So, I got the e-mail below yesterday. Is this piece of paper worth 16 bucks?
Have You Heard? You Qualify for the ARRL Centennial Points Challenge Award!
Thank you for your participation in the ARRL Centennial QSO Party, a year-long operating event. Congratulations, you have accumulated points, worked new stations, made new friends around the world and qualified for the Centennial Points Challenge Award!
The Centennial Points Challenge Award is based on the accumulation of points from qualifying QSOs made throughout 2014 and uploaded to LoTW. Recognize your achievement with a beautifully designed certificate to display in your home, office or shack!
Centennial Points Certificate Only $16 US, $18 International
Order now online or complete this form and mail to…
ARRL, ATTN: QSO Awards, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111Level 1: 1,000 points. Level 2: 3,000 points. Level 3: 7,500 points. Top Level: 15,000 points.
Visit www.arrl.org/centennial‐qso‐party for complete application rules and instructions.
I’m tempted to take the .jpg, Photoshop my name and score in, and have it printed out on a nice color printer. That’s gotta cost less than $16.
Paul says
I guess the idea is that ARRL will use the funds from this certificate to further promote amateur radio activity and for support of LotW.
Assuming the actual cost of printing, handling and shipping is less than $16.
Jeff, KE9V says
I got mine! 73 de Jeff KE9V
Bob, KG6AF says
Wish I’d thought of PhotoShopping my own certificate; I could have improved my score!
But I don’t begrudge the ARRL the money. They seem to do a lot on a shoestring.
Bill, NA8M says
I, too, got the Challenge wallpaper. And the Centennial WAS. Both are in my drawer and not on display. On the wall is only the DXCC wallpaper. But on the shelf is the unexpected and much appreciated challenge coins HQ sent to operators who called, “CQ W1AW/8” That was a pleasant surprise and most appreciated award that is on display next to my call-sign. The ARRL is a class act that generated unprecedented activity on HF for an entire year. So for sixteen buck I feel like a big shot. A nice thing from HQ.
Dan KB6NU says
I, too, would have liked to get the challenge coin. I operated as W1AW/8 a couple of times, but never received anything.
Don N4KC says
Dan, as others have noted, the money is not to pay for a piece of paper. It helps cover what must have been the considerable expense in putting on this amazing operating event.
Sure you could rip off the sample and have you a nice certificate, suitable for framing. You could do the same with DXCC, WAS, or any other operating event for which the League charges a fee. You could even counterfeit some endorsements for the DXCC showing you credit for all possible entities.
However, I am sure there is a real cost to administering these programs, too, and I’d also bet they don’t make much money on you or me ordering certificates. And if they do, it doesn’t go for caviar and champagne at League employee lunches.
By the way, I, too, received the challenge coins. I have no idea how they got my name and mailing info along with word that I operated W1AW/4 with the group at the University of Alabama Amateur Radio Club. The coins just showed up one day. And they look great setting up there atop my amp.
73,
Don N4KC
http://www.n4kc.com
Dan KB6NU says
Good point about the money going towards the cost of putting on the event.
I was just joking about Photoshopping the certificate. That would really be crummy of me. Besides, my graphics skills are not that good. :)
Finally, regarding the challenge coins, I contacted the guy who was in charge of the scheduling for W1AW/8 here in Michigan. He told me that somehow he failed to submit my name, but that they’d send me coins sooner or later.
Paul says
How about $60 for the plastic plaque ? I got one and really expected it to be at least the size of the certificate, but it’s really not :( . The email must be a carpet-bomb to all who qualified as I also got the same email, at least a month after I got the certificates for QSO party and WAS, along with the plaque that I splurged for since it really is a once in a lifetime event. At least the money is going to a good cause.
73 – Paul K9PLG
Gary Stone says
Well, I *kinda* understand the fees but seems very high. My long term complaint is that a few of the top awards should be provided free. For example, just make the Honor Roll certificate free. Face it by the time you get to that point you have no doubt spent a ton of $ to the ARRL for other awards. If not the plaque, at least a “free” paper certificate for those that qualify for Honor Roll – that would not cost the ARRL too much. If they want a plaque fine pay for it but a free certificate sure seems in order for that level.