This issue is delayed by a month as we wanted to include details of the Region 3 Triennial Conference that was held at Christchurch, New Zealand. The directors had their meeting just before and after the Regional Meeting, which was then followed by a meeting of the Administrative Council. The importance of continuous presence at all meetings leading to WRC2102 was emphasized and all future plans deal with this important aspect. Many important issues which impact on radio amateurs, not only in Region 3, but all over the world were addressed
I was privileged to speak at the formal opening of the 14th IARU Regional Conference in Christchurch on the 12th October 2009.
In doing so I said "... as this Conference opens we hand over to you, the delegates to the Conference, the management and the future of IARU Region 3.
And as we do so, we must, I suggest, all acknowledge that amateur radio and its national societies face great challenges, in terms of change, in terms of the ever growing spectrum requirements of so many and today in financial terms.
It is our sincere wish that all of us will walk away from this Conference happy in the knowledge that we have achieved something that will matter for the future of amateur radio as well reinforcing the underlying friendship and respect that must be at the heart of our common interest."
Was my wish satisfied that all of us we would walk away happy in the knowledge that we had achieved something that will matter for the future of amateur radio? I believe that it was.
The report on the Conference that makes up this Newsletter shows the range of matters discussed. And the two matters that the Directors suggested should be a major focus of the Conference, the Monitoring System (MS) and emergency communications were extensively and constructively discussed, and positive proposals for the future were adopted.
I make no excuse for promoting the MS. The MS is an essential means to protect our frequencies.
One matter not reported elsewhere is the issue of finances. The Conference decided to not increase the subscription rate, but in doing so fixed a budget for the next triennium that relies on utilizing the Region's reserves in addition to the subscription income to enable the Region to fulfill its essential functions.
The Conference noted that a significant increase in the subscription rate will be essential at the next Conference. The Directors were requested by the Conference to present to the members at least one year prior to the next Conference their proposal in respect of the subscription rate so that the income of the Region shall at least match any increased or decreased expenditure.
The Directors have taken that request very seriously, accepting that it affects the whole future of our Regional organization.
We want to undertake as wide ranging a review of the future financing of the Region as possible, and shortly the Secretary will be writing to each member society, asking them to identify any particular difficulties that they face, their views and suggestions as to the structure and amount of fees that should be payable.
Despite the cold financial wind, I believe the Conference was a spectacular success. Great credit must go NZART, its President and Council and in particular the organizing Committee led by Terry Carrell
ZL3QL,with many ever -helpful volunteers.
Terry was also appointed Conference Chair, a role he undertook with his usual aplomb and skill contributing greatly to a successful conference.
Speaking for myself, I believe that our Conference was success, and I hope that everyone who attended walked away, as I did, not only satisfied that we had contributed something for the future, but that we had also made new friendships and reinforced old friendships.
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 3, 14th Triennial Conference was held on 12-16 October, hosted by the NZART in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Delegates from 10 member societies (ARRL, ARSI, CRSA, HARTS, JARL, KARL, NZART, ORARI, SARTS and WIA), with RAST, RSGB and VARC being represented by proxy. Also attending was the IARU President Tim Ellam VE6SH and Vice President Ole Garpestad LA2RR, from Region 1 President Hans Timmerman PB2T and Secretary Dennis Green ZS4BS and Region 2 Secretary Ramon Santoyo XE1KK.
The IARU R3 Directors had identified two topics, the IARU Monitoring System, and emergency communications, as being highly important, and major decisions were made on both of them.
Three working groups were established:
* The IARU Monitoring System (MS) (WG-3)
* Policy matters that included education, training, development of amateur radio and international and regional conferences involving radio administrations (WG-1)
* Operational and Technical Matters, including emergency communications, the IARU R3 Award and band plans (WG-2)
The Conference agenda included five documents on the IARU MS that generally sought a review and reinvigoration of this important activity. A special working group was established with Peter Young VK3MV appointed chairman and Rod Stafford W6ROD as secretary.
