What changed
NARA awards — edited Aug 31, 2026 by Unknown editor
This is the first recorded version, so every line is shown as added. Note: Imported from content/wiki
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NARA's award programs exist to recognize the things that keep amateur radio going: young operators who
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put in the work, clubs that serve their communities, and the volunteers nobody sees.
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## Alfred Vail 20-20 Young Keyers Award
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For operators **under the age of 20** who can send and receive Morse code at **20 words per minute or
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greater**. A license is welcome but not required.
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- Applicants are contacted to schedule a **live proficiency test**: three minutes of sending and three
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minutes of receiving, with proficiency required in both halves, administered by a designated and
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approved examiner.
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- Recipients receive a **numbered certificate** and an award packet.
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- The award is named for [Alfred Vail](/wiki/people/alfred-vail), who built the instruments and shaped
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the code that made the telegraph practical.
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Apply at [usnara.org/awards/alfred-vail-20-20](https://usnara.org/awards/alfred-vail-20-20).
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## Club and volunteer recognition
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NARA also recognizes clubs and individuals for community service, public outreach, mentoring newcomers
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and supporting exam sessions and emergency communications. Recognition generally starts with a
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nomination from a member or a club, and program details are published on the
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[awards pages](https://usnara.org/awards).
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If your club is doing something worth recognizing — a school program, a long-running net, an exam
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session that never misses a month — nominate it. Most of this work goes unrecorded because the people
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doing it do not ask.
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## Participating in NARA events
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Awards are not the only recognition on offer:
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- **[Club Week](https://usnara.org/programs/club-week)** — a week-long, non-contest event built around
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clubs contacting clubs and exchanging QSL cards, with certificates and public operating as the
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point rather than a score.
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- **The National Presenters Panel** — NARA's roster of speakers available to club meetings; presenting
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is itself a contribution, and clubs can request a presenter through the site.
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- **Volunteering** — exam sessions, state and regional representative roles, wiki editing and outreach.
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See [volunteer opportunities](https://usnara.org/volunteer).
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## Membership is not required to be recognized
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Applying for the Alfred Vail award does not require NARA membership, and neither does most
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recognition. Membership funds the work — the wiki you are reading, whatishamradio.com, the club
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directory and the exam and outreach programs — and members get the portal, the certificate and a vote,
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but the awards are for the amateur radio community, not for a subscriber list.