The Administrative Council (AC) of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) held its Annual Meeting November 2-4 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The AC -- which consists of the three IARU International Officers and two representatives from each of the three IARU regional organizations -- is responsible for the policy and management of the IARU. According to IARU Secretary Rod Stafford, W6ROD, the meeting was a somber occasion due to the passing of IARU Region 3 Chairman Michael J. Owen, VK3KI. Owen had been a member of the Administrative Council for most of its existence, and had been a longtime contributor to the efforts of IARU to promote and preserve Amateur Radio.

IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA, along with IARU Vice President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, and IARU Secretary Rod Stafford, W6ROD, were in attendance at the meeting in Ho Chi Minh City. IARU Region 1 President Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, along with IARU Region 1 Secretary Dennis Green, ZS4BS, and IARU Region 1 Executive Committee Member Thilo Kootz, DL9KCE, represented IARU Region 1. IARU Region 2 President Reinaldo Leandro, YV5AM, IARU Region 2 Secretary Ramon Santoyo, XE1KK, and ARRL International Affairs Vice President Jay Bellows, K0QB, represented IARU Region 2. IARU Region 3 Chairman of Directors Peter Lake, ZL2AZ, IARU Region 3 Secretary Ken Yamamoto, JA1CJP, and IARU Region 3 Director Shizuo Endo, JE1MUI, represented IARU Region 3. David Sumner, K1ZZ, attended as recording secretary.

The Administrative Council acted on the following items:

• The Council reviewed the successes achieved at the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12), including the new secondary allocation at 472-479 kHz to the Amateur Radio Service, the avoidance of frequency sharing with HF radiolocation services and an agenda item for WRC-15 relating to an amateur allocation at 5 MHz.
• The agenda items for WRC-15 were reviewed and initial IARU positions were formulated on the agenda items to the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite Services.
• The working document that sets out the spectrum requirements of the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite Services was reviewed and updated.
• The AC received the final report of the IARU 2025 Committee. Due to the current economic climate, the Committee was unable to develop a viable financial model that would permit the implementation of its proposed new organizational structure for the IARU. The Committee did complete proposed revisions to guidelines for the election of IARU President and Vice President; these were adopted by the AC.
• The consultative process for the election of IARU President and Vice President was initiated for the 2014-2019 terms of office. An IARU Calendar will be issued notifying the Member Societies that the consultative process has begun.
• The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) meetings where IARU representation will be required for the coming year were identified, and plans for representation at these meetings were reviewed.
• The Michael J. Owen, VK3KI, Award was established to recognize an individual or individuals that best exemplify the dedication and hard work of IARU volunteers.
• The Council reviewed the work of the Committee responsible for drafting an updated handbook for experts and representatives attending meetings on behalf of the IARU. The handbook will be completed by spring 2013 and will be distributed to IARU volunteers upon completion.
• The theme Amateur Radio: Entering Its Second Century of Disaster Communications was adopted for the next World Amateur Radio Day, April 18, 2013.
• A revised IARU website was introduced. International Secretariat staff, along with ARRL Digital Content Coordinator Magdalena Owczarska, W1MGZ, was thanked for their efforts in revising the website.
• Dale E. Hughes, VK1DSH, and Colin J. Thomas, G3PSM, were selected by the AC as IARU Technical Representatives. Technical Representatives represent the IARU at ITU and other international meetings.
• The budget for 2013-2015 as presented by the International Secretariat (IS) was reviewed and adopted. The budget is based upon anticipated financial contributions from IARU Regions 1, 2 and 3 to defray a portion of the expenses, in accordance with previously adopted policy.
• The report of the Monitoring System Committee (MSC) was reviewed and accepted. With the establishment of the MSC, the position of Monitoring System International Coordinator is no longer required. ARRL Field Regulatory Correspondent Chuck Skolaut K0BOG, who had served as the Monitoring System International Coordinator for the last four years, was thanked for his service.
• Reports of the IARU International Coordinators and Advisers were received. They are International Beacon Project Coordinator Peter Jennings, AB6WM/VE3SUN; Satellite Adviser Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV; EMC Adviser Christian Verholt, OZ8CY; International Coordinator for Emergency Communications Hans Zimmermann, F5VKP/HB9AQS, and Monitoring System International Coordinator Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG.

The next scheduled in-person meeting of the AC will be held in the vicinity of Cancun, Mexico, in September 2013, in conjunction with the IARU Region 2 Conference.