The halls of the Messe convention center were filled with exhibits, programs and meeting areas.

Hall A1 - Clubs, associations, equipment manufacturers and dealers

Hall A5 - youth camp

Hall B2 and B3 - flea-market

West Entrance - the big stage featured comprehensive programs and seminars for the 59th DARC Lake Constance meeting.

Open Air Grounds - HAM-Party-Night on Saturday, and HAM CAMP

Pictures by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R

The doors of the Messe opened at 9 AM, ushering in HAM RADIO 2008. The ARRL contingent included Lee Ciereszko, DA1TCW / N4TCW. Lee is an American living in Germany for work. He has supported the ARRL exhibit at Friedrichshafen for quite a few years. He's a tremendous help--transporting us back-and-forth to the Messe, staffing our exhibit, and translating (German, Spanish, Italian...). Lee also brings lots of goodies to keep our band of booth workers going...candy, chips, water, fans. But, Lee is probably most well known for his 2 dogs Yagi and Xha Xha--accompanying us at the booth the entire time. Everyone wants their picture taken with them!

Our group also included ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN; International Affairs Vice President Rod Stafford, W6ROD; Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI; and Chief Executive Officer Dave Sumner, K1ZZ. We shared our stand with the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)--where visitors were greeted by IARU President Larry Price, W4RA and Vice President Tim Ellam, VE6SH.

Also representing ARRL was Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager Dennis Dura, K2DCD. Dennis participated in GAREC as one of the conference presenters. Rounding out the ARRL team was ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND. Dan lead the DXCC Card Checking team throughout the entire weekend, and was supported by a great group of volunteer card checkers from throughout the international community. These guys worked hard! A line formed for card checking immediately after the doors opened! Dan and his capable team of checkers worked through piles of QSL cards for new award applications and endorsements.

Throughout the weekend, we all enjoyed greeting international ARRL members. We also signed many new members and renewals. With so many participants representing many national and international interests, HAM RADIO Friedrichshafen is a hot spot for eyeball contacts, relationship-building and impromptu meetings.

Only one day to go until the start of HAM RADIO 2008 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. On Thursday morning, Yvonne HB3YFG, Dennis DL7RBI and I made our way from Zurich to Friedrichshafen by car and car-ferry across Lake Constance. By lunchtime we had each setup our exhibits at the convention center--the Messe Friedrichshafen. The Messe plays a big role in the European trade fair scene. Each year, the facility attracts 600,000 visitors to its exhibitions and meetings. The Messe includes ten halls with floor space of 70,000 sqm and a central 12,000 sqm of fair grounds. It's a BIG place!

The day also saw the beginning of the fourth Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference--GAREC-2008. ARRL Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager Dennis Dura, K2DCD, also traveled to Friedrichshafen to participate in the 2-day conference. Seppo Sisätto, OH1VR, the EmComm Coordinator of the IARU Region 1, was on-hand to welcome GAREC-2008 registrants.

In conjunction with HAM RADIO 2008, the German Amateur Radio Society (DARC) is holding its 59th Lake Constance Convention--an event for which DARC extends an invitation to all of the international radio societies. Many of these officials were arriving throughout the day in Friedrichshafen. An informal international meeting for representatives of IARU member societies will be held during the weekend.

Tonight, I'll join friends from the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) for dinner.