Would you like to be able to brag like Tim Ruzin, KIØIJ, does? Tim, from Palisade, Colorado, writes: "We signed up 17 youths for our kid-contest team for the 1998 School Club Roundup. Students with little interest in school argued over whose turn it was to operate the radio, and raced each other to my world map to circle the QTHs. These 13- and 14-year olds think the Internet chat rooms are ho hum, but lit up with delight over a call from Hawaii, Mexico or Puerto Rico."

You can boast of similar great success, even if you've never worked with a school group. Start making plans for the 1999 School Club Roundup (SCR)! Contact an innovative teacher you've heard about, or your local school PTA or principal, and offer them a one-day (or more) hands-on lesson in geography and technology. The ARRL can give you a booklet about Amateur Radio in school, if you'd like some ammunition to hand out while you're suggesting a radio station set up in the school library, lunchroom, lobby or parking lot. We've seen these temporary operations lead to permanent programs. Or, if you're a teacher who doesn't have a radio in your classroom, you can follow the lead of Robert Jones, WB1P, who enlisted help for his elementary school from the local ham club. (Contact the ARRL Educational Activities Department by e-mail at ead@arrl.org to find a club in your area.) Last year's participants reported that the SCR was a great way to get young operators on the air, and improve their communications skills while they had a good time. Many reported that the SCR was what caused students to get their licenses.

The SCR with its low-pressure format is intended to eradicate the fear new operators have with not knowing what to say to the stranger on the other radio. Having a set contest exchange helps newcomers with that fear. Experienced SCR operators are encouraged to be patient and take time to chat beyond the contest exchange. In response to requests, the SCR rules were limited to 6 hours in any 24-hour period. Separate award certificates will be issued for elementary, middle school, high school and college/university levels for US and DX entries.

School Club Roundup (SCR) is sponsored by the Council for the Advancement of Amateur Radio in the New York City Schools (CAAR/NYCS), the ARRL and its Hudson Division Education Task Force to foster contacts with and among school radio clubs.

School Club Roundup Rules

1. Object: All stations to exchange QSO information as below with as many other stations as possible especially school clubs.

2. Contest Period: 1300 UTC on Monday, February 8, to 0100 UTC on Saturday, February 13. Operate no more than 24 of the 108 hours, with a maximum of 6 hours in any 24-hour period. Logs must clearly show on and off dates and times; off periods must be at least 30 minutes. All amateur bands except 30, 17 and 12 meters are permitted. Do not use VHF or UHF repeaters, or the national calling frequency of 146.52 MHz. Only recognized simplex frequencies such as 144.90-145.00; 146.49, .55, 58; and 147.42, .45, .48, .51, .54 and .57 MHz may be used.

3. Classes: Single transmitter only:

(I) Individual or Single Operator (nonclub)

(C) Club or Multioperator Group (nonschool) Multi- operator Group stations must use only one call sign during the whole contest.

(S) School Club or Group (grades K-12, college or university). This includes any station operated at school for the contest, and those formed for the sole purpose of operating the SCR.

4. Exchange: Your call sign, RS(T), class (I, C or S), US state or DX country. For example, W2CXN answers N2RQ's call by sending N2RQ DE W2CXN 57(9) S NY.

5. Scoring: Stations may be contacted once each on phone and CW (digital modes count as CW). No repeater contacts except satellite and "real time" packet. Score 1 point for each phone QSO and 2 points for each CW QSO. Multipliers: [Number of states plus number of DXCC countries] + [2 x number of class-C QSOs] + [5 x class-S QSOs]. QSOs with school stations are given a multiplier of 5, which makes them the most desirable stations to work. QSOs with Marty, KA2NRR, will count as a 5 x multiplier. (KA2NRR was the founding chairman of the CAAR/NYCS and creator of the contest that became the SCR). Final Score: Multiply QSO points by multiplier. Please use the SCR summary form to avoid errors, especially for your first time in the SCR (see item 6 below).

6. Reporting: Obtain sample log and entry forms by sending a large self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) or a label and postage to Lew Malchick, N2RQ, Brooklyn Technical HS, 29 Fort Greene Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11217. SCR-LOG V4.x written by AD8B for IBM and compatible PCs is included as an attached file with e-mail requests to caarnycs@aol.com. Also check on the Web at http://www.arrlhudson.org and www.arrl.org/contests/. Logs must include exchange information, bands, and signature of all operators and authorized club official or trustee. Indicate the number of hours and operator/loggers, and type of school and entry class. Dupe check sheets are required for entries over 100 QSOs. Computer entries on disk are appreciated (use SCR-LOG or follow the ARRL standard file format). Include a printed summary sheet and instructions as to the disk file names and formats. If you are not sure if we can handle your files, call or write and ask us. Entries must be postmarked to Lew, N2RQ, (see address above) by March 15, 1999.

7. Awards: Certificates for the top three entries in each class. The school club class will be divided into elementary, middle, high school and college/university. DX will be listed separately at the end of US entries in each category. A special certificate is awarded to any station contacting 10 or more school clubs. Send a large (9 x 12 inch) SASE or a mailing label and sufficient postage (or IRCs) to Lew Malchick, N2RQ, (see address above) for complete results and information about CAAR/NYCS. Certificates have always been sent for each entry, but because of increased participation and associated workload, those entrants who don't send appropriate postage, envelope and mailing label may not receive a certificate.