Over one hundred Hams turned out  in the wee hours Saturday morning, April 15th., 2000, for Florida’s First VE Examination Session under the FCC’s new License Restructuring rules.   And by the time the sun set on the first weekend of restructuring, over 266 license upgrades had been processed in the ten county West Central Florida Section. [Ed note: By Monday that total had reached 300 with more sessions schedules in the next week.]

 “The response to our Midnight Madness VE Session and the new rules was fabulous”, declared Dave Armbrust, AE4MR, WCF Section Manager.  “Ninety-three Hams, two from as far away as Phoenix, AZ. earned new operating privileges.  We knew we would have many new Generals and Extras from the number of successful tests administered in the last three months.  And they turned out in force!”

Armbrust noted the response from Technicians licensed prior to March 14, 1987 was also tremendous. “Many of our General upgrades this morning were pre-1987 Technicians.  We look forward to their expanded presence on the HF bands”.

A number of Midnight Madness upgrades went to Hams from Pasco County, which officially became part of the West Central Florida Section as the VE session started.  Pasco Co. Hams recently voted 174-6 to join the West Central Florida Section.

By the end of the day Sunday, seven VE sessions in West Central Florida yielded over 266 upgrades.  In addition to Midnight Madness,  the tally from other VE teams included 22 from Auburndale (Polk Co.), 34 from the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, 17 from a session at Sun City Center (Hillsborough Co.), 39 from Port Charlotte (Charlotte Co.) and 61 from a Sunday afternoon session in St. Petersburg (Pinellas Co.).  The number of upgrades from a Nocatee (DeSoto Co.) session was not immediately available.

 “I would like to congratulate each operator who took the opportunity to upgrade this weekend”, declared Armbrust.  “And I would like to pay a special thanks to the Volunteer Examiners who turned out, some working more than one session, to process these upgrades.”  Their dedication and teamwork made the sessions run smoothly.”

Several members of the West Central Florida Section Cabinet helped process the Midnight Madness upgrades.  In addition to Section Manager Armbrust, who coordinated the Session, other VEs included Assistant Section Managers Paul Knupke-KR4YL and Paul Toth-NA4AR, Affiliated Club Coordinator Frank Morton-AC4MK, and Official Observer Coordinator George Baustert-W3BL.  Technical Coordinator Darrell Davis, KT4WX and Scott Havens-AB2V Section PIC provided additional support for the event.  The Midnight Madness VE Team was rounded out by Helen Stroup-KE4LWN, Austin Pickering-KR4GN, Harvey Hernandez-N4TEC, Don Buffington-W9DAB, Alice King-AI4K, Cecil Simpa-KA3BCR, and Misty Nickerson-NV1F.

Those who upgraded at the Midnight Madness session were the first in Florida to take advantage of the new rules.  Many took advantage of their new privileges by transmitting their callsign with a “Stroke AG” or Stroke AE” immediately after receiving their new CSCE.  A special HF radio was set up for that purpose at RT Systems, a local Ham Radio store, where the Midnight Madness session was held.

[L-R] The first General upgrade George Goodroe KF4CPJ, and VE's Frank Morton AC4MK, George Baustert W3BL, Helen Stroup KE4LWN, Dave Armbrust AE4MR, Paul Knupke KR4YL, and Austin Pickering KR4GN

[L-R around the table] The Extra Table: Examiners Don Buffington -W9DAB, Harvey Hernandez-N4TEC, Misty Nickerson-NV1F and Alice King-AI4K check through the first Extra upgrade for Dan Hawthorne-W4LGM (blue shirt), 

The sign-in and cashier table in front of the RT Systems of Florida Store in Brandon which was the site for Midnight Madness!

Armbrust said he expects the new rules will also foster new interest in the hobby.  “We are hearing from many people who are looking at becoming Hams with renewed interest.  The changes to the Morse Code requirement along with the streamlining of the Technician, General and Extra exams are getting a lot of attention.  We expect a lot of interest in upcoming Exam Preparation Classes.”

At least four VE sessions are scheduled during the coming week, including two sessions Monday night in Tampa and Sebring (Highlands Co.), one in Pasco Co. and the first session in the Bradenton-Sarasota area on Saturday in Bradenton.