Newington, CT. April 12, 2011 -- The International Amateur Radio Union
(IARU), and its member societies representing over 150 countries around
the world, will celebrate World Amateur Radio Day on April 18. The
theme for this year’s celebration is “Amateur Radio: The first
technology-based social network.�

Long before the Internet and smart phones, Amateur Radio operators,
often called “hams,� have been talking, texting and sharing for
decades. But unlike those commercial services, Amateur Radio continues
to attract people world-wide by providing international communications
for free. And because it does not need pre-established supporting
infrastructure, these radio-savvy “amateurs� can reach out to
friends in every corner of the world – and into space too.

Amateur Radio operators have been the leaders in developing many of
today’s modern electronic and communications marvels. Today the
citizens of Earth think of “wireless� as being the ubiquitous
cellular phone – only made possible because of the pioneering work in
radio technologies first explored by these “amateurs�. Many of our
leading electrical engineers draw from their practical experiences as
Amateur Radio operators as they continue to develop applications
blending computers and radios. Ham Radio operators may be
“amateur� because they are unpaid volunteers, but their skills and
contributions to the world are of the highest order.

Calling, texting or even using old Morse code on the Amateur shortwave
bands can result in chatting with other radio amateurs across town or
far across the oceans. While hams have repeatedly been in the news for
their life-saving communications services in disasters, a large part of
their activities is the excitement and joy of contacting distant and
remote areas of the world, learning directly about each others’
regions and lives and trying different ways to make radio contacts
around the world.

Since 1925, the IARU has been instrumental in coordinating and
representing Amateur Radio to the world. For information about the
International Amateur Radio Union please see: www.IARU.org

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For more information, contact:
Allen Pitts
Media & PR Manager, ARRL

(860) 594-0328

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ARRL Nebraska Section
Section Manager: Arthur I Zygielbaum, K0AIZ

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