The Panhandle Amateur Radio Club launched a new program on 01 JAN 2009 to encourage its membership to develop more skills towards operating, contesting, technical writing, and Morse code. In order to stay within a predictable cost and maintain a reasonable budget for the year, caps were established.

To encourage members to seek the WAS, DXCC, and/or VUCC awards, a year’s membership will be provided to the first three members in 2009 and again in 2010, that obtain their first WAS, DXCC, or VUCC. This award is not intended for those already having a version of the specific award sought. For example those having a mixed mode WAS would be ineligible for a PARC recognition for obtaining a CW WAS or QRP WAS after the mixed mode WAS. The WAC was not included as it not being that difficult to obtain. Proof of the new award needs to be submitted to the PARC secretary.

Beginning in 2010, General, Advanced and Extra Class license holders will be eligible for the Code Proficiency Recognition providing they qualify for the ARRL Code Proficiency Award at 20 words per minute (or greater). Techs can still apply for the Code Proficiency Recoginition if they quality for the ARRL Code Proficiency Award at 10 words per minute(or greater).

To generate interest in the writing and submission of amateur radio articles, those having a new article published in QST, CQ, or Electric Radio will be provided a year's free membership. A limit of two free memberships will be offered in 2009. The free membership is intended for the first article published that was submitted in the year 2009 and now in 2010. The club secretary needs to be made aware of the submission of the manuscript. If a submission is made in late 2009, it may be in 2011 before that article is actually published. Proof of the article’s publication also needs to be submitted to the PARC secretary.

To rekindle interest in CW, PARC will provide a year's free membership to those members holding a Technician License that obtain a ARRL Code Proficiency Award. A limit of three free memberships will be provided in 2009. The first step is 10 WPM, followed by 13, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 WPM. PARC will pay for 10 WPM or greater. Proof of the Code Proficiency Award needs to be submitted to the PARC secretary.