Awards Branch Manager Eileen Sapko smiles approvingly.

Along the way to an award one can learn a bit of geography and foreign customs, almost without effort. Accomplished at your own pace, qualifying for an award yields tangible proof of your operating skill. League membership entitles you to participate in almost a dozen awards.

The ARRL Awards Program Branch is one of five branches in the Membership Services Department. W1AW and the QSL Bureau have been previously reported; DXCC and Contests will be described in future articles.

The Worked All Continents Award is sponsored by the International Amateur Radio Union and awarded to US hams by ARRL.

Worked All Continents

Of the 10 awards administered by the Awards Branch, the most popular by far is Worked All Continents. Unlike the others, WAC is an International Amateur Radio Union award, administered by ARRL for the IARU. The award has a worldwide attraction--foreign hams who are members of an IARU member-society can qualify for WAC. Furthermore, it's easy to get; there are only six continents (North America, South America, Oceania, Asia, Europe and Africa). A 5-Band WAC certificate and a 6-Band endorsement are also available.

Worked All States

The next most popular award is Worked All States. As simple as it sounds, the certificate embodies many complex options. All states means just that--you must work Hawaii and Alaska as well as the continental 48. Aside from the basic certificate for any combination of bands/modes, specialty certificates are issued for a variety of different bands and modes such as Satellite, 160 meters, SSTV and each VHF band. Seven endorsements are available for working specific modes/bands: SSB, CW, Novice, QRP, Packet, EME and any single band except 30 meters.

Other Awards

The ARRL Awards Program offers six other certificates: A-1 Operator, Old Timers Club, Code Proficiency Certificate, and VHF/UHF Century Club (VUCC). A complete description of these awards and rules for acquiring them can be found on ARRLWeb.

Plaques

In addition to awards, the Awards Branch issues plaques recognizing 50 and 60-year continuous membership in the ARRL, and those who have achieved 5BWAS. For more information, see Awards on ARRLWeb, or mail a request with a business-size self-addressed stamped envelope to: Eileen Sapko, ARRL Headquarters, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. To offset the cost of administration and printing, most awards require payment of a nominal fee. The fee schedule is available on ARRLWeb.

Something For The Helpers, Too

The Field and Educational Services Department issues awards in connection with their educational activities. Although not administered by the Awards Branch, a brief description is included here for your information.

The First Contact Certificate, presented to a new ham by his Elmer or volunteer instructor, may well be the most-cherished award for the beginning ham.

A Graduation Certificate and a First Contact Certificate are included in a kit given to new hams who have completed a course of instruction sponsored by ARRL. Instructors complete the graduation information. The student (and his first contact) are responsible for completing the information for the First Contact Certificate. Instructors and Elmers are authorized to print and issue these certificates as well.

Finally, let's not forget Elmers and friends who were instrumental in initiating a new ham into our fraternity. The Elmer Award is issued by the new ham to his/her mentor. The Award bears the official ARRL logo and states: "The amateur submitting this award wishes to thank [___] for unselfish and benevolent assistance provided." Any member who wishes to honor a fellow ham may request this certificate. Write to F&ES, ARRL Headquarters, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111 or send an e-mail to ead@arrl.org . Include details of the assistance provided and the name and call sign of the ham and his Elmer.