In yesterday’s missive from the Great Lakes Division director, Dale, WA8EFK, was this note:

CARD CHECKERS: Well, the facts are simply this: we need more and we need more to visit our hamfests.

The ARRL Programs and Services Committee has established a sub-committee to examine the current Field Checker guidelines, the appointment requirements and many of the details of the program. It has been a while since a thorough review has been conducted of the Field Checker rules so that is happening now.

Your Director has been asked to assist, and I have been actively discussing Field Card Checking with both active Checkers and aspiring ones plus the DX Community in general. Feel free to let me know your thoughts and I will see to it they are considered by the committee.

Today, Card Checkers can be nominated by one of the following methods:

ARRL Section Manager,

ARRL affiliated DX Club (A DX club is an ARRL affiliated club with at least 25 members who are DXCC members and which has, as its primary interest, DX. If there are any questions regarding the validity of a DX club, the issue shall be determined by the Division Director where the DX club is located.) A person does not have to be a member of the DX club to be nominated, or

ARRL Division Director

These requirements impose some serious limits. For example, a Section with two DX clubs can have three Field Checkers, (possibly four, if the Director’s appointment was made in that geographic area). A change of Section Manager or Director has no bearing on appointing additional Field Checkers.

As you can see, geography and population density can affect where the Field Checkers are located and even how far they need to travel. Further, the rules are silent on how to replace non-active Checkers.

Suffice it to say, we have a list of things to consider, but hopefully, some improvements can be implemented within the next few months. In the meantime, our Division’s diligent Field Card Checkers are taking every opportunity to be at swaps to check our cards. They travel on their dime and truly deserve our sincere thanks for serving the DX community.