The year 2012 marks the 87th anniversary of the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). To mark this occasion, the IARU and its more than 160 Member-Societies will celebrate World Amateur Radio Day on April 18. For many years, the IARU has declared a theme for each World Amateur Radio Day. The theme for 2012 is Amateur Radio Satellites: Celebrating 50 Years in Space in remembrance of the launch of OSCAR 1 on December 12, 1961 and the launch of OSCAR 2 on June 2, 1962.

The Founding of the IARU

In 1924, ARRL President Hiram Percy Maxim, W1AW, had scheduled a business trip to Europe. While in Europe, Maxim was asked by the ARRL Board of Directors to represent the ARRL in fostering international relations between amateurs. This, of course, he was delighted to do.

Following the informal meeting in 1924, representatives from France, Great Britain, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, Canada and the United States formulated a plan to hold an International Amateur Congress in Paris, France in April 1925 for the purpose of founding the IARU. Representatives from Europe, North America, South America and Asia attended the Congress, adopting a constitution for the IARU on April 17. At a closing assembly on the following day, officers were elected and the actions of the Congress ratified by representatives from 25 countries. Thus, April 18 became the official “birthday” of the IARU and is now designated World Amateur Radio Day.

Today, just as Maxim and his counterparts envisioned, the IARU is an international confederation of national Amateur Radio organizations that allows a forum for common matters of concern and collectively represents matters to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Stations On-the-Air for World Amateur Radio Day

As of April 9, the following IARU Member-Societies plan to be on-the-air for World Amateur Radio Day:

• 6H6IARU by the Federación Mexicana de Radio Experimentadores (FMRE) who has commissioned this operation to Grupo DXXE. This station will be active from April 13-18 in all modes and bands. QSL via LoTW and N7RO, direct or bureau. Daily logs uploads will be available in ClubLog.
• 3G87IARU by the Radio Club de Chile (RCCH). This station will be active throughout the month of April. QSL via CE3AA.
• LZ1WARD by the Bulgarian Federation of Radio Amateurs (BFRA) will also will be active throughout the month of April. QSL via bureau.
• EL2RL by the Liberia Radio Amateur Association (LRAA) will be active on April 18, on 10, 15, 17 and 20 meters. Direct QSL to EL2BA.
• HB9WARD by Union Schweizerischer Kurzwellen-Amateure (USKA) will be active on April 18. This first-time call sign will be on the air by HB9JOE and a group of radio amateurs from Bern. QSL via HB9JOE.
• CR6IARU by the Rede dos Emissores Portugueses (REP) will be active from April 13-19. Please QSL via bureau to CT1REP.

The following stations will also be active on World Amateur Radio Day:

• HF87WARD by members of the Polish Amateur Radio Club Flora Fauna (SP-CFF). This station will be active from April 17-30. QSL via eQSL.cc and WFF LogSerach. For those who want to send card direct, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Polish Club Flora & Fauna, Suchacz, Wielmozy 5b, 82-340 Tolkmicko, Poland. The club is offering an award for this operation. Please click here for more information.
• KP4FD by the Puerto Rico Field Day Group will be active on April 18. QSL via their callbook address. Coordinator: Angel Santana, WP3GW.

Editor’s note: This list was complete as of April 9, 2012. To view updates, please visit the IARU Region 2 website.