[WVDXA] New Award - The DCNG

[Clark L. Stewart]

One of the Local QRPers was by yesterday.  He beat his way up the hill and 
pulled up a chair on the veranda.  The spring weather was here, and the 
temperatures were warming up.  This particular QRPer looked like he'd had a 
few extra helping at the dinner table during the cold months, for he was 
puffing and sweating a bit more than usual.  He had the knowing look of 
someone who had just discovered a secret.

He looked around a bit, and then he began in a soft voice, "I've got two 
more", he said quietly, holding up his hand with two fingers raised to 
emphasize his point, "the two I've been waiting for."  He was starting to 
smile, and he had the look of one who had just found out he'd won something.

We patted him on the back and said, "Congratulations!  Once you get past 
the 200 mark, new ones are hard to come by.  What ones were they?  Did you 
work them in the contest?"  The QRPer looked around for a moment and then 
said, "No, no!  Not two new ones.  Two more that don't count.  Remember 
that operation from the Pacific last fall?  The DXCC desk is sending back 
the cards indicating there is no documentation.  As it stands now, they 
don't count for DXCC!"

We were confused, for in past years when this QRPer had cards rejected, he 
was particularly upset, often threatening to not renew his membership in 
the ARRL.  "And why is this a good thing?", we asked, "a lot of Dxers 
worked those islands, and if they don't count, everyone will be 
disappointed."

"That's because they do not know about the new award!", he said quickly, 
jumping up and then catching himself quickly, and sitting down 
again.  "Shhh!", he whispered, putting his finger over his lips.  "We have 
to be careful or word will get out, and we want to be the first few to get 
it.  Imagine!  Being in among the first few serial numbers!  A lot of the 
fellows tear up their QSLs when they find out they don't count.  I kept all 
of mine, and I had almost 100 since I began in 1985.  I just needed two 
more, and these ones do it!"

"Huh?" we asked, "what award?  If they are not counters, they are no 
good.  No one is going to give you an award for that.  Where did you hear 
that nonsense?"  "After the DX Club meeting last night!", he whispered, "I 
got it directly from one of the fellows who used to be a field checker for 
the DXCC program, and he got it from the guy who used to live next door to 
the guy who was the ARRL section manager until a couple of years ago.  And 
he said that it came directly from NC1L.  It doesn't get any better than that!"

We were starting to think that this was a lot more than hearsay . . . it 
was hearsay times three!  But we put forth our poker face and said, "Tell 
us more."  He looked around again and said, "OK, but this is just between 
you and me.  Apparently the DXCC is trying to drum up a bit more activity, 
and they are getting ready to announce the new award come the first of the 
month.  It's the DCNG award!  It stands for Doesn't Count, No Good.  And 
like the DXCC, you need 100 bad ones to get a certificate."

"I saved all my no-counters.  I have all of the ones Romeo sent out, and 
all of the ones from those African and Middle East countries that the DXCC 
rejected.  Most DXers only have P5RS7 `cuz that was the most famous 
one.  But I have all the ones from the false starts when Eritrea became a 
new country. The ones before Carl and Martha activated it for the first 
counter.  I even have a few from those South African Homelands that 
everyone thought would be good ones!  And one from a 5R station who had no 
license.  I have a card from Bougainville.  I even have the first KH8SI QSL 
from 2005.  My last ones were the Montenegro QSLs dated before 4 July 
2006.  I have 7 of those!  And these two make an even 100!"

"That ridiculous!" we replied, not taking the care to keep our voice down, 
"why do you believe all of this stuff?  The ARRL isn't going to give you a 
certificate for QSLs that are no good."

"Don't talk so loud!", he snapped, waving his finger back and forth.  "If 
you don't want to send in for it, fine.  If you don't have enough bad 
cards, too bad.  I'm sending mine in by registered mail and as soon as the 
arrival date is logged into the DXCC computer, I'll have a low serial 
number.  Maybe even #1"

"When did you say this became effective?, we asked.  "April 1st" was the 
quick reply.  "That's interesting", we said, "and why do you suppose the 
fellow at the DX Club told you that date?"

The QRPer stared at us with a knowing look, "Everyone can figure that one 
out", he said with a condescending smirk, "it's the start of the new fiscal 
year.  All big organizations, even governments, run from the end of March 
one year until the end of March next year.  It's the start of the 2007-2008 
fiscal year.  That's the main reason why I know it's for real!"

And with that he was off down the hill, ready to take his package of 
useless cards to the post office.  We watched him clear the end of the lane 
and make his way around the turn.  Some times it is best to let nature take 
its course, and this was one of them.  We were starting to wonder how Bill 
would react when he got 100 bad QSLs with the package dated April 1st.  Son 
of a Gun!  These are trying times when the flux is at the bottom and the 
Low Days of DXing are upon us.  The QRPers are uneasy, and it doesn't take 
a lot to get them stirred up.  DX IS!


=======================================


Clark, W8TN
Putting together my list of QSL's:
    P5RS7 - North Korea (Romeo)
    S8ABC - Republic of Transkei
    T4A - Venda
    ZS4MG/H5 - Republic of Bophuthatswana
    H5COA - Republic of Bophuthatswana
    T55C - Somalia (No Documentation Rec)
    ZK1MB - So. Cook Is. (No Documentation Rec)
    HP1/DJ7AA - Panama (No Documentation Rec)

Let's see, do "Not in Log" QSL's also count?
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