• UALR Ham Club Exams

    From Daryl Stout@1:19/33 to All on Wed Aug 5 20:01:00 2020
    Due to the following factors, there is a HIGH likelihood
    that the UALR Ham Radio Club License Exam Sessions, that
    were set for Sept. 19 and Nov. 21, 2020, at the Amy
    Sanders Library in Sherwood, will be CANCELED...and exams
    for 2021 may NOT be able to be scheduled, due to lack of
    a test site, and payment of required fees.

    ! COVID-19 restrictions. Until further notice, the Central
    Arkansas Library System is NOT allowing meetings, exam
    sessions, etc. to be held. It doesn't matter at this point,
    if the dates are kept on the calendar, or removed. Even at
    the UALR Campus, MASKS ARE REQUIRED, like it or not. The
    campus considers us as "visitors", so that makes testing on
    the UALR Campus less likely.

    ! My continuing recovery from hernia surgery 2 months ago,
    and being told to "not lift anything heavy" (the 3 test
    cases, with the handouts and printed exam books, are well
    over 10 pounds each).

    ! The conduct of some examinees...either refusing to comply
    with the COVID-19 regulations (not wanting to wear a mask,
    etc.), or trying to bribe the VE Team to certify the exams
    fraudulently -- which means all examinees there to re-test
    in front of another VE Team, or the FCC...and all of the
    VE's involved would be stripped of their accreditation and
    ham radio licenses for life. Part 97.511 of the FCC Rules
    (which one has to agree to follow, in order to obtain a
    ham radio license), notes "Examinees must comply with the
    instructions given by the administering VE's". If you
    don't have the intent on following these, you need not
    even worry or consider becoming a ham radio licensee.

    ! Most of the VE's are in "the vulnerable age group" for
    getting COVID-19.

    So for all intents and purposes, until further notice,
    the UALR Ham Radio Club will NOT be doing ham radio license
    exam sessions. I had even seriously considered disbanding
    the VE Team, and sending back all the supplies, except for
    my VE badge, in case another area team needed me. Neither
    myself, my fellow VE's, or fellow examinees, need to put
    up with insubordination.

    In short, all those who were hoping to give the exams as
    VE's, and to take the exams as examinees...should prepare
    for the possibility (if not likelihood), that the Sept. 19,
    and Nov. 21, 2020 sessions are going to end up being
    canceled. If nothing changes by Labor Day, I likely will
    cancel one, if not both, sessions.

    As of now, I'm NOT optimistic of scheduling testing for
    2021. Those wanting to take amateur radio license exams
    should seriously consider contacting another VE Team.

    Daryl Stout, WX4QZ, UALR Ham Radio Club VE Team Liaison

    ... Winter is a Sysops friend...Thunderstorms are the enemy.
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