In October 2009, IARU's Region 2 announced a new award -- the IARU Region 2 Award -- available to amateurs and shortwave listeners who submit confirmed QSLs with 20 Region 2 countries or entities. To be considered for the award, contacts must have been made after April 16, 1964 -- the date when IARU Region 2 was founded.

US applicants must submit QSL cards -- along with the application and certification form -- to either the ARRL Awards Branch or ARRL Card Checkers for certification; non-US hams must submit their cards, application and certification form to their IARU Member Society to be approved. Applicants will also need to provide an envelope with sufficient postage affixed so the person checking the cards can forward the application and supporting materials to the IARU Region 2 Awards Manager in Venezuela (from the US, postage is approximately 98 cents).

Applicants may also submit photocopies of the QSL cards (front and back) that have been authenticated by both the applicant and an appointee of the ham's IARU Member-Society, or the original QSLs (no authentications necessary) to the IARU Region 2 Awards Manager. Both methods require sending the application form.

The IARU Region 2 Award Manager may request the presentation of one, several or all the QSLs together with the application. Electronic QSLs -- such as Logbook of The World (LoTW) or eQSL -- can not be used for this award.

Contacts can be made using the following bands: 160, 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10 and 6 meters. You can make all your contacts on one band, or mix it up and use them all -- it's up to you. Contacts can be made using phone, CW, digital or satellite modes. But keep in mind that all contacts must be made from the same location using any official call letters that belong to the applicant (including special licenses for contests or events) and must be bilateral or two-way. Contacts in crossed modes and/or bands will not be accepted, except for satellite mode.

So get out those QSL cards and see if you have at least 20 from IARU Region 2 countries or entities: Anguilla, Antigua y Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.

If you have any questions regarding the IARU Region 2 Award, submit them via e-mail to the IARU Region 2 Awards Manager.