Then I look forward to our first S2S in CW… I am happy about every /p - call … and: QRS always goes! QRQ rather not… !
Not always but mostly.
He was really good! …we were together on a summit and we were talking …and he was listening to a CW QSO on the side without me noticing… and he could tell me afterwards who had a QSO with whom and what the QSO was about… something I will never be able to do like this.
73 Armin
I was chased by Guru only 3 times. The first was a Christmas present, he chased me on 12-25-2021 The second time I had the honor of being his first 1 point of 2022. How shocked I was when I found out about his passing. Guru is surely enjoying a SWL without QRM! Guru wherever you are, 73!
It would be great to get a QSO with you on CW for sure Armin.
My father in law told me stories of CW operators that could hold multiple conversations whilst doing CW.
Strangely I can remember my first QSO with Guru and where I was activating from, I wish I’d had more time to get to know him better, like you.
73 Rich
What a great idea to present this very special key to a member of the SOTA community - I wish I’d of added a few CW activations in here and there through-out this year - this will give me the drive to pick up more confidence and try a CW activation in the future!
73, GW4BML. Ben
Great idea! And I like that the scheme represents both the randomness (lottery-style) and the reward for perseverance (more tickets for multiples of 5 activations) of our hobby!
73 de Martin, DK3IT
What an honor for the winner!
Kent K9EZ
It would be a bit of work for the MT, but how about the winner getting it for a year, and then it gets passed on to the winner of another raffle?
Guru’s distinctive “IF” suffix was easy to pick out of a chaser pile-up - like that of another much-missed SOTA chaser - “SSH” (Roy).
We considered that but with SOTA being international it was thought to be too difficult to implement.
I’m glad that the raffle seems to have general support though
Barry GM4TOE
Hi Barry and MT,
thanks for organizing this special activity and for the great support from the many friends of Guru.
As a complementary activity we are managing to get a number of special callsigns that will probably be on air at least on Saturday 11-march-2023 (weather permitting) to commemorate the anniversary of Guru’s death.
We will try to have several SOTA activation that day from different EA regions running with these special callsigns.
I will provide more details when arranged as soon as possible.
I’m sure Guru will be happy to hear anyone running with his Palm key sending dits and dashes on air again.
73 de Ignacio
I think you mean 11 March 2023 Ignacio - though in any case, that is the end of the qualifying period for the raffle, so the winner won’t have the prize to use on that day - it will be some days later.
Yes I do! Thanks for spotting the typo, corrected now.
Correct, we know MArch 11th is the last day of the raffle, we choose it on purpose for being in the weekend and facilitate the multiple ops activation that day.
Cheers 73
What a wonderful idea, a fitting tribute to Guru, and an encouragement for more of us to activate with CW.
Thankyou Guru and the MT.
That’s a very nice initiative.
Does one have to sign up or is this automatic in some way?
Cheers
Mikel EA5IYL
All you have to do is make sure all your activations are entered in the database. We will actually do the draw a week or so after the end date so everyone has a chance to enter their logs. Everything else is automatic.
Thanks a million! My logs are all in.
It’s a great idea. I was very happy and excited that he uploaded the recording of OSO with me on JA/OY-060 to youtube.
I’m planning to activate the same JA/OY-060 on March 11, 2023.
73
Seiji JG4LCS
Only three cw activations since march from my side. What a shame…
Well still some time left.
It would be a highlight in my keys collection.
But I guess I won’t keep it. Rather provide it as a trophy for another challenge.
73 Martin
If i’m lucky i’ll go back to the beginning! 
CT1HIX Gomes
Just actually read the rules following Andy’s @MM0FMF post regarding Guru’s postumous 58th birthday and I have five more activations with >= 4 CW QSOs to have the full complement of entries.
I’ve been having issues with 2m on my FT-817ND but it appears to be behaving itself at the moment, so will try and complete the remaining four using it (if it ever stops raining in the Lake District).
Mark.