[Fists] WARC Bands challenge

[Kevin H. Miller]

 Dear fellow FISTS members, especially you WARC band aficionados,

Join the fun!  Support our UK cousins!  Heat up the WARC bands!  Honor 
our erstwhile founder, Geo G3ZQS (SK)!

I know many of us enjoy operating on the WARC bands.  How about sending 
in your log to show support for UK FISTS in their challenge to step up 
WARC band activity?  Right now there are only two US participants: our 
own FISTS bureau chief, Stan K4UK, is the current international leader 
(way to go, Stan!).

Rules: published in the Keynote, in the last issue of 2005 (Combo Issue 
9/10; see the Dec 2005 UK Keynote that Nancy WZ8C re-printed for us).  
If you don't have the old Keynote, see the FISTS UK web site 
(http://www.fists.co.uk click on the "Contest Rules" link--but note, 
this is a friendly challenge, not a contest, as stated in the rules).  
Nancy and others have cautioned against contest-style QSOs (not allowed 
on the WARC bands, as you know).

Note especially that the rules require "Monthly returns by the 14th."  
In other words, you must send in a log each month--don't wait until the 
end of the year.  But don't despair! the good news is that Robert, 
M0BPT, who is coordinating the challenge, is considering an amnesty for 
those of us who misunderstood this.

 >From Robert, M0BPT, in the April newsletter 
(http://www.freewebs.com/m0bpt/index.htm ):

"Its has come to my notice that there are FISTS DX stations who are NOT 
aware of the requirement to send log returns in on a monthly basis.  
And, after emails across the pond it would appear that its quite 
possible that there could be colleagues from FISTS who are participating 
in the G3ZQS challenge who are holding onto logs until the end of the 
year.  I've asked Nancy if she would put a paragraph in her publication 
informing our cousins of the requirement.  Indeed, Nancy herself was 
unaware of the requirement for a monthly return.  At this moment in 
time, depending on the feedback I get after Nancy has published the 
requirement for me, I am amenable to the idea of granting a short 
amnesty to colleagues to get them all sent to me for the previous 
months.  It then occurred to me that quite possibly there could be 
friends in FISTS EU who may be under the same impression.  So I'm asking 
you all who participate, if you are aware of anyone who is holding 
entries back till the end of the year to get in contact with me ASAP."

There is also a FAQ you ought to read, which clarifies several rules and 
answers other questions.  It is posted on the FISTSCW Yahoo group web 
site (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fistscw/ click on the "Files" link, 
then the "Contest Information" folder--it's "Questions and 
Answers.doc").  Of course, you have to join the Yahoo group first.  If 
you would like to read the FAQ, but would rather not join the Yahoo 
group, let me know and I'll send you a copy.  I'm sure Robert would be 
happy to do the same (m0bpt at blueyonder.co.uk).

Please feel free to contact me (or Robert M0BPT) if you have any 
questions.  But do send in your logs!

Thanks. vy 73 de Kevin KI4DEF (#10620)