To commemorate this milestone the club is planning a month-long operating event and we’re hoping that you will make a special effort to get on the air and spread the celebration.

The club has applied for permission to use the special callsign G75FOC in May and we encourage the use of similar special calls in the various parts of the UK, e.g. in Scotland the call would be GS75FOC, in Wales it would be GC75FOC, etc. We are also encouraging all members who hold “FOC” suffix calls, e.g. W3FOC, VE6FOC, VQ5FOC, to use them in May and, if possible, to make them available to other members in the appropriate call areas to use during that month. (Roger, G3SXW has volunteered to schedule an operating rota for G75FOC, but I’m sure he’d welcome someone else to volunteer to handle this).

We’d like to have as many FOC calls on the air as many days as possible because we’re planning to issue a special FOC 75th Anniversary Award for QSOs with members, and the FOC calls will be a big part of this. Points will be awarded for QSOs and Art, KZ5D has designed a really nice certificate that will be emailed to those who achieve various point levels.

Points will be earned as follows:

MEMBERS NON-MEMBERS QSO with FOC member: 1 point QSO with FOC member: 1 point QSO with non-member: 3 points QSO with FOC member lasting 10 minutes or longer: 3 points QSO with FOC suffix station: 5 points QSO with FOC suffix station: 5 points QSO with G75FOC: 10 points QSO with G75FOC: 10 points

One QSO allowed per station per band. All bands are allowed but QSOs must be CW, of course.

The award will be issued to stations in three levels: bronze for obtaining 15 points, silver for 30 points and gold for 50 points. Bob, G4HZV has volunteered to handle log submissions from non-members, (and our usual no-log point totals from members), which will be sent to a special email address: foc.75years@gmail.com. Art, KZ5D will send those who qualify their certificates via email, which will also include a few lines about the history of FOC. The club is also considering awarding plaques to the member and non-member with the highest point totals. (Of course, QSOs in May will still be eligible for all of the usual awards such as Windle, etc).

Members who hold xxxFOC calls: please put them on the air as much as possible and, if you’re willing, allow others to use your xxxFOC call when you’re not. (You should schedule use of your own call to avoid conflicts and to arrange any personal logging requirements). Logs from these calls will be sent to Bob for cross-checking.

We will be sending a news release about the anniversary celebration to ham publications and web sites and could use some translation help. Members willing to translate the release and send it to publications in non-English speaking countries should contact Ed, KR3E as soon as possible. We will also publicise this event on the public section of g4foc.org.

Other anniversary-related events may be held during 2013 and the Committee would welcome any suggestions.