[SECC] Announcement: BC QSO Party Next Weekend

[John Laney]

Hi all,

Rebecca VA7BEC here, contest coordinator for the British Columbia QSO Party.
This post will be doing double-duty, maybe even triple-duty.

First, I'd like to thank those of you who offered helpful advice regarding logs with problem entries last year after BCQP 2012. In the end, log quality was really quite good. I was able to solve 99% of the obvious problems, either on my own or with the cooperation of the log-submitter.

Second, it's time for the 2013 event. It's really just around the corner! Along with several other same-day/weekend QSO parties and other on-air events. I'm sure everyone will be working to maximize QSO potential.

If you haven't heard, here are the key details for BCQP 2013:

Date/Time: 1600z Feb 2 to 0400z Feb 3
Objective: BC stations can contact anyone anywhere. Stations outside BC must catch the attention of BC stations.
Exchange: Stations outside BC give RS(T) + state/province. BC stations will give RS(T) + three-letter code representing the federal electoral district in BC.

Other information, including rules and multipliers, can be accessed from the BCQP homepage on the Orca DXCC website. Visithttp://orcadxcc.org/bcqp.html
I've also created an at-a-glance summary of on-air events and the required exchanges, mainly for my own benefit so that I can trade Qs quickly and efficiently. The summary is available athttp://orcadxcc.org/content/pdf/weekend_sked_2013.pdf  and might be of use to operators in the state-side QSO parties with whom BC stations might try to trade Qs. Pass along the link  to those who might benefit.

If anyone is interested in how the 2012 event played out and hasn't read the report, it's here:http://www.orcadxcc.org/content/bcqp_2012_report.pdf

And third, plaques. I saw that there was a thread about plaques and it just so happens that I can contribute a few comments.
One of the things that makes the BCQP unique, I think, is that we have photo-based certificates with a different design every year for top scores from BC and outside BC in each entry class. Beginning this year, we have a plaque program and five categories have sponsors: Top Score BC, Top Score Canada outside BC, Top YL Score, Top Score US and Most Federal Electoral Districts Worked.

The plaque program was a bit of an after-thought and I only gave it passing metnion in my promotion emails to test the waters. I don't think a plaque program is attractive if a party doesn't get solid participation, and having plaque categories without a competitive number of entries in those categories is kind of sad. So while BCQP 2012 was a major success, I wasn't sure if there would be sufficient interest in sponsoring plaques just yet. But there was. So for sure, put the idea out for consideration. You don't know who might support the cause if you don't ask.

For our puposes, we looked outside the club for sponsors, partly because external sponsors will help draw participation. Indeed, the clubs that are sponsoring plaques have really spread the word about BCQP and are planning to organize teams to get on the air. This is great because teams are less likely to quit after a couple of hours. Of course, if there are really excellent results from an individual or a group and there is no plaque offered, Orca DXCC will probably arrange for the appropriate acknowledgement.

We put the cost at $45, which will cover production and at least partially cover postage, and we have made sponsorship open to any individual, business or organization with some connection to amateur radio. We created a page on our website and posted typical sponsorship categories -- top score in-province, out-of-province and US, and most districts worked -- as well as some that may or may not get picked up -- top YL score and top club score. And we are open to suggestions.

As the BCQP becomes better established, the number of plaques offered will undoubtedly increase. But we can't get ahead of ourselves. Everything depends on participation.
The design of the plaque will match that of the certificate, so photo-related tasks could become quite a chore to the plaque/certificate designer. But we'll give it a try. If the plaques are attractive, they'll be hung on shack walls and provide a contant reminder to get on the air again the next year (I hope). I think the plaque program is a wonderful step forward on our BCQP journey.

Good luck to those of you holding parties the Feb 2-3 weekend. Hope to work you. I'll be on phone again with the sponsor callsign VA7ODX. Drop by if you hear me CQing.

73,
Rebecca VA7BEC
Orca DXCC, Contest Coordinator, BCQP



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/qsopartygroup/

<*> Your email settings:
     Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/qsopartygroup/join
     (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
     qsopartygroup-digest at yahoogroups.com  
     qsopartygroup-fullfeatured at yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
     qsopartygroup-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
     http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/