This is a reminder that the end of the DXCC calendar year is rapidly approaching.

In order to appear in the printed Annual and Honor Roll listings your submission must be postmarked on or by Wednesday, December 31, 2008.

The DXCC Annual List is scheduled for publication in the 2008 DXCC Yearbook. In order for your callsign to appear your total for an active award must increase by, at least, one credit. You do not have to reach the next endorsement level. Active awards are indicated by an asterisk(*). Award categories with 100 or more that do not have an asterisk will not appear. If you made a submission in 2008 and would like to have an award appear in the list that is not yet activated, you can contact DXCC to activate the award and receive the certificate. The fee to activate an award, including postage is $13.75 (USA) and $16.50 (non-USA). You will not be charged a submission fee for this action.

The DXCC Honor Roll list is scheduled for publication in August 2009 QST. For the 2008 calendar year the minimum requirement to appear in the Honor Roll list is 329 current entities. The Top of the Honor Roll total is 338 for this period. Remember, deleted entities do not count towards the Honor Roll.

Direct comments or questions to dxcc@arrl.org

73 es DX!

A 67-page booklet, "Ethics and Operating Procedures for the Radio Amateur" by John Devoldere, ON4UN, and Mark Demeuleneere, ON4WW, is available for free download from the ARRL Web site. The booklet is an "Americanized" version of the booklet that the authors wrote for an international audience. An international version is also available. At its June 2008 meeting, the IARU Administrative Council endorsed and recommended the principles set out in the booklet as a means of encouraging all radio amateurs "to operate to the highest levels of proficiency, with proper consideration for others using the amateur radio bands" and as a tool "to teach newcomers and others correct operating behavior." The booklet mainly addresses HF operating issues, but the principles are also applicable to VHF and higher bands. ARRL Chief Executive Officer and IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, expressed appreciation for Devoldere's and Demeuleneere's efforts: "The authors are well known, experienced HF operators who are concerned about on-the-air operating standards and who decided that 'It's better to light a candle than curse the darkness.' Anyone who reads their booklet will learn something, no matter how experienced they may be."

73 ES DX!

Bill Moore NC1L
ARRL Awards Manager

Once again, ARRL was represented at Tokyo Ham Hair in 2008. For several years ARRL/DXCC representatives have attended the JARL Ham Fair meeting and working with the Japanese Card Checkers. This year the group checked over 250 applications totaling over 20,000 QSO records.

At Ham Fair we present programs on ARRL, DXCC, LoTW and emergency preparedness as well as fielding questions from and meeting face to face with Japan's Amateur Radio community. In 2008 ARRL MVP Manager Dave Patton, NN1N attended, and he thanks JARL's lead Card Checker, Masa, JA1DM for his dedication and leadership of the team of Checkers. He also thanks Yoshi, JE2EHP, for his able translation during his presentation.

On his return trip Patton vacationed on Guam where also met many of the great Hams of the Marianas Amateur Radio Club and enjoyed a fabulous barbecue at the QTH of Danny, KH2JU. Patton once held the calls KJ9W/KH2 and AH2U when he lived and worked on Guam while stationed there with the Navy from 1983 until late-1985.

Shown in the attached photo:

Among other international shows that have been attended by DXCC staff are Friedrichshafen, Germany; RSGB HF Conference in England (upcoming) as well as conventions in Pordenone, Milan, Sicily and Pescara Italy; Auxerre, France; Spain, Canada, and Mexico.

73 es DX!

The ARRL Awards Branch announces a new design for two IARU award certificates:

Worked All Continents

5 Band Worked All Continents

Originally announced in April 1926 QST, the WAC award continues to be a popular award around the world with more than 6,000 participants!

Besides the certificate design change, the new awards will also display the award holder's name alongside their callsign. (Already done for 5BWAC).

You can apply for the WAC award in a few ways:

Download the form from the WAC web site (http://www.iaru.org/wac/)

Send the form by regular mail along with your cards and payment.

A new and easy way to apply is if you already have DXCC you can send an e-mail to wac@arrl.org and refer to your DXCC award and this can easily be verified in your account. All you would need to do is include your payment information in the message.

WAC is currently not supported in LoTW, but it is planned for a future upgrade.

Send comments and questions to wac@arrl.org

A NEW INTERNATIONAL BRASS POUNDERS CLUB

One of the most famous DX men in the country has proposed the formation of the W.A.C. Club--a club primarily international in its purpose and mode of operational club composed of brass pounding ether burners; an aggregation of key punchers collected from all parts of this old world. The Worked All Continents Club, will serve to furnish some more adequate means of recognition for the gang of International DX hounds. The requirements for membership are few and brief. To become a member the applicant must have carried on two-way communications with at least one station in all of the six continents; Australia (ed.note: now Oceania), Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and North America. In additional to having done the work a letter or card should be sent to A.R.R.L. headquarters from each continent showing the date of QSO. Merely send in QSL card from these countries. The cards will be returned together with the Official WAC certificate endorsed by the Grand High Whacker himself. Until the WAC members get as thick as hen's teeth, the list of members of the club will appear in the I.A.R.U. News section each month. Hop to it, gang. Here is some high class wallpaper! Address The WAC Club, care of A.R.R.L. Headquarters, Hartford, Conn

73 es DX!

Bill Moore NC1L
ARRL Awards Branch Manager

Since the DXCC Annual List has not been published in print for many years a point of clarification may be needed to help explain how the list works...

As was the case when it was published there were certain requirements that needed to be met in order to make the list. Including:

Anyone 'Current' on the DXCC Honor Roll for the period are automatically listed. (On the Honor Roll modes achieved, only)

A submission must have been made during the period.

During the period your number on an active award must have increased by, at least, one point.

eg: If in 2006 you had 225 on 160 Meters and in a 2007 submission you did not increase this number by, at least, one point, the 160 Meter Award will not appear in the yearbook. However, if your 160 Meter Award went from 225 in 2006 to 229 in 2007, your callsign will appear.

The DXCC Annual List reflects 'Activity'

73 es DX!

Bill Moore NC1L
ARRL Awards Branch Manager