OMISS Awards - General Information

About the OMISS Awards

All awards are available to OMISS member stations only. Contacts made by a member with a non-member are valid retroactively if and when the non-member becomes a member (unless otherwise noted), such as on WAS, the State Flag, and DX Awards where OMISS membership is not required to be worked towards an award. Non-members may use contacts made with members retroactively after they obtain an OMISS membership number.

All contacts must be made on net frequencies and during net times to be valid for any of the awards. Unless otherwise specified in these rules, only log info will need to be sent in qualifying for the awards. (Although there are on-line forms available for your convenience - these must be printed and mailed in via US Postal Mail; not submitted electronically.) Signal reports are not required in info sent. The ARRL DXCC Countries list and the and NACO counties lists will be used for all awards based on countries and counties worked, respectively.

* Award Fees

Contacts for all awards may be made on any of the bands used by the OMISS Net at net times. Unless otherwise stated, all awards will require a $4.00 fee. Endorsements require a $3.00 fee. Endorsements are available depending upon the award that is applied for. If the original application for these awards shows that an endorsement can be applied, that endorsement can be applied at no additional charge.

* SPECIAL NOTE: As of January 2008, the Board of Directors has approved a temporary reduction of awards fees. Until further notice, the cost of Awards and endorsements are $2.00 each.

Application

The Log Entry Sheet must accompany the Award Application to be sent to the awards manager. The Log Entry Sheet shall be checked closely by the OMISS Awards Manager to insure that all contacts were made on OMISS Net frequencies and at net times.  

Awards are numbered sequentially, according to order issued. Contacts submitted for qualifying for any of the awards may be made on any of the nets of the Society. Log information sheets submitted for awards will not be returned since they become part of the record if the award is issued.

AWARDS MANAGER INFORMATION:

KF5RD
Pete Mann
722 S 138 E Ave
Tulsa, OK 74108

DO NOT SEND AN SASE WITH ANY OMISS AWARDS APPLICATION. 

For any questions or comments, contact the OMISS Awards Manager.

All awards and requirements listed here will become active beginning January 1, 2006.

The Complete OMISS Awards List

Here is the complete list of awards that OMISS sponsors effective January 1, 2006. Unless specified otherwise, non-members may be used by OMISS members working for these awards, regardless if the non-member ever becomes a member in the future.

The OMISS WAS Series:

Work stations in all 50 states of the USA (in accordance with the ARRL rules for achiving a WAS award as found at http://www.arrl.org/awards/was/) toward the awards and endorsements that are available in this series as follows: 

WAS BASIC: Work all 50 states of the USA on mixed bands of the OMISS Net.

WAS SINGLE BAND: Work all 50 states of the USA on one band.

*1X2 WAS: Work stations in the 48 continental states of the USA using 1x2 calls. ( Alaska and Hawaii are not required for this award.)

*1X3 WAS: Work stations in the 48 continental states of the USA using 1x3 calls. ( Alaska and Hawaii are not required for this award.)

*2X1 WAS: Work stations in all 50 states of the USA using 2x1 calls.

*2X2 WAS: Work stations in all 50 states of the USA using 2x2 calls.

*2X3 WAS: Work stations in all 50 states of the USA using 2x3 calls.

*QRP WAS: Work stations in all 50 states of the USA using 10 watts of power or less.

*WAS BASE/MOBILE: From a base station, work mobile stations in all 50 states of the USA .

*WAS MOBILE : From a mobile station, work stations in all 50 states, regardless of the station worked is fixed, mobile, or portable.

*MOBILE TO MOBILE:  From a mobile station, work mobile stations in all 50 States.  This award is available after 1 November 2006.

5 BAND WAS: Work stations on five bands of the OMISS Net in each of the 50 states.

6 BAND WAS: Work stations on six bands of the OMISS Net in each of the 50 states.

7 BAND WAS: Work stations on all seven bands of the OMISS Net in each of the 50 states.

SPECIAL NOTE: A plaque for each of the 5, 6, and 7 Band WAS awards is available for a cost of $35.00 to any OMISS member that has earned these awards and wishes to acquire them; otherwise, certificates will be printed. 

Awards listed above with an (*) are available with endorsements for mixed and single bands as well as 5-6-7 band endorsements. Contact the OMISS Awards Manager for more details.

