Some of you hardy field day enthusiasts will note that W6OTX is missing in the listing of 2003 field day results for cl ass 2A (see QST, December 2003, page 89). We are, however, listed in the web site results with a score of 8,740, placing us with the eleventh best score in 2A, first in the Pacific Division, and approximately twice the score of the next highest competitor for the local field day plaque, namely FARS, K6YA, with a score of 4,024. Not far behind was San Mateo Radio Club with 3,792.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Well first of all thanks to Ron Chester, W6AZ, for checking the website results back in October and alerting us that something had gone wrong. An E-mail by Andreas, N6NU, confirmed that ARRL had no record of our submittal. However, I had a post office receipt, for express mail, dated 29 July, (the final day for submittal under the rules), as well as a return receipt requested card dated 30 July and by JW at ARRL! On the October 7, the W6OTX cover sheet and post office receipt were FAXed to ARRL and our score subsequently was added to the web site results. ARRL’s explanation was that the submittal must have gotten lost in the mailroom. Unfortunately, this is not the first time this sort of thing has happened. PAARA did not get credit for submitting electronically in 2001, a situation that led me to never trust that form of submittal alone and always submit our entry by registered mail with return receipt requested. Submitting the entry a few days before the deadline might reduce the anxiety at this end, but I don’t think it would keep the mail from getting lost at the other end. In any case, before too long someone else will be submitting the FD score and I hope a word to the wise is sufficient. I have provided elsewhere for PAARAgraphs, a spreadsheet for 2A, slightly edited so the 3 highest SCV participants are shown. It was without a doubt, our best FD score ever, although my records only go back to 1987. I hope the trend continues next year.
~de, Gerry, N6NV
