[VHFcontesting] Changes to the 2009 June VHF Contest Plaque Program

[Paul Kiesel]

Sean,

This is very good news! Our multiop group, over many years of operating the June VHF QSO Party on mountaintops and winning Division certificates almost every time, were able to achieve the Top Ten only twice (eighth place both times). It's great to have this effective new incentive added to make things more interesting and competitive in the June contest.

73,
Paul, K7CW

--- On Fri, 5/8/09, Kutzko, Sean, KX9X <kx9x at arrl.org> wrote:

From: Kutzko, Sean, KX9X <kx9x at arrl.org>
Subject: [VHFcontesting] Changes to the 2009 June VHF Contest Plaque Program
To: "VHF Contesting Reflector" <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>, vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu
Date: Friday, May 8, 2009, 7:03 AM

Hi folks-

It was reported yesterday that several people have started receiving
their 2008 June VHF QSO Party plaques. This is good news!
Congratulations to all the winners.

A special thanks to Steve Clifford, K4GUN, who was able to get his
employer Toyota to become the Rover Plaque Sponsor for all available
Rover plaques for 2008. We hope Toyota will be back as a plaque sponsor
again this year, and talks are underway.

I am also happy to announce a change in the structure of the June VHF
Plaque program, beginning with 2009. The ARRL Programs and Services
Committee voted to change the structure of the June VHF plaque program.
In the past, June VHF plaques had previously been issued for the top ten
finishers in each category, regardless of their location. The PSC voted
this spring to change this to awarding plaques based on ARRL Division,
just like all other ARRL plaque programs. As every VHF'er knows,
propagation characteristics vary tremendously from different areas of
the country; the Southeast will have a completely different experience
during the June VHF Contest compared to the Pacific Northwest, for
example. We hope the change in the plaque program structure will better
highlight the accomplishments of VHF'ers and foster more competition on
the Section and Division level.

To that end, there are now 152 plaques available for the June VHF QSO
Party.

The entry categories are:

Single Operator High Power, Single Operator Low Power, Single Operator
QRP Portable, Multioperator, Limited Multioperator, Rover, Limited
Rover, Unlimited Rover.


Plaques will be awarded to the top overall winner of each entry
category, as well as the top scorers in the following Divisions:

Atlantic Division (DE, EPA, MDC, NNY, SNJ, WNY, WPA sections)
Central Division (IL, IN, WI sections)
Dakota Division (MN, ND, SD sections)
Delta Division (AR, LA, MS, TN sections)
Great Lakes Division (KY, MI, OH sections)
Hudson Division (ENY, NLI, NNJ sections)
Midwest Division (IA, KS, MO, NE sections)
New England Division (CT, EMA, ME, NH, RI, VT, WMA sections)
Northwestern Division (AK, EWA, ID, MT, OR, WWA sections)
Pacific Division (EB, NV, PAC, SV, SF, SJV, SCV sections)
Roanoke Division (NC, SC, VA, WEV sections)
Rocky Mountain Division (CO, NM, UT, WY sections)
Southeastern Division (AL, GA, NFL, PR, SFL, VI, WCF sections)
Southwestern Division (AZ, LAX, ORG, SDG, SB sections)
West Gulf Division (NTX, OK, STX, WTX sections)
Canada
Mexico
DX (All stations that are in DXCC countries other than the United
States, Canada or Mexico)


There are numerous plaque sponsorships available for the new plaque
categories. Plaque sponsors from 2008 were given first choice of plaques
to sponsor. The following plaques are already sponsored for 2009:

Overall Winner, Single Operator QRP Portable

Overall Winner, Multioperator

Overall Winner, Limited Multioperator

Overall Winner, Unlimited Rover

Atlantic Division Multioperator

Northwestern Division Multioperator

Southwestern Division Single Operator High Power

The remaining plaques are available for sponsorship on a first-come,
first-served basis. If you or your club would be interested in
sponsoring a 2009 June VHF contest plaque, feel free to call or email me
with your request and I will fill them as best as I can. Plaque
sponsorship is $75 per plaque, which includes shipping to the winner.
Plaque sponsors will be recognized on the plaque itself, in QST and on
the ARRL web site.

As always, plaques that go unsponsored may be purchased by the winner.

Thanks for your interest in ARRL VHF contests; let's hope we all get
some propagation for the June event!


73, 

Sean Kutzko, KX9X
Contest Branch Manager

ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio
225 Main Street
Newington CT 06111-1494
Telephone: 860-594-0232
Fax: 860-594-0259
email:skutzko at arrl.org

Read the "Notes From The Contest Branch" blog at www.arrl.org/blog

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