[HCARC] Successful Nomination Of Two Local Islands To US Island Awards Program

[Gary J - N5BAA]

     Now that they are nominated and accepted we need to go and activate them.  I propose we use the club call or ask for Special Event call K5K or K5I to do so.  What Fun!!  Who’s interested?? Activation requires a Minimum of 25 QSO’s from at least 2 DXCC entities (Canada and US for example)

            Gary J

            N5BAA

            ISLAND CRITERIA

            All fresh water and/or saltwater islands within the fifty (50) states of the United States including the District of Columbia (DC) and those listed under Territories and Protectorates in the island directory, qualify for USI if the following conditions are met:
           


            1. The island is totally surrounded by water and is a minimum of 100 feet long in any direction (including height) and a minimum of 50 feet from the main shoreline at DX-pedition time. These distances are approximate and shall be at the discretion of the operator. Bridges and narrow causeways linking the island to the main land or other islands are acceptable. Please ensure that the island is not a peninsula. USI encourages Island Hopping, activating multiple islands in a day or weekend. 
            2. Operation from boats, ships, etc. is allowed as long as some part of the radio station (transceiver, antenna, feed-line or power supply) is physically located on the island. 
            3. The name of the body of water, lake, river or sea, must be listed on a map. The island must be present on a map, including aerial images like Google maps. The island name should appear on a map of some type, preferably in the USGS Geographic Name (GNIS) database, or as a minimum be known locally. First time qualifiers must coordinate the "official" USI name with the QM. Please supply the QM with accurate Latitude /  Longitude coordinates or an accurate street address so the island can be linked to Google Map. 
            4. Although USI was officially launched in September 1994, prior contacts with US islands count for awards. All state, territory or protectorate  islands that meet 1 through 3 above must be qualified and receive a USI number. See QUALIFICATION. 
            5. An island that resides in two states will be given two numbers, for example:  Turtle MI062L Lake Erie, Turtle OH038L Lake Erie  


      QUALIFICATION

      Qualification is the initial, first time operation from a US island authorized and numbered by the QM. In advance of the qualifying operations, the QM will assign the island a USI number (ie: VA099, Lake Anna, Virginia) if required. If the island is already on the USI Island Directory, just notify the QM and webmaster of your pending expedition. An island is only qualified once. The QM will retain your call sign as the person who qualified the island. Islands can be qualified by an individual or a team. The USI requires one "Team" call sign be used for all qualifying operations. Such as a 1x1, club call, or the call of one of the operators. (All operators will receive credit for qualifying a new island).

      In order to qualify a new U.S. island, a minimum of 25 contacts including at least 2 different DXCC entities are required. Example: contacts with Canada and the U.S. count as the two DXCC entities.  Until you reach the magic 25 QSOs during your qualification operations, we ask that you only use the term "VAnew or TNnew" and the island name. Once qualified (25 QSOs), the official number may be given out (VA099L). The island number changes to add the L/S/R upon qualification (VA099 in Lake Anna becomes VA099L). You are encouraged to make more then just the minimum contacts.  The USI and island hunting has a large following. This will give others a chance to add your island because of propagation changes. 

      If band conditions are poor, and the 25 QSO mark is not reached, the same operator(s) may return to an island on another date to finish getting the required 25 QSOs needed for qualification. This must be coordinated and verified with the USI QM. Once you have qualified a new USI, email the QM with a summary statement of your operation. 

      CQ Island CQ Island CQ US Islands de NS4J NS4J on "Virginia new, Smith Island for the US Islands program, CQ Island CQ Island CQ Island

      ACTIVATION

      Activation is any subsequent operations from a qualified US island. You are NOT required to contact the QM to activate an island. There is no minumum number of QSOs required for an activation. An island expedition can include qualifying one island (with QM approval) and activating another island. No summary statement is required for activations.

      When activating an island that has two different state numbers, you will use the number from the state you're in. Or, if you are sitting on the state line, or the island is completely claimed by two states, you can give out the two numbers, in two separate contacts. 
      For example: KC8HNV, this is KC8ENM. You are 59 to Turtle Island, Lake Erie, Ohio. OH038L. Break. KC8HNV, this is KC8ENM. You are 59 to Turtle Island, Lake Erie, Michigan. MI062L.

      Please contact the WM in advance of your activation so a notice can be published on the USI Calender page.


     






RESPONSE

Thanks Gary.  I just wanted to be sure we were talking about the same 
islands.  Both islands look good.  And, I'll be happy to add them. 
It'll probably be tomorrow sometime.

Just FYI.  The map links on the official web site for Tranquility 
Island don't point to the island at all.

73 - Ted - W8TTS
USi QM


NOMINATION

I would like to nominate Tranquility Island in the Guadalupe River
>> Kerrville, Texas just off of Fernando Lemos st.
>> http://www.mapquest.com/us/tx/kerrville
>> I would like to nominate Pecan Island in Tuck Lake just off of Pecan
>> Valley Road, Kerr County Texas.  The lake is known as Tuck Lake and is
>> a lake on Elm Creek.  It is located within Pecan Valley Game Preserve.
>> http://www.mapquest.com/?q=29.9,-99.015
>> Gary Johnson
>> N5BAA

Gary J
N5BAA