Amateur Radio WORKED ALL GEORGIA Award

Ever wonder why a state the size of Georgia would have 159 counties? California, which is THREE times as big, only has 58. So why 159 for Georgia? Some people say it's to provide a more fertile environment for, um, "local politics." Others say it's so that every person in the state could go by mule from his home to the county seat and back in one day.

We think not. We think that, in a moment of clairvoyant foreknowledge, our state leaders knew that Ham Radio operators of the next century would appreciate a challenge, and structured the present administrative nightmare solely for the benefit of our hobby!

(For the real history and geography of Georgia counties, see the Georgia Counties Page of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia.)

Therefore, the Atlanta Radio Club, a Special Service Club of the Amateur Radio Relay League, with the support of the Georgia Section of the ARRL, is proud to announce a new award, the "Worked All Georgia" Award. The WAG Award is open to radio amateurs who can provide proof of two-way radio amateur radio contact with all 159 counties in the state of Georgia. Progress Certificates are available for 50 and 100 Georgia counties. This award is nice complement to the annual Georgia QSO Party, which in fact would be a good time to work on some of those hard-to-get counties.

All contacts count, old and new -- so pull out the QSL cards and see how close you already are. The details of the WAG Award are as follows:

Modes:

Mixed

CW

Phone (SSB, AM, FM)

Digital (RTTY, PSK31, either individually or collectively)

Satellite

Single Band (2m through 160m)

5 Band (10m 15m 20m, 40m, and 80m)

QRP (5 watts for the award station)

Conditions:

All QSOs must be 2-way using the same mode. No repeater or cross-mode contacts allowed.

For the basic award, all contacts must be made from the same "Home QTH." However, to encourage people to get out and drive around, set up their rigs in the deer stand, or take it along in the RV, or whatever, we have a special "ROVER" endorsement. For this endorsement, contacts with Georgia counties count no matter where they were made. Just indicate that on the application form.

Fee:

Free!

Applications:

Applications for the WAG Award Certificate or Progress Certificate must be submitted on the WAG Award application form, along with a county record sheet showing callsign of station worked, date, time (UTC), band, and mode. The Application Form can be downloaded (.pdf format) here, or by sending a SASE to the WAG Awards manager listed below. You'll also need the Georgia Counties Checklist, which includes the Georgia QSO Party county abbreviations.

Submission of QSL cards is not required. QSOs are to be verified by 2 non-family amateur licensees, General class or higher, signed on the application sheet. eQSLs are acceptable. The WAG Award manager reserves the right to spot-check for validity by contacting the applicant.

US "All County" holders can have the above requirement waived by submitting their All County number and award date. Single band applicants must submit a county check sheet.

Five-band applicants must fill out a separate application form for each band.

Contacts on the WARC bands do not count.

For further information, or for a WAG Award application, please contact:

        Edward A. "Skip" Kazmarek (K4EAK)

        1190 Byrnwyck Road

        Atlanta, GA 30319

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