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<DIV><FONT face=Verdana></FONT><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>Hans Blondeel
Timmerman, PB2T</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma>IARU Region 1 President </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma></FONT></STRONG><BR><FONT size=6><STRONG>The
future of amateur radio is with the youth</STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma><STRONG>The future of amateur radio is with the youth and
we need to adapt if we want to attract them</STRONG>. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>This was the message from IARU Region 1 President
<STRONG>Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T</STRONG>. He delivered the after-dinner
address at the SARL Awards Banquet in Port Elizabeth last night </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma><STRONG>He said that the expectations of the youth were
very different from those that moved the current generation to become radio
amateurs. What interested us at that time no longer enthuses the youth of
today</STRONG>, said Timmerman. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>He continued to say: "<STRONG>My advice is let go on much
of what we know and love and let them do what they love. Their focus is more
visual. They are keen on new technologies but also want it to happen
fast</STRONG>.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>"<STRONG>Clubs can do much to promote amateur radio. Start
a junior section with a young leader in your club. Focus on visual, virtual and
new technologies</STRONG>.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>"<STRONG>Promote amateur radio as an art and a science,
different from the Internet and cellphones. Senior members should provide the
resources and support and let youngsters off the leash. We urgently need a new
appoach."</STRONG></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>Timmerman commented that on the regulatory front we, as
IARU and national societies, must justify our spectrum requirements. "Focus on
the emergency communications support radio amateurs provide. Society needs
technically skilled people; we must lead young people in that direction. We must
produce papers on our technical work and participate in scientific
research."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma><STRONG>In summary the youth is our future</STRONG>.
Timmerman stressed that we must be proud of our achievements and that amateur
radio is alive - but radio hams should not sit and wait. We can do much
better!</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>Fonte :</FONT><A href="http://www.sarl.org.za/Default.asp"
target=_blank><FONT face=Tahoma>The South African Radio
League</FONT></A><BR></P></BODY></HTML>