STATE FLAG AWARDS:

The criteria for these awards are as follows:

1. Contact 5 different amateurs in each of the 48 continental US States, whether the amateurs are mobile, portable or fixed.
2. Contacts must be made on OMISS net times and frequencies.
3. Non-member contacts are eligible for this award.
4. Only log information as required: call, OM number, date, frequency, and times.
5. Only contacts made after January 1, 2005 will count. Prior contacts are not eligible.
6. Contacts with the same mobile station are eligible, but only if the contacts are in different states.
7. Contacts with club stations are eligible, but only either the club station call or the operator’s call will be allowed. You cannot count both calls toward the awards if they are used during the same contact.
8. Awards are available as follows: Mixed Band; Single Band; 5, 6, and 7-Band; QRP; Mobile ; and Master.

When 5 contacts are made in a single State, send log information for a State certificate. First certificate cost for each award is $4.00, and all other certificates for that particular award afterward will be $3.00. All 48 State certificates are required to apply for any State Flag Award.

When you acquire all 48 State certificates for any of the Mixed Band, Single Band, QRP, 5-6-7 Band, and Mobile State Flag awards, you will receive a wooden plaque similar to the OM of the Year Plaque at no cost to the member for the particular award earned. The State Flag Master Plaque will be awarded free of charge to any OMISS member that earns ALL of the State Flag awards that will be available to the membership. 

Each State Flag certificate will be numbered sequentially as they are issued.

State certificates for Alaska and Hawaii may be applied for, but are not required for this award series.

Other OMISS Awards…

VACATION AMERICA AWARD:
You start from the state you reside in by making a contact in an adjacent state. Obviously, you must return home by making a contact in your state of departure. You travel state-to-state by crossing their common border, and only enter each state once. Detailed rules [Vacation America Award]

FATHER TIME AWARD:
Work 25 OMISS Members that have membership numbers between 1-2999 in the following manner:
5 MEMBERS BETWEEN 1-1000
5 MEMBERS BETWEEN 1001-1500
5 MEMBERS BETWEEN 1501-2000
5 MEMBERS BETWEEN 2001-2500
5 MEMBERS BETWEEN 2501-2999
Detailed rules [Father Time Award]

FIRST RESPONDER AWARD:
Work 25 First Responders as listed here [First Responder Roster]

• 25 additional mixed First Responders worked25 additional Police (P) contacts25 additional Firefighter (F) contacts25 additional Dispatcher (D) contacts
• 25 additional EMP/Paramedic (E) contacts.

Endorsements are available for Mixed Band, Single Band, 5-6 and 7 Bands, QRP, and Mobile .

CANADIAN PROVINCES:
Contact Stations in each of the Canadian Provinces.

The Canadian provinces are listed as follows:

Nova Scotia; New Brunswick; Prince Edward Island; Newfoundland; Quebec; Ontario; Manitoba; Saskatchewan; Alberta; British Columbia; Northwest Territories; Yukon Territory.

NOTE: Nunavut Territory and Labrador are not required for this OMISS award, but endorsements for them are available.

To see this Award on the Canadian RAC Web Page: http://www.rac.ca/service/awards2.htm.

SPELLING BEE:
To qualify for this award, contact a total of 42 different OM Member call signs. The last letter of the suffix of the call signs must spell out the name: OM INTERNATIONAL SIDEBAND SOCIETY INCORPORATED, a total of 42 letters.

An endorsement is available for this award for working an additional 42 call signs whose first letter of the suffix spells out the Society's name. No call sign may be used more than once for this award or endorsement. (Note: A station with only a single letter in the suffix, e.g., NM8N, may be used for either the basic award or its endorsement.) When applying, list calls in order, by proper spelling of the Society's name. Only log info is required.

Other endorsements are available: Single Band and 5 Bands. These may apply for both the first and second 42 contacts made as mentioned previously.

WPX:
Work 100 OMISS members with different call sign prefixes. For the purpose of this award, the prefix is that part of the call sign up to and including the last digit, reading from the left (e.g., W1ABC, KA3AUQ, 4X4AA, Y51XZ, 4U47UN). Only log info is required.

Endorsements available: every 100 additional prefixes; also, Single Band and 5 Band certificates will be available along with 100 prefix endorsements for each.

