Greetings from OSPOTA - September 8, 2012

2012 will be the fifth year for OSPOTA and this fun contest could not succeed without your continued participation. We want to extend our gratitude to those HAMs that have been so loyal to our once unique contest.Ohio State Parks Emblem

I say “once unique” because several groups in other states have picked up the ball and are forming their own Parks On The Air events. Indiana already has one year under it’s belt for their contest and it is rumored that Arizona and Georgia are on the horizon.

This is very encouraging to the OSPOTA committee and those of us in PCARS who brainstormed this event into being.

As we have posted in the previous years, the OSPOTA contest was conceived with three main goals in mind:

To promote public awareness of ham radio and Ohio’s beautiful state parks system
To contribute to the recognition that Ohio has a very diverse and wonderful ecology
And to promote camaraderie within the ranks of Ohio’s Amateur Radio operators.

Your participation has allowed these goals to be achieved and now they are spreading to other groups of amateurs who believe that this is a fun event not only to take part in but to sponsor.

The Rules and other documents for OSPOTA 2012 have already been posted on the website and we are counting on everyone doing even better in 2012.

So until September 8, 2012 and on behalf of the OSPOTA Committee, 73!

Chuck W8PT,

Chairman, Ohio State Parks On The Air

Information for ODNR and Ohio State Parks staff and service providers

You asked, and we delivered! Here is the 2012 letter which explains OSPOTA for Ohio State Park Staff in convenient PDF format for you to print and show to the steely-eyed park ranger.  Just click the link at the left side of the page.

Worked All Ohio State Parks Award

  1. Contacts made after September 1, 2008 qualify for this award.
  2. Contacts must be verified by QSL card or EQSL card only. Card must specify the Ohio State Park claimed for credit.
  3. Contacts can be on any of the Amateur HF and VHF bands, any mode. Repeater contacts are not eligible for this award, nor can a repeater be used to solicit contacts.
  4. Stations submitting proof of contact with all 75* Ohio State Parks will receive a numbered certificate, the first 10 will also be eligible for a plaque.
  5. Stations submitting proof of traveling to and activating all 74* Ohio State Parks will receive a numbered plaque.
  6. All stations submitting for a certificate must forward a Worked All Ohio State Parkes Award (WAOSPA) application along with a 9X13 SASE.
  7. All stations submitting for a plaque must forward a WAOSPA application along with a $7.95 money order payable to: WB8LCD – Thomas R. Sly,to pay for shipping and handling. (WB8LCD is the WAOSPA sponsor)

Application forms for the Worked All Ohio State Parks Award will be available here shortly after the contest.

* There are currently 75 Ohio State Parks. This number can change as the number of Parks changes in the future. “All Ohio State Parks” will be defined as all current parks at time of application for the award.