The following article appears in the June issue of the NTS Letter:
In a previous issue of The NTS Letter, we reported on the efforts of one of the NTS committee working groups to create a series of certificates (such as the one shown below) to recognize and show appreciation to traffic handlers for their time, effort, and dedication in support of the National Traffic System®. These new ARRL-authorized certificates will generally be awarded and available for download by Section leadership within each Section. A new NTS participant who has been undergoing training can receive a certificate from a net manager for successfully sending his/her first properly-formatted radiogram via a National Traffic System affiliated net. To encourage greater cooperation between NTS and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®), an award can be given by a Section Manager, in cooperation with the Section Traffic Manager and Section Emergency Coordinator, to an NTS operator for handling message traffic in association with official ARES activity during or in preparation for emergency events. There is a special certificate award for an Official Relay Station of the Year, as determined by a Section Traffic Manager in any Section, for an ORS in his/her Section who has gone above and beyond with respect to traffic handling in a way that furthers the National Traffic System mission, objectives and participation. Also included are certificates for participation in local and Section nets, for serving as a net control or alternate net control station as well as Net Manager and Section Traffic Manager. Certificates for participation in region and area nets and the Transcontinental Corps (TCC) will be made available at a later date. For a little fun for those who enjoy a challenge, a certificate will be awarded to those who personally receive a radiogram from all 50 US states. Two additional awards that will be offered by ARRL Field Services will include the Brass Pounders League (BPL) medallion, which has been available for many years, and a new Challenge Coin.
Details on all awards can be found at https://nts2.arrl.org/