The first Washington State QSO Party, sponsored by the Boeing Employee’s Amateur Radio Society (BEARS) took place on September 17-19, 1966, as reported in the Sep ’66 QST, p. 126:
“The First Annual Washington State QSO Party sponsored by the Boeing Employee’s Amateur Radio Society, K7NWS, will start at 2300 GMT September 17 and end at 0500 GMT September 19, 1966, and all amateurs are invited to participate.
“All bands may be used, c.w. and phone (phone classified as both a.m. and s.s.b). Stations may be worked once each band and each mode. Washington stations score one point for each contact (including contacts with other Washington stations). All others score two points for each contact with a Washington station. Washington stations multiply total QSO points by number of different states, Canadian Provinces and countries worked. All others multiply total QSO points by the total of different Washington counties worked. Washington stations send QSO number, RS(T) and county. All others send QSO number, RS(T) and state province or country. General call “CQ WASH”. Washington c.w. stations should identify themselves by signing de (call) WASH K. Phone say “Washington calling”. Certificates will be awarded to the highest scoring station in each state, province, country and Washington County. Worked Five Bears certificates are also available to anyone working five club members before, during or after the QSO Party. Working club station, K7NWS, will provide gold seal endorsement sticker for either certificate. Suggested frequencies: c.w. 3560 7060 14060 21060 28100, a.m. 3990 7260 14230 21310 28600, s.s.b. 3960 7220 14290 21290 28700, Novices 3735 7175 21110. Logs must show dates, times in GMT, stations worked, exchanges sent and received, bands and modes used, and scores claimed. Each entry must include a signed statement that the decisions of the contest committee will be accepted as final. No logs can be returned. Log sheets and scores must be postmarked no later than October 8, 1966, and sent to: Boeing Employee’s Amateur Radio Society in care of Contest Chairman Willis Props [sic], K7RSB, 18415 38th Avenue, South Seattle, Washington 98188.”
The last QSO Party announcement for the Washington State QSO Party was in the September 1987 QST, p. 86.
“Washington State QSO Party, sponsored by the Boeing Employees ARS, from 0100Z Sep 12 until 0100Z Sep 14. All bands and all modes [although there were no suggested WARC, VHF/UHF, digital, AM, FM, or SSTV frequencies, see below]. Work stations once per band and mode. CW contacts in CW subbands only. Work WA stations again as they change counties. WA to WA QSOs allowed. Exchange serial number, signal report and state/province/country (county for WA stations). Suggested frequencies: CW — 3.560 7.060 14.060 21.060 28.060; phone — 3.925 7.260 14.280 21.380 28.580; Novice — 3.725 7.125 21.150 28.160. Count 2 points per phone QSOs, 3 points per CW QSOs and 5 points per mobile QSOs. WA stations multiply by total counties/states/provinces/countries. All others multiply by total WA counties worked. Certificates to the top scores in each state, province, country and WA County. Mail logs (SASE for results) by Oct 15 to BEARS, c/o David Long, N7FNO, 2117 N 52nd St, Seattle, WA 98103.”
Washington had no QSO Party from 1988 to 1990.
With permission from the BEARS, the Western Washington DX Club (WWDXC) assumed the hosting of the QSO Party in 1991. K7WA, N7EPD, N7LOX and W7TSQ got together and decided that a prize should be offered and as N7LOX had a close friend who owned part of Portlok Salmon at that time, they opted to go for a package of Salmon – easier to send than a bushel of apples. Thus with the party in September 1991, they decided that Salmon Run was a good name.
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