COUNTIES:
Work OMISS members in 100 USA counties. Members may be used more than once from different counties, whether they are mobile, portable, or fixed. Only log info is required.

Endorsements are available for every additional 100 counties. Single band and 5 band endorsements are also available.

SPECIAL NOTE: OMISS uses NACO for the basis of determining counties, the burroughs of Alaska and the independent cities in the states of Virginia and Nevada will be recognized as counties along with the counties in the possesions and terretories if the U.S., such as GUAM, PUERTO RICO, and the VIRGIN ISLANDS.

TWIN COUNTIES:
Work 50 pairs of county names, in different states, for a total of 100 contacts. For example, ESSEX , MA and ESSEX , NJ would be 1 pair of counties / 2 contacts. County names must be exactly the same spelling. Also, if a county such as "Johnson" is worked in two different states and then you work it again in a 3rd and 4th state, you can use the 3rd and 4th instances as a new pair of twin counties. Johnson County would appear on your log sheet 4 times, but in 4 different states. Triples may not be used: If you have 3 of a county name, you would have to wait until you worked a 4th of that county to make a 2nd pair. Stations worked must be OMISS members and they may be fixed, portable, or mobile. Any contacts made on OMISS Nets are valid. 

SPECIAL NOTE: For this award, the word SAINT may be used either of two ways - one is the word Saint, and the other is the abbreviation ST. Either way may be used, but the usage of the applicant’s choice must be consistent throughout all applications and endorsements for this award.

Endorsements are available for each additional 25 new pairs worked and different counties from the same base award. You may submit basic award and endorsements at the same time. Log info is required showing counties and state, in alphabetical order. List stations' call, OMISS number, date, band, and UTC time. Other endorsements include single band and 5 bands.

MEMBERSHIP:
Work 100 OMISS members. Bands may be mixed. Endorsements available for every additional 100 members worked, as well as for single band and 5 bands if desired. Only log info required.

5 BY 25:
Work the same 25 OMISS members on any five bands of the net. Log Info required.

5 BY 50:
Work the same 50 OMISS members on any five bands of the net. Log info required.

5 BY 75:

Work the same 75 OMISS members on any five bands of the Net. Log info required.

6 BY 25:
Work the same 25 OMISS members on any six bands of the net. Log info required.

6 BY 50:

Work the same 50 OMISS members on any six bands of the net. Log info required.

7 BY 25:
Work the same 25 OMISS members on any seven bands of the net. Log info required.

Other awards in this series may be created as needed and applied for, such as 7x50, 6x75, 5x100, etc., in which the Awards Manager must notify the general OMISS membership when such an award becomes available. Contact the Award Manager for more details.

KINGS AND QUEENS :
Work 12 holders of the OM TOP OP AWARD. Endorsements are available for every additional 12 TOP OPs worked, as well as single band and 5 band endorsements. Log info required.
[Kings & Queens Listing]

V.I.P. AWARD:
Work 10 Officers, Directors, Band Net Coordinators, Top Ops of the Month, OM Net Control of the Quarter Award Winners, OMs of the Year, Past OMISS Presidents, and all Meritorious Service Award recipients (identified as V.I.P.s of the net). Officers, Directors, and Band Net Coordinators must be serving in office at the time the application is submitted to count for this award. Endorsements for each 10 V.I.P.s are available regardless of bands worked.

Note 1: Top Ops of The Month are V.I.P.s only for the month immediately following their election, beginning on the 5th of that month. (Top Ops are announced on the 5th of the month following the balloting.) Top Ops must be worked only during the period of being announced through the 5th of the following month to qualify for this award. Example: August 2000 Top OP Winner is announced on September 5, 2000. That winner may be worked as a V.I.P. until October 5, 2000 when the new winner is announced, even if there are not enough votes to announce a new winner.

Note 2: Quarterly Net Control Award winners are V.I.P.s only for the three months immediately following their election, beginning on the 5th of that month. (Net Controls of the Quarter are announced on the 5th of the month following the balloting.) Net Controls of the Quarter must be worked only during the period of being announced through the 5th of the first month into the next quarter to qualify for this award. Example: Award announced on Jan 5th, 2000 for the Quarter of Oct-Dec 99. The winner announced on January 5, 2000 may be worked as a V.I.P. until April 5, 2000 when the next winner is announced, even if there are not enough votes to announce

Note 3: OMs of the Year, past OMISS Presidents, Meritorious Service Award recipients, and Charter Members (OM #01-110) are permanent V.I.P.s. and may be worked at any time to qualify for this award.

