Open letter from PY5CC to several addressees, 2000-08-22 ======================================================== Hello friends from CQ Magazine and WAZ program: Why NOT six meters (50 MHz) on the WAZ Award Program? You have satellite and the other HF bands. You have 160 m starting with 30 zones level. Why not 6 m? I now have 34 zones on 6 m and will be happy to take part in the WAZ program. There are probably many other friends like me. Please think about that. 73s Peter PY5CC/PY0FM. PY5CC@50mhz.com Response from Paul Blumhardt K5RT, WAZ Manager, 2000-08-23 ========================================================== In response to PY5CC's request, I would like to investigate creating a 6 Meter WAZ Award. This award would be patterned after the present 160 meter WAZ. A WAZ certificate would be issued for 30 zones confirmed, with endorsements at 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 zones. My question to the 6 Meter community is simply this: Is there sufficient interest to support the creation of this award? I would like to ask that the 6 Meter community to conduct a survey to determine approximately how many folks have already reached the 30 zones plateau. We know that PY5CC does - how many others? I am interested in keeping the WAZ program active and current, but I also shy away from creating a series of WAZ Awards that only serve to recognize the accomplishments of one or two individuals. I await your response VY 73 Paul Further response from Paul Blumhardt K5RT, WAZ Manager, 2000-08-24 ================================================================== Some nice feedback guys! I like the way this is going. THE NOTE BELOW DOES NOT INDICATE THAT THIS AWARD IS IN EFFECT - IT'S SIMPLY MY APPROACH TO DEALING WITH YOUR REQUESTS. I DON'T OPERATE IN A VACUUM DON'T SEND APPLICATIONS IN JUST YET GUYS!!!! To set you all straight on my approach to the WAZ (and any awards program for that matter). The primary reason for these awards is to encourage activity. Next to that is maintaining a challenge, otherwise, you are just collecting so much wallpaper. As we all agree, we need more activity on the bands - ALL BANDS. So, here's my first cut at this from a rules perspective: 1. Discontinue the Satellite WAZ 2. Create a VHF/UHF WAZ Award Said award will carry endorsements for: 6 meters, Satellite, EME (mixed band and single band) This will help encourage the VHF/UHF community at large and make things a little easier for us to manage. The endorsement will be via text on the certificate and will carry a unique award number. For instance VHF/UHF Worked All Zones 6 Meters Number 001 and there will be a nice gold seal to attach to the bottom of the certificate for 30 zones, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 zones. This is best for us since we already do this for the 160 meter WAZ. My position on the award is that we should be consistent with the other awards in the program and maintain the challenge. Feedback so far runs in favor of a 30 zone initial award. In less than 24 hours I've received 6 e-mails indicating interest in a 6 Meter WAZ, with most having more than 30 zones confirmed - so that tells me the "bar" of 30 zones is reasonable. I'll set an award start date of 1 January 1973 for the VHF/UHF WAZ since that should cover most of the satellite and other esoteric modes as well as most of the 6 meter stuff. I'll entertain arguments for earlier start dates - but I think this date is a pretty good jumping off point. I'm in favor of not making any of the VHF/UHF awards modes specific. Again, this is in keeping with 5BWAZ and the 160 Meter WAZ awards. Working 40 zones on the VHF/UHF bands is enough of a challenge, lets not make it impossible. Remember, we want to keep the rules simple to understand. I encourage each of you to look at the CQ WAZ web site and read the rules - you'll get a better understanding of my position. I'm a believer in KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) - and I'm not a guardhouse lawyer. Finally, please remember I am a volunteer in this job. I have a "day" job that requires quite a bit of travel and a young family. CQ is also a "small time" operation. We don't have a staff of 125 like the League does. Things move a little slower with us at times. We value your support, input and patience. By the way, we'll put a listing on the web site for this award, just like the 160 meter award. That should be a big hit! The FIRST 6 Meter WAZ award will receive a nice plaque - that feat surely deserves it! Closing comment: It's too late to make the December issue of CQ to announce a 1 January start date - but we should be able to kick this off shortly after that - say March 1, 2001. I think this award will be an easy sell to the "Boss". Comments guys? sennytree Paul K5RT Comment from ZS6EZ: =================== Great idea, and long overdue. Several unsuccessful attempts were made in the days of W4KA and K1MEM to kick-start this process. However, I personally think an entry level of 25 should be used if the award is to be attainable. While several Big Guns have passed 30, most leading stations have not. Please make your feelings known to K5RT!