Frequently Asked Questions . . .
Q. If I decide to collect all of the counties, may I include those visited prior to joining the Extra Miler Club?
A. Absolutely. Feel free to enlist assistance from your elders to determine any travel as a child or teenager and then mark in your counties. You can even count counties that you slept through. Of course, you may decide to place a restriction on yourself to increase the challenge, but it's entirely up to you.
Q. What sort of proof is required that I visited a particular county?
A. None. If you say you've been there, that's good enough for us. This isn't, after all, the sort of thing that many people would be likely to make up. We do have members who are attempting to gather evidence as they go along, though. Many members collect photos of themselves in front of county line signs on the highway. J. R. Frankenfield of Florida (who is now finished) took a large book with him and got signatures of officials in each county to witnessing his presence there. He also recorded the dates and times of each visit.
Q. In the early eighties, New Mexico and Arizona each added new counties (Cibola, New Mexico and La Paz, Arizona) by dividing existing counties. Prior to that, three South Dakota counties were dissolved. Which ones can I count? Must I return to an area if a new county is established?
A. It depends on what part of the county you were in. If you visited any area that is now part of the new county, you may claim both counties automatically without returning. However, if you have never visited any part of the area that became the new county, you'll have to go the new county in order to claim it. This is especially distressing when it happens in a state that you've finished!
Q. This is getting a bit confusing. Is there one rule of thumb that will apply to all of these "new-county-old-county" problems?
A. Yes. To figure your new total after a new county is created or an old one is abolished, just retrace your travels, pretending that all of your trips in the affected area weretaken after the change was made. Completely ignore the way the map looked before the change.
Q. Where can I find out about the status of Hawaii's Kalawao County? Does it "count?"
A. EMC recognizes Kalawao County as a distinct jurisdiction. Traditionally, members have not considered Hawaii to be "complete" without a trip to this remote destination. A couple resources:
- Hawaii's 4 (or 5) Counties, University of Hawaii Ham Radio Club
- Hawaii Highways: Kalawao County Photo Journey, Oscar Voss
Q. I'm not really interested in collecting all the counties, but I love to travel and would like to see all of the state capitol buildings. Am I still welcome in EMC?
A. Absolutely! At one time, member Darrell Dady aspired to eat a Big MacTM in every McDonald's in North America. He has now set forth upon a less gastronomically challenging goal. Reid Williamson of Virginia is collecting photos of state highway signs corresponding with the order of each state's entrance into the union. For instance, Delaware was the first state, so he has a picture of Delaware Route 1. Vermont was the fourteenth state, so his Vermont picture is of Route 14. Arizona was 48th, but there is no Route 48 in Arizona, so he's not sure what he'll do about that. The more creative your travel goal, the better!
Q. How does the club recognize members' travel accomplishments?
A. You earn a certificate for passing the 1000, 2000, and 3000 county levels, and for entering all fifty states. When you finish the entire country, a handsome plaque is awarded.
Q. How can I join the Extra Miler Club?
A. It's easy! Click here.
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