Volunteers On The Air (VOTA) – Missouri

ARRL is celebrating 2023 as “The Year of the Volunteer.” The first adventure has been announced as a project called “Volunteers On The Air (VOTA).” ARRL members get ‘points’ for each contact with another ARRL volunteer or member. So, if two ARRL members contact each other, they will each receive a point for that QSO. No special codes are required, no sequence numbers need to be exchanged, and no section information needs to be passed. Contact a fellow ARRL member, and you each receive a point. You must upload the QSO to the Logbook of The World (LoTW) to receive the points. Your points are calculated when the QSO is matched. This could be an FT8, CW, simplex 2M FM, RTTY, or an SSB rag-chew contact.

To add more interest to the year-long operating event and help demonstrate the ARRL volunteer value, each level of volunteer activity has been assigned a point level, shown in the table below. For example, if you contact the Missouri Section Manager, you’ll get 175 points for that one contact.

I hope you can get some certificates, or wallpaper, for your efforts—more details on this as they are fleshed out.

So, get your HF gear running, make sure your LoTW connection is working, and see you on the air!

VOTA Program Rules

These rules will be extended or revised, so please return here to check for updates. This operating event starts January 1, 2023, at 0000Z and ends December 31, 2023, at 2359Z. This event is for ARRL members. You can join or renew online at https://arrl.org/join/. All QSOs must be uploaded to the ARRL QSO matching system, Logbook of The World (LoTW). No repeater contacts are allowed. Contacts can not be made on the 12 M, 17 M, 30 M, 60 M, 630 M, or 2190 M bands. All other bands can be used. Contacts can be made on any legal mode of operation. You receive ‘points’ based on the volunteer level of the ARRL member you contact. Points range from 1 point for an ARRL member to 300 points for ARRL President Rick Roderick K5UR. The point levels are listed below. Each QSO will get only one point value. For example, a member, a life member, and an Assistant Section Manager will be worth the value of the highest role, 35 points, for the ASM role. Stations can contact each other once per band per operating mode: CW, Digital, Voice. So, each operator pair can count up to 3 QSOs on each band, one per mode.

Logbook of The World (LoTW)

The ARRL Logbook of The World (LoTD) QSO matching system will automatically handle this VOTA effort’s reporting. If you already log your QSOs from your favorite logging software and it uploads them to LoTW, you will automatically be participating. Your QSOs will be verified normally, and the callsigns of the hams you work will be searched to find the appropriate points (table below) you receive for each QSO.

Setting up Logbook Of The World

If you aren’t set up to use LoTW, now is the time to set it up. The LoTW quick-start page is a great place to start, and the “What is LoTW Document” explains the whole process. You must authenticate with the system by receiving a postcard mailed to your FCC-registered address. The TSQL program is used by your logging program, N3FJPN1MMDX Lab Suite, or something else to authenticate and upload to LoTW.

If you need help setting up your LoTW account, watch some YouTube videos, or contact your Elmer, or a local club.

W1AW/0 Portable Operations

As a part of the Year of the Volunteer celebration, the mystical callsign W1AW will be used portably to the corners of ARRL-land. Members in each state/territory will be asked to operate their stations for two different weeks using the callsign W1AW/x where x is one of the local regions: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, KL, KH0, KH2, KH6, KH7, KH8, KP2, KP3, or KP4. For example, Missouri’s second week starts October 11, 2023, at 0000z and will run through October 17, 2023, at 2359z, using the callsign W1AW/0. Each state coordinator will approve the time/band/mode slots throughout the week, and hams can operate their stations using W1AW/0. You can schedule your Missouri operating time by clicking this link at https://ok.arrl.org/w1awmo/.

Traveling W1AW rules include:

  • Remember that each operator must follow the rules for their license class. Stay in the sub-bands that you’re legally allowed to operate in.
  • Operators can operate from anywhere in the state/territory.
  • Members who contact the portable W1AW stations will receive 5 points for those QSOs.
  • Each band/mode combination can be activated simultaneously. For example, N5OP could be working on 20 M SSB, N5OK could be working on 20 M CW, N5AZQ could be working on 20 M FT8, and N5HZR could be on 40 M SSB, all at the same time.
  • State operations start at 0000z each Wednesday.
  • State operations stop at 2359z the following Tuesday.
  • Operations should not happen on the 12 M, 17 M, 30 M, 60 M, or 2190 M bands.
  • All operation log files for the week must be consolidated into one ADIF file and sent to the state coordinator to be uploaded to LoTW.

Volunteers Point Value Table

Note: These appointments are for current appointees unless otherwise noted. Eg: Assistant Director (AD) is only for the current Assistant Directors. Past office-holders and appointees are only eligible if the title listed includes the word “Past,” such as “Past Section Manager (PSM).”

