(1) ADMINISTRATION :
Initially, the programme will be run primarily by André (GM3VLB) acting as Awards Manager with son Niall (GM6GMZ/VP8NJS) continuing to provide the necessary technical back-up in respect of this web-site. Whilst we appreciate that many do not have Internet access, it is the only practical way for us to proceed, and we must hope that everyone will help by disseminating the web-site information relating to the SCOTIA programme. It is hoped that few changes will be required, making continual reference to the site unnecessary.
The Awards Manager has extensive e-mail listings for both UK and Overseas stations and will continue to use this route for day-to-day updates. As is already the case, any useful information regarding past, current or forthcoming island activations will be gratefully received and disseminated via e-mail and/or other appropriate routes.

Alex (GM0DHZ/AA8YH - formerly G0DHZ), as the principal c-o-activator of many islands, can also assist with most queries and dissemination of information (for contact details, see <QRZ.com>).

(2) THE HUNTER CERTIFICATE : (Click here to see a sample)
There are 3 basic requirements:

COST OF THE HUNTER CERTIFICATE :
(All fees shown include airmail postage where appropriate, and are payable to André Saunders, SCOTIA Awards Manager)

(3) THE ACTIVATOR CERTIFICATE : (Click here to see a sample)
For full details of the requirements for island activation, please see the SCOTIA Activators Guide.

COST OF THE ISLAND ACTIVATORS CERTIFICATE :
THE BASIC ACTIVATOR'S CERTIFICATE IS FREE. To encourage and recognise the efforts of all island activators, the basic SCOTIA Activator Certificate and all subsequent higher level stickers, will be issued free of charge, on compliance with the Guidelines, and on submission of the appropriate application form (which can be downloaded free of charge from this web-site).
In accordance with our aims of encouraging visitors, any visitor from outwith the UK, but including Eire, activating their first SCOTIA Island, will be deemed to qualify for, and may therefore apply for, the basic SCOTIA Activator Certificate, which will be issued free of charge as stated above.
Any activator applying for a free certificate 'upgrade' should enclose 1 IRC (or equivalent) to cover the postage for the upgrade stickers.

(4) VARIOUS LEVELS of the AWARD :
The basic entry level requires the applicant to have scored a minimum of 30 points. The applicant is then entitled to the basic certificate (which would be issued without stickers). The minimum score of 30 points can be achieved in a number of ways (click here for details of the scoring system).
Progress towards the full SCOTIA Tartan 100 Certificate is by one or more 10-point increments, until the maximum of 100 points is reached. Each 10-point step entitles the applicant to the appropriate "sticker" (e.g. "40", "50", "60" etc. up to "100").
Entry can also be at any level from "30" to "100". For example, a first-time applicant with 70 points would receive the basic certificate and stickers up to and including that level.
NOTE: It was initially intended to refer to the 100-point level as the Tartan Award. However, it has now been decided to call this the 'Tartan 100 Certificate'. A possible future trophy to recognise outstanding achievement in terms of total points, total islands etc. (the exact number has not yet been decided) may yet be called "The EILEAN MÒR TARTAN TROPHY". Regretfully, we must still report that as of early 2007, no decision has yet been taken. Apart from the work involved, our primary concern is to create a form of "trophy" which will both be desirable and yet affordable (we are very conscious of the often exorbitant costs of various other award programme trophies). We are very aware that many "Tartan 100" certificate holders have gone on to outstanding scores which must be recognised.

(5) NUMBER OF ISLANDS :
There will be 200 qualifying islands (click here to see list). Old hands will recognise most from other island lists such as IOTA and IOSA. This total will NOT be exceeded in any circumstances but we reserve the right to DELETE and REPLACE any island on the list, an action which will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. Each SCOTIA Island has an appropriate IOTA reference that has been agreed between GM3VLB and the UK IOTA committee (some minor errors will be corrected shortly, if this hasn't already been done). An excellent "cross-reference" document has been produced and made freely available by John OZ4RT. Knowing any one of either the Scottish island name OR the SCOTIA reference number OR the IOSA reference number, enables you to determine the other two.

(6) ISLAND GROUPS :
The 200 islands are divided into 6 geographical "groups". Note that withing each group, the island reference numbers increase with increasing "northerliness"...the further north an island, the bigger its reference number within its group. An exception is made with the COASTAL SOUTH (CS) group which begins and includes the Firth of Forth islands as there are no designated islands north of this on the east coast. The CS group begins with Firth of Forth islands ISLE of MAY (CS01) through INCHCOLM (CS07), before jumping to HESTAN (CS08) in the Solway Firth in the south-west, which marks the boundary between Scotland and England.

The boundary between the CS (Coastal South) and CN (Coastal North) islands is based on an imaginary line running from the west coast port of OBAN (56.4° N / 5.47° W), through the sound of Kerrera and around the south coast of the island of MULL and its associated islands. The islands in the Firth of Forth, to the east of the capital city EDINBURGH, are the only significant islands off the east coast of Scotland. As explained above, these have been included in the CS (Coastal South) group..

(7) OPERATING BANDS, MODES etc. :
QSOs or reports may be on either A1A or A3J modes, and on any of the "WARC" HF bands, from 10m (28MHz) to 160m (1.8MHz) but to encourage and recognise the increasing use of the 6m (50MHz) band, QSOs on this band, after 1st January 1996 (as for the HF bands) will now also be accepted. Cross-band and cross-mode QSOs are allowed but repeater or satellite-assisted QSOs are not.

(8) CONTACT ADDRESSES :