To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of FISTS CW Club (The International Morse Preservation Society), announces that three versions of a new operating achievement award will be available starting 0001Z January 1, 2012. Contacts must be made after 0001Z January 1, 2012.
Version One (also known as the Perpetual Prefix Award) is a basic open-ended award for working 25 unique prefixes in each of the ten call number zones (zero-nine). Each prefix is one point, regardless of country. The contact must be a valid two-way CW QSO between two licensed amateur radio operators. No relays or repeater contacts allowed. Any type of Morse code device may be used.
.For the purpose of this Prefix Award, the call number zone will be the number in the legally assigned callsign, regardless of location. Mobile/portable contacts are permitted, but the call number zone is the one in the callsign, not any modifier used because of location.
For example:
K6DF operating from the UK with the callsign K6DF/GM0 will be entered as a "K" prefix in the "6" call zone.
DL4ABC/G5 would be a "DL" prefix in the "4" call zone.
V31AN would be prefix "V3" in the 1 call zone.
If you work AB1CD, and count the AB prefix in the 1 call zone, then work them again after they get the vanity call A1CD, you may count them again as an A prefix in the 1 call zone. For this award, the prefix is what counts, not the operator or location.
There is no time limit to earn this basic award and successful applicants working the total of 250 prefixes will receive a Perpetual Prefix Award certificate. Endorsement stickers may be available if there is the need for them at a future date (hence the "perpetual" prefix name - it is non-ending).
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Version Two follows the same rules as Version
One, with the exception of the completion date. It must be completed by
2359Z December 31, 2012.
Successful applicants of this award will earn an FISTS 25th Anniversary Prefix Award certificate.
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For Versions One and Two, contacts may be made with active, lapsed and non-FISTS. At least one of the contacts in each of the call number districts (0-9) must be a FISTS member.
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Version Three
A plaque will be awarded for those who complete the
award as described in Version Two, with the exception of the prefix
contacts being only with hams with FISTS numbers. The prefix can be
from a FISTS anywhere in the world and working FISTS outside your
country is encouraged. The FISTS number should be exchanged on the air.
To give all Chapters an equal playing field for a
plaque, Chapter plaques may only be earned by someone belonging to that
Chapter. If no one in a Chapter completes the qualifications, a plaque
will be awarded to the FISTS member in that Chapter with the highest
number of prefixes worked. The number of plaques for each Chapter is
still being determined.
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Logs must include the complete callsign, time
and date of QSO, QTH and first name of the operator worked. Exchanging
of RST is encouraged so the contact can be counted toward other awards
and contests but it is not necessary to have in the log for these
awards. Conversation is also encouraged. "Hit and run" QSOs (except
for during scheduled contests, nets, etc) are perceived as rude and
this is a friendly event. Remember, when you've worked a FISTS member,
you've worked a friend!
If applying for Version Three (the plaque), the FISTS number of the operator worked must also be included.
It is possible to earn all three versions of the award.
The certificates and plaques will not be numbered.
Entry materials must be submitted by January 30, 2013 for Version Two and Three. There is no ending date for Version One (The 250 Prefix Award).