The amateur services must take action to protect their bands, the Conference heard, because without complaints about an intruder causing harmful interference, it may be claimed that there is no breach of the ITU Radio Regulations.
There was keen interest and participation in that working group. As a result of its work, the Conference resolved to acknowledge the contributions over many years of the IARU MS Region 3 Coordinator Arasu Manohar VU2UR.
The Conference identified the need to update and modernize the IARU protocols and procedures to effectively deal with intruders causing harmful interference in the amateur radio bands.
A package of proposed measures adopted by the Conference included greater coordination between the IARU MS coordinators in the three IARU regions, a single website to more effectively collect data on intruders and to record action being taken on them, and to provide information to assist those submitting intruder observation reports.
The Conference confirmed the importance of participation in regional telecommunication organizations, which are setting directions on regulatory matters that could impact on amateur services. IARU member societies are encouraged to be involved in that activity, where possible.
The regional telecommunication organization's decisions significantly influence the decisions taken by the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), with the next being in January 2012.
The NZART received praise for a number of its initiatives. One was its "ZL3 Buildathon" project that involved the encouragement of electronic project construction in schools and elsewhere in the community to lift the profile of amateur radio. Another was the ‘Radio WAVE' project that demonstrates the principles of radio frequency propagation, polarity and effective radiated power.
The Conference heard that the Amsat-ZL's KiwiSAT amateur satellite project was undergoing final development. Some difficulties have arisen because of the US restrictions on the export of technology. KiwiSAT was expected to be ready for launch in 2010, although no decision has been made on launching it into orbit.
A total of nine documents on the agenda referred to emergency communications and amateur radio. ORARI and CRSA were highly commended on the role that they and radio amateurs had played in Indonesia and China after major natural disasters.
The Conference also encouraged radio societies and emergency groups to include in their planning and training, how best to publicize the role of radio amateurs during emergencies and make it known internationally.
The Conference considered the concept of emergency centre of activity (CoA) frequencies worthwhile, and adopted 3.600, 7.110, 14.300,
18.160 and 21.360 MHz These have been immediately included in the IARU R3 Band Plans. CoA are not spot frequencies, but starting points + or – 5 kHz, are not the only frequencies to be used, and are not mode specific and should be considered as being ‘all modes'.
Among the other agenda items considered were ARDF, better utilization of all allocated amateur bands, BPL/PLT, EMC, visitor licensing, liaison between societies and the radio administrations in their nations, operating ethics and standards, and support for the development of amateur radio in the region.
An election was required for the five-member IARU R3 Directors, with Michael Owen VK3KI, Shizuo Endo JE1MUI, Peter Lake ZL2AZ, Gopal Madhavan VU2GMN and Joong-Guen Rhee HL1AQQ being reelected. The Directors then nominated Michael VK3KI as their chairman, which was endorsed by Conference.
The Secretary, Jay Oka JA1TRC, was elected unopposed.
The IARU recognized the work of Bob Knowles ZL1BAD on his retirement as the IARU MS Coordinator, a position he held for more than 20 years.
The conference elected Peter Young VK3MV as the IARU Monitoring System Region 3 Coordinator
All other regional coordinators were re-elected as follows:
IARU Region 3 Beacon Coordinator-Peter Norden, ZL2SJ
IARU Region 3 EMC Coordinator-Chang Won Seok, HL3QVU
IARU Region 3 EMR Coordinator-Keith Malcom, VK1ZKM
Chairman of IARU Region 3 ARDF Committee -Yoshio Arisaka, JA1HQG
Chairman of IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee-Jim Linton, VK3PC
Convenor of STARS*** - Masayoshi Ebisawa, JA1DM
Convenor of Harmonizatopn of License Qualification Committee- Paul Anderson, VR2BBC
IARU Region 3 Auditor -Makoto Suzuki, JA1QIW was elected as the incoming auditor for Region 3
Michael VK3KI described the Conference as one of the most constructive and friendly he had attended. He said the credit for that goes to all who participated in the meaningful discussions resulting in productive outcomes.
