SOTA-based Vanity Name the Numbered Peak Promotion Ends
The W7O Vanity Name the Numbered Peak Promotion ended 01 March 2023. All vanity names have been retired. The text below is the original proposal for vanity names as a reference to the original intentions and guidance for Vanity Names.
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Original Proposal of 10/09/2012
The W7O-Oregon and W7I-Idaho SOTA Associations will begin a “vanity” promotion of “Name the Numbered Peak”. Beginning November 1, 2012 the first Activator of a Numbered Peak will have the privilege of assigning a name for that SOTA peak. This name will be recorded in the SOTA database as well as the Association Reference Manual (ARM). This follows a similar effort by W7W-Washington where Numbered Peaks were given hamradio related names like “Transceiver Peak”.
Most western SOTA Associations have a great number of numbered peaks like “6031”. This is the official GeoNames name as part of the USGS system. For example, W7O-Oregon has 1991 SOTA-qualified peaks of which 660 are numbered peaks.
The goal of this promotion is relatively simple: create some Activator excitement and fun while providing another somewhat competitive venue within the SOTA program. Hopefully this will attract new participants.
Of course there are some rules and guidelines for this program:
- The new Peak name must adopt a local name if it exists.
- If there is no local name, the new Peak name can be hamradio or SOTA related. It can also be some distinctive geographical feature.
- The new Peak name can be “In Memoriam” to a silent key like “K7UGA Memorial Peak”
- The new Peak name must be in good taste and respectful.
- Limited to five words or less like “Tom, Dick, and Harry Mountain” or subject to less than 30 characters (a SOTAwatch database field constraint).
- The new Peak name can be used only once per SOTA Region.
- Commercial product endorsements will not be allowed like “Buy BuddipolePeak”. However, “Elecraft Peak” or “Yaesu Mountain” would be acceptable.
- The “vanity name” will also include the original GeoName number to facilitate search. For example, “Rooster’s Ridge – 9733”.
- Each Activator will provide a short description of why or how a vanity Peak name was chosen. This paragraph will be part of the Resources section of the Summit Information in the SOTA database
The Association Manager will be the final arbiter for acceptance of a “vanity” Peak name. The Association Manager will be responsible for the updates to the SOTA Database and the ARM document.
We will launch this program in the Oregon and Idaho SOTA Associations with the intent of adopting it in additional W7 Associations with updates to the program based on suggestions and lessons learned.