't want to step on K8ME's feet when it comes to WAS cards so feel free to continue to take those cards to him.
 
Below is how I want to proceed when checking your cards.  I know that this is old hat for most of you, but please read it so that we can make sure we are all on the same page so things will run as smoothly as possible.
 
If you are bringing cards to the meeting, please do not bring a stamped envelope addressed to the DXCC desk and containing your return address with your cards.  (N8KOL, when he was a  card checker, told me that if the applicant had an envelope that had the applicant's return address on it, that the League would return it without processing it.) For that reason, I will take care of mailing the applications and will send all of the applications in a single envelope. I will also get a tracking number from the P.O so I can be sure that the applications were received at the ARRL..  If you want to reimburse me for postage, you can either bring a "forever" stamp of just give me $1 which I will use to help cover the postage and envelope costs.
 
One thing that I request is that you not bring hundreds of cards to be checked.  I won't have the time and it is unfair to others to have to wait for me to check 300 cards for one person at the meeting.  Obviously, for anyone that is submitting an initial DXCC application, you will need at least 100 cards (with a few extras in case one gets kicked out) with you application.  If you need to have more than say 150 cards checked, please make arrangements with me at the meeting and we can do it at a later time.  I will try to check the applications with the fewest cards first so that we can get those out of the way first.
 
I strongly suggest that you use the ARRL's Online DXCC Application to apply for your initial application or endorsement.  That way you can pay your fees online and I won't have to mess with cash or checks.  When using the online application you can either enter your QSL's manually or if you are using a logging program like DXKeeper, you can import the QSL's as an ADIF file directly into the record sheet.  Once you have entered the cards, please make sure that all of the information that appears on the record sheet is correct and is exactly as it appears on the card.  Once you submit the application, you will not be able to make any changes to the record sheet.  Also the cards need to be sorted exactly as they appear on the online record sheet to reduce the amount of time needed to check your cards.  Once you verify that everything is OK, submit the online application, pay your fees, print out the application form and bring it with your cards.  If you import an ADIF to the online application, the multi-band QSL's may not appear as a group at the end of the application as required by the DXCC application guidelines.  This is OK as long as the cards are sorted as they appear on the record sheet.  For example, if you have QSL's for ZD7W on 160, 40, and 10, put the card in the order where the first QSO appears and I will check off all of the others at the same time.  If you have multiple QSO's on a card but only need say one band, just put a sticky note on the card denoting the band you need credited.
 
  If you fill out the paper application instead of the online application, please follow the guidelines on the ARRL's web site for sorting your cards.  Again don't bring checks of cash to cover the application fees.  There is room for credit card information at the bottom of the form, so please use that route.
 
Thanks and see you on the 7th.

 
73..........de Goose, W8AV


Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW - E-mail addresses:
<kb8nw at barf80.nshore.org> <kb8nw at hotmail.com> <kb8nw at arrl.net>
Editor of the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin (OPDX - DXer's Tool of Excellence)
President of the "Northern Ohio DX Association" (NODXA)
DX Chairman for the "Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society
ARRL Assistant Director of the Great Lakes Division
Sysop of the "Basic Amateur Radio Frequency BBS" (BARF80.ORG)