YASME EXCELLENCE AWARD

[IK0ZCW]

Established in 2008 by the Yasme Foundation (https://www.yasme.org/), the Excellence Award is presented to individuals and groups who, through their own service, creativity, effort and dedication have made a significant contribution to amateur radio. The contribution may be in recognition of technical, operating or organizational achievement, as all three are necessary for amateur radio to grow and prosper. The latest recipients, announced on 10 July, are:

* Parks On The Air (POTA) Team - Since the program's inception, it has grown enormously and now has more than 6500 "activators" who operate from the parks and more than 20,000 "hunters" who work them. The core team consists of Jason Johnston W3AAX, Rick Parent W0ZAP, Colby Dillion WR5B, Thom Martin W8TAM, Julie Martin WT8J, Vance Martin N3VEM, Mike Case W8MSC, Jeremy Turner N0AW, Martin Moerman PA0KGB, John Ford AB0O, Steve Czaikowski W3SPC. Next to DXCC and IOTA, POTA has become one of the most active worldwide operating award programs. Even more important, though, is that more hams are On The Air, especially hams with modest stations or who cannot get OTA from home for whatever reason. POTA is making it possible for them to have a great deal of fun, be active on HF/VHF/satellites, and learn about radio.

* Jan Stadman, DJ5AN/PA1TT - In recognition of his efforts organizing ham radio events. For many years, Jan organized the Dutch HF Convention and the annual European DX Foundation meeting in Bad Bentheim, Germany. Jan also runs the EUDXF booth at Ham Radio in Friedrichshafen. Together with other DX associations he invented and shaped the "DX Plaza" that is now the central meeting point for DXers present in Friedrichshafen. In 2017 Jan joined the organizing committee of the Dutch German Radio Amateur Meeting DNAT and took over as committee chair in 2020, just before COVID.
The pandemic didn't stop him and even with the restriction that were in place he was able to organize several events.