AWARDS

Let me start out by saying thank you to Rich, W2VU, for the opportunity to join the CQ staff. It’s an honor to be able to do so. Like my predecessors who wrote the Awards column before me, I will do my best to write it in a similar fashion. However, as an active certificate hunter, I will be looking at things from the perspectives of both the individual/organization offering the award and the certificate hunter. First, let me introduce myself (Photo A).

Back in 1998, I joined the ranks of the amateur radio hobby after my Elmer, W8FHF, took me under his wing. At the time, I was a student and he was a professor/college radio station engineer. In short, he taught me how to run a professional, hands-on, ham radio operation including electronics bench work, troubleshooting, and the most important skill, the School of Hard Knocks. At the time, he was the president of local radio club, W8VP. Of course, I joined and started getting my feet wet by getting on the air through club events.

After graduating college, I was able to set up a HF and VHF shack at the house. At that point, I started chasing awards and special events, and got active in contesting. I consider myself to be a traditional person. Therefore, I still like to send for paper QSL cards and awards, even in today’s world of technology.

I worked in the computer field for seven years, then realized