I may be flamed severely for this, but here goes....
The following sprang from Bruce's comments, but is not directly linked...
When Yukon was activated for contests about 12 years ago, there had been no
one representing the then "ARRL" / CARF section called NWT. Since I and my
friends like Bob, VY1MB, Frank, VY1AC, and the folks at Yukon Amateur Radio
Association, like its president, Ron, VY1RM, have been the ones who in the
most part activate this "section".
We did not and do not like having to send NWT as our section, ARRL was
approached back when CARF was our representative, and asked if we could
simply sign YT instead. We were told at the time that CARF had determined
what the section name was and when we began to work with CARF to get it
officially changed, ARRL gave unofficial permission to use YT.
That done, I personally wrote to as many of the contest logging software
writers as I knew requesting that the software accept YT as NWT. This
included TR, CT, NA, EQF and Writelog at the time. Be sure to thank them
for their help.
Time passed...
The last few times that I submitted my logs, the ROBOT refused to accept YT
as my sent section. I had to play the same old game of telling someone at
ARRL that it is my log of data as sent.
This year, the representatives in RAC, began working with suggestions for
our present Canadian national organization, aimed at requesting that ARRL
change the official designator for YT/NWT/NU. When things got serious, an
ARRL rep, suggested that the ARRL will do as it chooses.... the excuse of
CARF having the power and ARRL as powerless to make the change was suddenly
gone, and the stone wall appeared.
Here are a few of my personal thoughts on this issue:
WE, Yukon, not NWT have represented this section for the past 12 years.
There are many more active amateurs in Yukon than in NWT and NU combined.
We northerners receive the brunt of One-Way propagation, Auroras,
Geomagnetic disturbances, and have a location far enough away from most of
the sections to make the chances of being first nearly impossible from here.
There are few of us, and many times only one of us is on to handle all of
the pressure of representing this section.
When we requested change, we were met with acceptance by the contesting
community, and the software writers... all accept YT or "YUKON" as our
section. Why cannot the contest rules accommodate this? Why has it been
unofficial and now why is it ruffling rule coated feathers again?
In Bruce's letter, he pleaded with the op on the other end to change his
call, and he would not. I am a little less stubborn. I tell people to type
in YT and the software will change it to NWT.
Now, here is the kicker. I sent YT. Does that disqualify all of those
logged QSOs, and make all of those sweep cups lies?
If anyone is interested, I can post a short letter describing exactly what
we requested of ARRL and RAC, and why.
Regards,
J.,
VY1JA
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