Andrew,

AH>I'd love to know how you streamline your VE process. Around here, we
AH>typically have 3x as many VEs as we ever need, which results in half of them
AH>standing around with nothing to do and chatting amoung themselves while guys
AH>are taking the tests. That drives me crazy...

  I tell the examinees two things. First, if you are bothered by noise,
bring earplugs to the session. Second, if the VE's get too loud, you
have the right to ask us to "tone it down to a low roar". There are some
who can take the test, and the chatter doesn't bother them, but that's
the exception to the rule.

  Either way, the examinee is ready to take the exam, or they are not.
Studying isn't fun, but if you don't study...or study the wrong (out of
date) material, you're guaranteed to fail the exam. More than once, I've
had examinees who had OLD study material, as much as 2 question pool
cycles out of date...no wonder they failed!!

AH>Then, when the exams start coming in for grading, everything erupts into
AH>chaos as we attempt to keep all the paperwork together. The exams are graded
AH>and make their way down to the end where the CSCEs are filled out -- Unless
AH>someone has passed their element and opted to take the next exam up -- in
AH>which case, the paperwork has to be set aside and we have to run a new exam
AH>out to the candidate.

  As Liaision, I usually handle the checking of ID's, collecting the
money, and grading. Then, I delegate other VE's to pass out and collect
the NCVEC Form 605, answer sheets, test booklets, scratch paper, pens,
pencils, calculators, etc.

  Once I do the initial grading, I just need 2 others to initial the
answer sheet, and sign the NCVEC Form 605 and the CSCE. That's where
it's like an assembly line. To me, as long as the VE's are properly
accredited (i.e. Amateur Extra Class VE's), as long as 3 of them sign
the forms, even if they're different on each form, that's all that
matters.

  The VE's are basically putting their licenses on the line at the
session, because if an exam is certified fraudulently, the examinees
have to re-test before another VE Team, or the FCC...and the VE's
involved are stripped of their licenses and accreditations for life!!
With my checking the ID's, and doing the grading, it puts the major
responsibility on my shoulders, which I don't mind. I'm not giving
anyone "a free pass", no matter who they are. But, if I am satisfied
that they meet the ID requirements, and the exam was legally graded,
that's what matters.

  As a side note, I've had some VE's tell me that they don't mind
grading, and signing stuff, but they don't want the extra responsibility
of a liaison, and that's understandable. The liaison also has to
schedule the exam dates and times, find a location, and keep the exam
documents in a secure place (if they are Field Stocked). I personally
conduct at least one exam session a month, and help with 2 to 3 others.
I personally would test every weekend if I could...but since I'm a
widower, and never had children, I'm usually free for test sessions on
Saturdays...the day when most of the sessions in Arkansas are given.

AH>After about 6-7 of these, things slow down, candidates are waiting 20+
AH>minutes to get results back, and we're scrambling to match up paperwork.

  At the Austin, Texas several years ago, there were 7 VE's, but 3 dozen
examinees...we got slammed!! At the All Arkansas Hamfest in Little Rock
one year, we had 18 examinees, and 7 VE's (that year, all but 1 walked
out with a CSCE). With accepting walk-ins, I never know how many will
show up...however, I know that for some people, scheduling is a bear,
and they don't know until the last minute whether they can take an exam.
By the same token, I've also had last minute cancellations by examinees.

  Also, I enforce the deadline of 30 minutes after the session start
time on starting an exam. You can NOT be "fashionably late" to a license
exam session. I *REFUSE* to tie up the VE Team for a whole day,
especially at a hamfest. If all the exam paperwork is done 30 minutes
after the exam start time, I dismiss the VE's, and shut things down.
Now, if they contact me beforehand, I'll give them my private cell
number to advise if they are cancelling, or if they are going to be
late. Then, we can possibly wait on them...but, we won't do that
routinely.

(Continued to next message)
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