Abbreviation Full Position/Title Name Point value
PRES ARRL President 300
PE President Emeritus 275
PP Past President 275
HVP Honorary Vice President 250
VP ARRL Vice President 250
DE Director Emeritus 225
DIR Director 225
PVP Past Vice President 225
VD Vice Director 200
SM Section Manager 175
OFF Staff Officer, Treasurer, Counsel 150
PD Past Director 150
PV Past Vice Director 125
ARRL W1AW ARRL HQ Station 100
CLM ARRL Charter Life Member 100
PSM Past Section Manager 100
DM ARRL HQ Department Manager 75
HQ ARRL HQ Staff Member/Volunteer 50
MAX Maxim Society Member 50
AC CAC/DXAC/ECAC Advisory Members 40
AD Assistant Director 40
ARDF Direction Finding Coordinator 35
ASM Assistant Section Manager 35
EMC Electromagnetic Compatibility Committee 35
LOTW Logbook of the World Committee 35
PRC Public Relations Committee 35
RF RF Safety Committee 35
YC Youth Committee 35
ACC Affiliated Club Coordinator 30
DEC District Emergency Coordinator 30
NCJ NCJ Editor 30
PIC Public Information Coordinator 30
QST QST Columnist 30
SEC Section Emergency Coordinator 30
SGL State Government Liaison 30
STM Section Traffic Manager 30
SYC Section Youth Coordinator 30
TC Technical Coordinator 30
DC Diamond Club Member 25
LAB W1INF Lab Museum Operations 25
LC W1HQ HQ Operations 25
CM Contest Managers/Log Checkers 20
QSM Incoming QSL Bureau Manager 20
VC Volunteer Counsel 15
VCE Volunteer Consulting Engineer 15
ADC Area Digital Coordinators 12
ADEC Assistant District Emergency Coordinator 12
ANM Area Net Manager 12
ASEC Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator 12
ASTM Assistant Section Traffic Manager 12
BM Bulletin Manager 12
EC Emergency Coordinator 12
LGL Local Government Liaison 12
OBS Official Bulletin Station 12
OES Official Emergency Station 12
ORS Official Relay Station 12
PIO Public Information Officer 12
RNM Region Net Manager 12
TCC Transcontinental Corps Directors 12
TS Technical Specialist 12
TA Technical Advisor 10
NM Net Manager 7
AM Awards Manager 5
CC Card Checker 5
INST Registered Instructor 5
State Abbrev W1AW/x around the USA (work each state twice) 5
VE Volunteer Examiner 5
QSL Incoming QSL Bureau Sorters 3
LM ARRL Life Member 2
AFF ARRL Affiliated Club Call Sign 1
MEM ARRL Member 1

