ARLA/CLUSTER: IARU Administrative Council Annual Meeting

[João Gonçalves Costa]

The Administrative Council (AC) of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) held its annual meeting on 24-25 June 2008 in Konstanz, Germany.

These actions were taken:

1. The consultative process leading to nominations for IARU President and Vice President for the five-year term beginning on 9 May 2009 was completed between the AC and the American Radio Relay League, the IARU member-society that serves as the International Secretariat. IARU President Larry Price, W4RA had announced in 2007 that he was not available to serve an additional term. The AC agreed that Vice President Tim Ellam, VE6SH and Region 1 President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR are suitably qualified to serve as IARU President and Vice President, respectively. Their nominations will be offered to the member-societies for ratification.

2. A comprehensive review and update of the working document that defines the additional spectrum requirements of the amateur and amateur-satellite services was conducted. Requests from the amateur satellite community for support of additional allocations were considered and referred to the IARU Satellite Adviser for additional information.

3. The IARU International Coordinator for Emergency Communications, Hans Zimmermann, HB9AQS/F5VKP, presented his report in person. He noted the outstanding performance of radio amateurs in China who responded to the recent tragic earthquake emergency.

4. Reports of the other IARU international coordinators and advisers were received. They are International Beacon Project Coordinator Peter Jennings, AB6WM/VE3SUN; Satellite Adviser Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV; EMC Adviser Christian Verholt, OZ8CY; and Interim Monitoring System International Coordinator Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG.

5. An additional progress report was received from an ad hoc committee that is investigating the future role and structure of the IARU. Work since the previous AC meeting has refined the structure and identified the remaining issues to be resolved.

6. A resolution offered by Region 1 that seeks to improve the operating standards of radio amateurs was adopted. The AC endorses and recommends the principles set out in the booklet "Ethics and Operating Procedures for the Radio Amateur" by John Devoldere, ON4UN and Marc Demeuleneere , ON4WW, and encourages each IARU Region to consider this booklet, with a view to adopting it, including any Regional variations that might be felt appropriate.

7. A study of the international QSL bureau system was commissioned. The study will seek input from member-societies on the problems they face in light of escalating postage and other expenses, and the anticipated impact of electronic confirmation systems such as the ARRL's Logbook of the World.

8. The three-year strategic plan for the development of support for amateur radio frequency allocations was reviewed and renewed for the period 2008-2011. The principal focus is on preparations for the 2011 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-11), especially the attainment of an amateur allocation in the vicinity of 500 kHz.

9. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) meetings at which IARU representation will be required for the coming year were identified, and plans for representation were reviewed.

10. The plans of Region 3 for the IARU presence at Telecom Asia 2008 (Bangkok, 2-5 September) and of the International Secretariat for Telecom World 2009 (Geneva, 5-9 October) were reviewed.

11. The budget for 2009-2011 as presented by the International Secretariat (ARRL) was reviewed. The budget includes provision for financial contributions from the three regional organizations to defray a portion of the expenses, in accordance with previously adopted policy.

12. The 29 March 2009 implementation of the worldwide exclusive allocation of 7100-7200 kHz adopted at the 2003 WRC was noted and the many contributors to this achievement were recognized.

13. "Amateur Radio: Your Resource in Disaster and Emergency Communication" was selected as the theme for the next World Amateur Radio Day, April 18, 2009.

14. Status reports from each of the three IARU regional organizations were received and discussed. The next regional conference will be that of Region 1, to be held in Cavtat, Croatia in mid-November.

Attending the Konstanz meeting were IARU President Larry Price, W4RA; Vice President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA; Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ; regional representatives Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, Don Beattie, G3BJ, Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, Reinaldo Leandro, YV5AMH, Ramon Santoyo, XE1KK, Rod Stafford, W6ROD, Michael Owen, VK3KI, Gopal Madhavan, VU2GMN, ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, on behalf of the International Secretariat, and recording secretary Paul Rinaldo, W4RI. IARU International Coordinator for Emergency Communications Hans Zimmermann, HB9AQS/F5VKP attended a portion of the meeting.

The next scheduled meeting of the AC will be held in Christchurch, New Zealand in October 2009.

International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) http://www.iaru.org/