All in attendance were in praise of the NZART organizing committee, headed by Terry Carrell ZL3QL, who also took on the role of Conference Chairman, contributing greatly to its success. Sue Carrell and Mary Rogers ran a full women's program during the week for the wives of delegates and visitors.
After consideration of the existing positions, the band plans for Region 3 were revised.
Details are available on the Region 3 webpage http://www.iaru-r3.org
The Conference received two invitations, one from ORARI for Bali, Indonesia, and another from VARC for Ho-Chi-Minh City, Vietnam to host the next Conference. The delegates voted in favour of accepting the VARC invitation for the 15th Conference in late 2012 in Ho-Chi-Minh City
Australian amateurs were again in the forefront handling emergency communications during a series of forest fires that engulfed many parts of the country
A series of very severe earthquakes also took place in Indonesia and many islands in the region and here again radio amateurs were busy handling emergency traffic
A severe tropical storm hit the Philippines resulting in severe flooding and affecting over one million inhabitants. Radio clubs were mobilized to assist with communications
The JOTA and JOTI events took place over the weekend of 12th and 13th October and reports indicate that about 500,000 participated world wide giving young people hands -on experience of amateur radio
WRC-12, which will be held in Geneva from January 23-February 17, 2012, will review the international treaty that governs Radiocommunication -- the ITU Radio Regulations http://www.itu.int/publ/R-REG-RR-2008/en.
The conference will be preceded by the Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-12), also to be held in Geneva, January 16-20, 2012.
Michael Owen VK3KI President of the Wireless Institute of Australia announced the start of the WIA Centenary celebrations and callsign VK 100 WIA
The Wireless Institute of Australia completes 100 years of existence, making it the oldest radio society in existence. Plans are on for a series of events culminating in celebrations in Canberra in May 2010 when the WIA will hold its annual general meeting.
Many special contests and awards will be available for amateurs' world wide to participate in.
The directors of Region 3 will also hold their meeting in Canberra at that time to participate in the celebrations
Attention is brought to all radio amateurs in the region to this award which have not been competed for adequately. Some salient features are:
1. The Award is available to licensed amateurs and SWLs.
2. Contacts made after April 5, 1982 are eligible.
3. QSL cards not required.
Full details are available from: http://www.nzart.org.nz/awards/iaruregion-iii-log.pdf
This very popular meeting is a great place for YL's (and in many cases their OM's) to meet and share their experiences.
Tentative dates for this event are being looked at in May 2012
This years Seanet was held in Seoul Korea between 23rd October and 27th October 2009 at Capital Hotel, Seoul City and Mt. Sorak in Gangwon province, Korea. Their webpage indicates registrations of over 200, making it one of the biggest Seanet conferences held.
More details on: http://www.sabah.net.my/seanet/seanet_2009.htm
Reports continue to be received from many member societies that more and more broadcast stations have moved out of the range 7.1 to 7.2 MHz The process has been rather slower than anticipated and so Members are encouraged to bring pressure on their local authorities and to keep the Region 3 Secretary informed of the position in their countries so that a consolidated view is available.
Details of the current position in various countries are available on the respective region web-pages.
Region 1: http://www.iaru-r1.org
Region 3: http://iaru-r3.org/news/7MHz200903.htm
Region 2: Already have use of the full spectrum 7.0 to 7.3 MHz
The Region 3 Web Site: Go to: http://www.iaru-r3.org
Newsletter Editor: Gopal Madhavan VU2GMN, Director IARU Region3. E-mail: vu2gmn@gmail.com
Publisher: The International Amateur Radio Union Region 3
P. O. Box 73, Toshima, Tokyo 170-8691, Japan.
E-mail: secretary@iaru-r3.org
Tel: +81 3 5395-3125 Fax: +81 3 3943 8282
The statements or opinions in this Newsletter do not, unless otherwise stated, necessarily reflect the views of IARU Region 3, the Directors or the Secretariat. Items from this Newsletter may be freely copied for publication by Member Societies of IARU.