[ VIP Listing ]

OM GRID SQUARE AWARD:
Work OMISS Members in 200 different grid squares. Stations contacted may be mobile, portable, or fixed stations and may be used more than once from different grids. Log info required.

Endorsements available include additional 100 grid squares, as well as Single Band, 5 Band, and QRP with the 100 grid square endorsement for each.

OM GRID SQUARE 1000 POINT AWARD:
1. Acquire the OM Grid Square Award, described above. 
2. Count points to achieve 1000 points under the following system:

One (1) Point for each station contacted in a grid square. Stations must be in a different Grid square to be used more than once.
Five (5) Points for each Mobile Station worked (Land or Sea only).  
Five (5) Points for each DX Station worked.
Twenty-five (25) Points for each Station worked that has received the OM Grid Square Award.  [ List of OM Grid Square Award Holders ]

There will be no limit to the number of stations as listed above to earn the award.

NOTE: Contacts from the OM Grid Square Award and its endorsements are eligible to be reused for the OM Grid Square 1000 Point Award and its endorsements.

3. When counting points for this award, use the HIGHEST possible point value for each contact.

EXAMPLE: WR1TX - EM11 = 25 POINTS
 1 point for contact
 5 points as mobile
25 points as holder of OM Grid Square Award

Note: In this example, WR1TX was used as 25 Points, as that is the highest value possible. Notice that the 1-Point for contact and 5-Points for Mobile are not used.
4. DX Stations do not have to be Members of OMISS to be counted for points; all other Stations must be OMISS Members to be used in this Award.
5. All contacts must be made on OMISS Net Frequencies at OMISS Net Times.

Log info required. Endorsements are available for every additional 500 points, with the point system listed above used for each endorsement application. Single band and 5 band certificates are also available if desired, along with the 500-point endorsements for each.

POSTAL AWARD:
Work stations with prefixes/suffixes that match the 50 U.S. Postal 2-Letter State Abbreviations. The station worked does not need to be located in the state for which their call will be used, but stations (any station) may only be used once. Either the prefix or suffix can be used but not a combination of both. Letters must be next to each other in proper order reading left to right. Stations used for the award do NOT have to be  OMISS members. Log info required.

Endorsements include single band and 5-band awards.

EXAMPLES:
1: WA5CAR MAY BE USED FOR EITHER WA, CA, or AR but not all three.
2: N9CAR MAY BE USED FOR EITHER CA or AR but not NC

After the primary award has been earned, you may then receive this endorsement: 100 points will earn the endorsement. Stations worked in the state used will count 3 points, and stations out of the state used will count 1 point. Each state may be used only once. Stations used in the primary award may be used for the endorsement. The letters for the endorsement do not need to be next to each other as they do in the primary award, but must be read from left to right. (Example: WA9APK. You may use AK for Alaska , but not PA for Pennsylvania .)

As for the primary Postal Award, you may apply for single band or 5-band certificates with the 100-point endorsements.

Y2K:
Work 50 OMISS members who hold the special membership certificates issued only during the year 2000, starting with member #3930 and ending with member #4134. All contacts must be made on net frequencies during net times. Mixed band contacts are authorized. All contacts must have been made after January 1, 2000 to be valid for this award.

Endorsements for working 75, 100, and 125 members holding the 2000 membership certificates are available. Log info required. You must submit your contacts by OM membership number. 

ESPRIT de MILITARY:
Work 12 OMISS Members who have served, or are now serving, in the Military of the United States of America . All contacts must be made on net frequencies during net times. Mixed band contacts are authorized. All contacts must have been made on or after November 11, 2001 to be valid for this award.

Complete listing of OMISS Military Members

Endorsements for working each additional 12 OMISS Military members. Endorsements of 12 shall be referred to as "Squad" endorsements. After the 36th contact (3 Squads), the award may be endorsed for the "Platoon" endorsement. Three Platoons (108 contacts) may be endorsed for a “Company”. Three Companies (324 contacts) may be endorsed for a “Battalion”.

