[WVDXA] New Award - The DCNG

[Philip M. Roberts]

Funny Clark, but I am afraid that Hugh Cassiday will haunt you!




At 11:47 AM 3/26/2007, you wrote:
>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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