[SECC] Discussion: GQP

[Tommy]

This is to invoke some discussion about the GQP and not intended as a 
proposal nor to usurp the club officers agenda.

I have taken over obtaining and distribution of the GQP contest 
plaques from Jay/K4OOG, effective 2006. Since far away dates (April) 
have a nasty habit of sneaking up on us, I think some early 
discussion should be helpful.

I noted the term 'plaques', but recently received a query about 
certificates. It is stated in the GQP rules ( which N4GG is working 
on) that "Certificates will be awarded to top scorers from each 
Georgia county (possible 159), state (50), Canadian multiplier area 
(11), and DXCC country (potentially 300+). This could possibly 
require the mailing of some 520+ certificates, world-wide. I 
understand we do not get very many DX submissions for the GQP, but 
the potential is there as stated in the rules. Discounting DX 
submissions, we are obligated to send out, potentially, 220 
certificates. Since a certificate should not be folded, we must send 
them in large envelopes, which increases the cost. Letter size 
envelopes with .34 cent postage would cost about $75.00, if all 220 
were to be mailed; larger flat envelopes would probably, at least 
double that cost.

We have sponsor's to finance the plaque's. How does the club finance 
the distribution of certificates? Who volunteer's for this task?

I am very interested in adding a separate category for CW. However 
that simple change would generate a real problem in that it would 
increase the number of plaques from it's present 13 plaques, to 22 
plaques. Since it's most likely difficult to find sponsors for each 
of the 13 plaques, it would probably make the inclusion of a CW only 
category and a Phone only category, impractical?

I am also considering proposing (to hopefully increase 
interest/participation) that we allow stations to be worked once per 
mode, per band. Meaning you can contact K4BAI, both on phone and CW 
ten times per contest. The GQP rules state that "Each complete 
non-duplicate 'xxxxx' contact is worth 'x' point(s)". However further 
into the rules, it states " Stations may be worked once per mode, per 
band", which I believe is a contridiction? I believe this latter rule 
means that what I am thinking of proposing, is already allowable, but 
the former statement makes it NOT allowable?

I mentioned above that N4GG is working on updating the GQP rules. In 
my opinion the rules themselves do not require many changes. The 
format of the rules really need improvement. By that, I mean, for 
example, all of the rules pretraining to the Rover category should be 
put under the category of 'Rover' and not be scattered through out 
the document. Since the GQP rules are available world-wide, we need 
to make them as easy to read as possible.

Tom - W4BQF

Eastern surburbs of Cecil, GA., population 375