SPECIAL NOTE: Once you reach the Battalion level, you will receive a Battalion Commander Desk Plaque. You may continue to earn endorsements by Company and Battalion level only (such as Company D or 2^nd Battalion); these will be awarded in certificate form only.

Log info required. PLEASE SORT YOUR SUBMITTED LIST BY OM NUMBER.

* If you want to submit for each endorsement along the way to Company and beyond, you will need to pay the endorsement fee for each level you submit. That's if you desire a sticker for each squad. If, instead, you desire to work off larger "chunks" and submit for platoons, or even hold off for a Company level endorsement after the initial award, then you would only need to pay ONE endorsement fee. You would NOT get a sticker for each squad, platoon, etc - but would only receive the highest sticker (or certificate) you are applying for.

Example: You pay $4.00 for the initial award. No endorsements at original submission. Then later you submit for 2 additional squads, which makes your first platoon. You could choose to do either of the following:

1. Pay $4.00 and receive a sticker for the 2nd squad and another sticker for the 3rd squad (first platoon).
2. Pay only $2.00, but only receive one sticker - for the 3rd squad (first platoon). It would be implied that if you had the 1st platoon sticker, that you had already worked all three squads necessary, and the junior stickers would not need to be displayed with your award.

It's your choice - but please be clear to the Award Manager what you desire when submitting for these endorsements.

100 OM NUMBERS AWARD SERIES:

To achieve this award, an OMISS member must work 100 OM members and using the last two digits of their OM membership number shall then complete a list from 00 to 99.

Here are the four awards that are included in the series:

RED AWARD: Complete the list in more than one year’s time on mixed bands of the OMISS Net.

GREEN AWARD: Complete the list in more than one year’s time on a single band of the OMISS Net.

SILVER AWARD: Complete the list in one year’s time on mixed bands of the OMISS Net.

GOLD AWARD: Complete the list in one year’s time on a single band of the OMISS Net.

For the purposes of this award the term "one year’s time" is from January 1 to December 31 of the same year – i.e.: 1/1/04-12/31/04 etc. Must be same calendar year.

Log info needed is OM #, Call, Date, Time and Frequency. List contacts in order of the last 2 digits of their OM numbers (4000, 101, 4202, 3303, 2104, etc)

Each award certificate is numbered sequentially by the color award (001 Red, 001 Green, 001 Silver, 001 Gold), and each certificate will have its own color border according to the award specified.

Contacts must be made beginning on or after January 1, 2004.

Each basic color award will be $4.00; single band endorsements for the GREEN and GOLD awards are available for $3.00 each.

THE OMISS CALL DISTRICT AWARD:

To achieve this certificate, an OMISS member must work other OMISS members physically located in each of the call districts of the 50 US states as administered by the FCC, from 0 through 9. The number in a call sign, such as KA9XXX for example, shall not determine the call district; the station’s physical location shall be the determining factor. One contact per call district is required for this award.

Mobile and portable stations may be worked more than once, but they must be worked in different call districts in order for them to count.

EXAMPLE #1: WR1TX has the number 1 in his call, but he resides in Texas , which is in the 5^th call district. Therefore any contacts with WR1TX shall count for the 5^th call district.

EXAMPLE #2: WR1TX is mobile in Wyoming . Wyoming is located in the 7^th call district, so any contact in this situation would count for the 7^th district.

SPECIAL NOTES:

1. All contacts must be made after January 1, 2006.
2. Portable identifiers are encouraged to be used, such as WR1TX/5, when an application is turned in as well as on the air.
3. Hawaii/KH0-9 may be used for the 6^th District, and Alaska/KL0-9 may be used for the 7^th District.
4. US territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam will not count for this award.

Certificate endorsements available include mixed band, single band, and 5-6-7 bands.

Log info only required, but you should have the cards in case the Awards Manager requests to see them. The first certificate will be $4.00, and the endorsement certificates will be $3.00 each.

ALPHABET SOUP AWARD:

Achievement Award: 

Contact 26 Extra Class Amateurs holding 2x1 calls with the call suffix letter of A through Z. (i.e.  KE0J would count for J, NW0W would count for W).

