The IRCC Awards Committee chose Hamilton County Amateur Radio Operator Bill Akin-K9YDO on the following merits as submitted by H.C.A.R.E.S. 

1. Major technical contributor to ICE repeaters around the Indy area.
Knowledge in towers, antennas, RF hardware and intermod theory as well as the hands on "doing" of the repeater work. The same linked repeaters are now used by NWS weather spotters nets in central IN.

2. Knowledge and application of grounding techniques. He always makes his experience available to local hams on how to properly ground a ham shack. Also would actually install a ground bus system at a hams home as well as assisting with talents and hardware at field day site.

3. His expertise at installing/removing towers has been applied at hams home shacks and at field days. Bill has assisted several new and old hams alike with tower climbing, proper grounding, and antenna installation.  He always seems willing to help.

4. Expert in radio DFing techniques and hardware. He has used RF location talents to track done many interfering signals for ham repeaters and also assisted in project for commercial and government interference problems.

5. Even with his every day volunteering his technical talents he still finds time to help out in all county public service events. He has helped in set up and tear down for the EMA booth at the Hamilton County Fair, several Boy Scout events, and the White River Cleanup.

6. Every year Bill is one of the prime workers of the amateurs for the Red Cross food deliveries to the needy at Thanksgiving and Christmas. He will stay until the last box has been delivered.

7. Bill has donated many hours of his time to maintaining and installing the Red Cross radios and the Hamilton County EMA radios in the public service bands.

8. His professional experience in wire line public switched telephone
network standards and practices has made him an invaluable resource to a
variety of amateurs and public safety officials alike in planning,
installation and troubleshooting of a variety of phone mixed with RF
applications.