=COUNT('Other'!$B$4)+SUMPRODUCT(--('Other'!$A$16:$A$21="OCT")*ISNUMBER('Other'!$B$16 :$B$21))

'Other'!B4 is the October date of an Excellent rating
'Other'!A16:A21 *might* contain "OCT" -- if it does...
'Other'!B16:B21 contains the date(s) of additional October Excellent ratings

The formula above is on the compilation worksheet "OCT"

Problem: When users copy or drag dates on the "Other" worksheet to another
cell, I wind up with errors on the "OCT" worksheet.

I believe the Indirect formula is the way to go, but I can't get it to work
(the formula is accepted but doesn't give me the number of Excellent ratings)

Thanks -- Suzanne