Missouri Volunteers

Code First Name Last Name Call
ASM Larry Ballew AB0HP
EC James Robinson AB0HX
LGL Harry Nordman AB0SX
TS Michael Rains AB0XM
TS Allan Avnet AB8AA
EC James Vroman AC0BN
EC James Vroman AC0BN
ASM Cecil Higgins AC0HA
ASEC Cecil Higgins AC0HA
SM Cecil Higgins AC0HA
OES Cecil Higgins AC0HA
EC Bill Frank AC0JK
OES Samuel Cook AC0OK
EC Samuel Cook AC0OK
ADEC James Smith AC0QQ
EC Barry Doyle AC0WL
ADEC Barry Doyle AC0WL
DEC Barry Doyle AC0WL
EC Richard Kowal AE0PU
NM Robert Helmka AI0O
EC Rodney Walton K0AGN
EC John Wall K0EAV
DEC John Wall K0EAV
NM R Eaton K0IPM
EC Richard Smith K0KEX
PIO Dale Bagley K0KY
DEC Dale Bagley K0KY
ASM Dale Bagley K0KY
EC Joseph Counsil K0OG
OES Dean Bickford K0PHI
ORS Dean Bickford K0PHI
PIO Chris Swisher K0PHP
EC Robert Jones K0RPJ
EC Timothy Slover K0TSS
TS James Baxter K0UA
OES Michael Bellinger K0UAA
OES Wayland McKenzie K4CHS
OES Ron Lowrance K4SX
ORS David Colvett K4WWV
PIO Jane Avnet K8JAA
NM Kent Trimble K9ZTV
EC Luther Oswalt KA0CWU
ADEC Harold Hoffman KA0SAB
DEC Harold Hoffman KA0SAB
EC Dennis Carpenter KA0SXY
EC Andrew Gabbert KA0TUD
LGL Ronald Nutter KA4KYI
OES Ronald Nutter KA4KYI
EC Patrick Mc Gillan KA9PDK
NM Gary Hoffman KB0H
EC David Newman KB0NWT
ORS Gary Jones KB0OFD
OBS Gary Jones KB0OFD
EC Victor Farrell KB0QNH
OES Raymond Brown KB0STN
PIO Raymond Brown KB0STN
EC Richard Ebbesen KB0VZP
PIO Richard Lionberger KB0WCY
SEC Jeffrey Young KB3HF
OES Willie Thompson KB5FKG
EC Paul Hillhouse KC0ACP
EC Christopher Miller KC0F
SGL Norman Lampton KC0FNA
EC David Phelps KC0LYA
OES Larry Burchett KC0M
EC Joe Dietrick KC0NOX
OES Johnathan McReynolds KC0NRO
OES Teresa Tost KC0OKP
EC Steven Wooten KC0QMU
ADEC Steven Wooten KC0QMU
DEC Steven Wooten KC0QMU
PIO Dennis Pearson KC0TJY
OES Corey Mesenbrink KC0YNS
ORS Corey Mesenbrink KC0YNS
EC Robert Bledsoe KC9NNT
EC Michael Guzy KC9OOH
EC Lyndall Newton KD0BWP
ADEC Lyndall Newton KD0BWP
DEC Lyndall Newton KD0BWP
OES Richard Wade KD0CNC
LGL Richard Wade KD0CNC
ORS Claude Slater KD0COA
EC Jack Green KD0CYM
EC Paul Withers KD0ETL
EC Donald Vary KD0HHN
ADEC Donald Vary KD0HHN
DEC Donald Vary KD0HHN
EC David Boyt KD0KHJ
EC Joshua Campbell KD0KIB
EC James Ryan KD0PR
EC William Delli Paoli KD0PVP
EC Jeffrey Carlyle KD0QCN
OES Ernest De Camp KD0UD
EC Richard Doornink KD0VVY
NM David Phillips KE0DL
EC Shawn Roesslet KE0JGI
EC Waylon Freeze KE0ODR
NM Linda Lathrop KF4MXF
EC Stephen Swerline KF6DRH
EC Robert Pugh KG0CX
EC William Knapp KG6OVA
EC Jeffery Phillips KN4FRG
PIO Ronald Ochu KO0Z
EC Montie Barcus N0AUY
EC William McFarland N0AXZ
OES Thomas Simmons N0CSA
ADEC Thomas Simmons N0CSA
EC Arthur Ellegood N0CYF
ADEC Murell Gosnell N0DAN
EC Murell Gosnell N0DAN
OES Charles Wehking N0EIS
STM William Schrock N0ET
TS John Gragnani N0HFD
PIO John Gragnani N0HFD
ADEC Richard Kreiser N0JBF
DEC Richard Kreiser N0JBF
LGL Gus Spano N0KZC
TS Michael Baker N0LBA
TS James Conley N0OBG
TS James Harrell N0OSV
EC William Grimsbo N0PNP
ADEC William Grimsbo N0PNP
DEC William Grimsbo N0PNP
EC Larry Ford N0RIC
ADEC Larry Ford N0RIC
DEC Larry Ford N0RIC
TS Lawrence Naumann N0SA
EC Rodney Brown N0SLJ
EC Willard Adey N0TPE
PIO Robert Bodley N0TRE
LGL Robert Bodley N0TRE
EC Vernon Cash N3TRE
TS Monte Hatfield N4KMH
EC Timothy Ryder N5STR
OES Timothy Ryder N5STR
EC Arthur Smith N9XRY
ORS John Turner ND0N
EC Harlan Harmon W0HSN
ADEC Ken Humbertson W0KAH
DEC Ken Humbertson W0KAH
ADEC Richard Fretwell W0KRF
DEC Richard Fretwell W0KRF
EC Richard Fretwell W0KRF
NM Katie Pautz W0KTE
EC Ernest Venis W0LTC
OES Richard Crockett W0PC
EC Paul Hurla W0PGH
ORS Stephen Schmitz W0SJS
EC William Sweeney W0WTS
PIO Randolph Sly W4XJ
ORS David Fischer W7FB
TS David Fischer W7FB
OBS David Fischer W7FB
TS Glenn Schulz W9IQ
TC Glenn Schulz W9IQ
DEC James Simmons WA0BER
ORS George Black WA0YJX
TS Robert Groh WA2CKY
EC Steven Pierce WA5ICX
TS George Schindler WB0IIS
ASM Curtis Roach WB4NMG
EC Christopher Wilson WY9S
TS Patrick D Ostilio
OES James Lasley
ORS James Lasley
OES Jim Sellars