Monday, 18 April
from The ARRL Letter, Vol 24, No 15

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) and its member-societies
representing more than 150 countries around the globe celebrate World
Amateur Radio Day each year on April 18 to mark the anniversary of the
IARU's founding in 1925. The theme for this year's 80th anniversary
celebration is "Expanding the World of Wireless Communications."

Amateur Radio operators have been the leaders in developing many of today's
electronic and communication marvels. The pioneering work in radio and
electronic technologies early amateurs first explored provided the
groundwork for the nearly ubiquitous "wireless" devices and digital
technology we often take for granted. Many leading electrical engineers have
drawn from their practical experience as Amateur Radio operators in
contributing to the development of modern radio and television technology,
two-way radios, adaptive antennas and many other innovations.

That trend continue as today's radio amateurs explore new frontiers. Amateur
Radio experimenters are finding new ways to use frequencies at the fringes
of the radio spectrum, to merge radio and Internet technology and to
experiment with ultra-high-speed digital communication. Although they're not
compensated, ham radio operators are "amateurs" in name only, because their
skills and contributions to the world have been--and continue to be--of the
highest order.

Since its inception, the IARU has been instrumental in coordinating and
representing Amateur Radio activities around the world. Learn more by
visiting the IARU Web site http://www.iaru.org.

Source:
The ARRL Letter Vol. 24, No. 15 April 15, 2005