1.        Log extracts including date worked, frequency, call, OMISS # to be submitted with application.

2.        All contacts must be on OMISS Nets and OMISS Frequencies.

3.        Non member contacts count for this award.

4.        Only contacts after 1 June 2006 count for this award

5.        Only 2x1 calls count for this award

6.        QSLs not required.

Endorsements available for Single Band, QRP, each additional 26 stations worked.

CAPITAL CITY AWARD:

Contact Amateur Stations in each US State capital cities.  The Basic award is for contacting 35 stations in US State Capital Cities.  Endorsements for each additional 5 stations to total 50 state capitals.

1.     Log extracts including date worked, frequency, call, OMISS # to be submitted with application.

2.        All contacts must be on OMISS Nets and OMISS Frequencies.

3.        Non member contacts count for this award.

4.        You do not have to work stations in any particular order as long as they are in the state capital.

5.        Only contacts after 1 August 2006 will count for this award.

6.        QSLs not required.

Additional Endorsements Available:  Single Band, QRP,  Mobile , 5-Band, 6-Band, and 7-Band 

SCRABBLE AWARD:

The Scrabble Award is earned by accumulating 500 points for contacts with call signs that spell out words having three or more letters. This award may be earned for contacts on bands for which OMISS operates a net.  Only one word allowed per call sign per band is allowed. Letters may be in any order (i.e. WA7NVT could be used for any of these words WANT, ANT, TAN, VAT, etc, but only one word per band).  Numbers 1, 5, and 0 could substitute for the letters I, S, and O (WA1TER could be used as WAITER but would only count for the maximum of 5 points). Contacts must be made on OMISS nets.  Non member contacts count for this award.  QSL cards NOT required.

Each 3 letter word = 1 pt

Each 4 letter word = 3 pts

Each 5 letter word = 5 pts

Endorsements given at each additional 500 pts

Contacts must be made after September 15, 2006

STATEHOOD AWARD:

Work stations in all 50 states of the USA in the order of Admission to the Union (i.e. Delaware , Pennsylvania , New Jersey … Alaska , Hawaii ).  Following apply to this award only:

1.      Log extracts including date/time worked, frequency, call, OMISS # (if member), to be submitted with application.

2.        If one state is not represented on a particular net, you may NOT work the next state in line without working the required one first.  (i.e.  If  you have worked all states to North Carolina and need Rhode Island , but Rhode Island is not on, you cannot work Vermont for this award until you’ve had a valid contact with a Rhode Island station, you may however work the Vermont station for any other award).

3.        For North and South Dakota , these states can be worked in either order as they came into the Union on the same date.

4.        All contacts must be on OMISS Nets and OMISS Frequencies.

5.        Non member contacts count for this award.

6.        Contacts after 1 May 2006 count for this award

7.        QSLs not required.

 Endorsements available for working all states on a single band.

OMISS Extra Award:

Contact 26 Amateur Extra Class license holders per band (i.e. 26 on 10 meters, 26 on 17 meters, 26 on 15 meters, etc) on OMISS nets (156 different calls) so that the last letter of the call will be A-Z using exclusive extra calls 1x2, 2x2 (AA-AL). (See Note)

1.      Log extracts including date worked, frequency, call, OMISS # to be submitted with application.

2.      Each band listed on separate listing.

3.      All contacts must be on OMISS Nets and OMISS Frequencies.

4.      Non member contacts count for this award.

5.      No station may be worked on more than one band.

6.      Only contacts after 15 September 2006 count for this award

7.      QSLs not required

QRP and mobile endorsements available.

NOTE:  Since Extra Class Licenses that are 2x1 (i.e. KE0J are used in the Alphabet Soup Award, they will not be eligible for this award.

OMISS Night Owl Award:

  An achievement award for having contacted 25 OMISS members on each of the OMISS Late Nets (40 and 75 meters), for a total of 50 calls (no duplicate calls). *NOTE:  Calls made after 0300Z on any 40M OMISS Net or after 0500Z on any OMISS 75M Net are valid for this award, even if the net is an "Early" Net that ran past the hour.

1. All contacts must be on OMISS Nets and Frequencies.
2. QSL Cards are not required
3. Must have 25 calls on 40 meters, and 25 separate calls on 75 meters.  No duplicate calls allowed.
4. Log extracts including call, OMISS #, date worked must be submitted with application.
5. Only calls after 1 November 2006 will count for this award. (*Note above is retro to this date.)