A new SKCC Operating Achievement Award starts 0000Z on 1 January 2008: The SKCC Marathon Award

To earn the Marathon Award, one must engage in one hundred (100) 60 minute or longer QSOs with 100 different SKCC members using SKCC qualified keying devices. There is no time limit to earn the award but only QSOs logged after 0000Z 1 January 2008 will count.

KB4T will administer the award. Members who achieve the Marathon award will receive a special commemorative plaque or coin (yet to be decided) and a very nicely done Certificate suitable for framing.

Rationale: Create a true operating challenge that involves the fundamental ideals of Ham Radio as celebrated by SKCC: Operating skill, a good station, conversation skill and a consistent, quality fist. Create an award that cannot be achieved easily or quickly yet promotes quality content in every contact. The Marathon Award requires people to actually ragchew. Ragchews build camaraderie and long term friendships. These are ideals worth working for.

The Marathon Award has been deliberately designed to be the most challenging achievement ever devised for Amateur Radio Operation. Ragchewing is an art. Anyone can send a brief exchange in a few seconds and move on. Engaging the other station in an extended, informative and entertaining exchange for a lengthy period requires real skill, a quality station and a creative mind. The intent of the Marathon Award is to recognize these rare and special talents with the highest level of ragchewing recognition ever created. Few will be able to earn this award.

SKCC Leadership has signed off on the concept. Initial funding for this award and for its first 2 years has already been secured. Donations may be solicited in the future if needed.

While most of the details have been worked out, this is your opportunity to comment on the concept and implementation of this award.

Qualification for the award will begin 0000Z 1 January 2008, just in time for SKN and the SKCC K2A 2nd Anniversary Special Event. Here's how it will work....at least for the immediate future:

1. Both parties to the QSO must send an email "QSL" to kb4t@arrl.net showing the Date, Time, Frequency Band, Both Callsigns and Duration of the QSO. KB4T will maintain a database of all reported QSOs. When a member reaches 100 60 minute or longer QSOs in the database, they will qualify for their award. A suitable announcement will be published, the commemorative will be prepared, the certificate printed and everything mailed to the operator.

2. KB4T ( or the designated Marathon admin ) will publish periodic graphs/charts via the Yahoogroup and/or SKCCgroup.com web site showing participating stations and their progress. ( The SKCCgroup.com webmaster has offered to help automate the administrative aspects of this award. More will follow in the coming weeks. For now KB4T will keep and publish all Marathon records. )