GAREC

What is GAREC ?

In 2005, the first Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (GAREC) Conference was organized on the initiative of Seppo Sisatto, OH1VR in Tampere, Finland. Following the success of this event and the increased interest in international and regional cooperation on emergency communications, GAREC Conferences established themselves as annual events

For each conference, an organizing committee works together with a local host, and IARU representatives participate in the event. In its 2009 meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand, the IARU Administrative Council has now defined the relationship between GAREC and IARU, by adopting the following recommendations contained in the Statement of the GAREC-2009 Conference:

“GAREC 2009 recommends, that GAREC conferences should continue to be held in locations throughout the world to the extent possible and should maintain the character of GAREC as an informal meeting among representatives of IARU member societies and of Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Groups within or outside of the respective National IARU Member Society, serving as a forum for the exchange of experience and as an advisory body for the work on emergency communications of the IARU.”

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GAREC 2013

In 2013 GAREC returns to IARU Region 1 and will be held in Zurich, Switzerland between 25th to 28th June. The conference has been timed to precede Europe's largest amateur radio exhibition, HAM RADIO in Friedrichshafen so that people can enjoy both events.

General information on GAREC 2013 including information on the venue, registration fees and the tentative agenda and the registration forms is now available on www.garec2013.ch/ . This website will be updated frequently to keep all updated with the latest news and program changes. For more information you may also email info@garec2013.ch

Among the draft topics to be discussed are the relevance of Amateur Radio Emergency Communication in the '1st World', the HAMNET high speed data network along with presentations from the three regions of the IARU and also some presentations from groups with recent disaster relief communications operations.

GAREC 2011

  • The 7th GAREC – Global Emergency Communications Conference was held in South Africa at the Pilansberg resort called Sun City.  This resort, situated approx. 200 km north west of Johannesburg has 4 hotels, two magnificent golf courses and a major game reserve adjacent to the complex.
  • The hosts for the conference were the South African Radio League and Hamnet – the emergency communications network of the SARL.
  • The Theme of GAREC-2011 was “Building Partnerships”.
  • The chairperson for the conference was Francois Botha – ZS6BUU
GAREC-2010
GAREC-10 took place in CURACAO on October 11-12, 2010.
The Theme of the Conference was: "Learning through practicing".
The event was organized in cooperation with DARES and VERONA.

THE MISSION: To get Amateur Radio operators to be better prepared for emergency communications and create practices for national and international levels. GAREC is for exchanging information and experiences between all Amateur Radio operators and groups that are interested in EmComms.

THE VISION: To have regular world wide co-operation and understanding between Authorities and Amateur Radio Service on the field of EmComms.

Chairman of the Organizing Committee:
Seppo Sisättö, Ph.D
OH1VR
Ojakatu 3 A 18
33100 Tampere
FINLAND
Tel. +358-50-360 2600
E-mail: seppo.sisatto ( at ) uta.fi
GAREC 2010 Materials
Earthquakes, Hurricanes & Amateur Radio I
Earthquakes, Hurricanes & Amateur Radio IIHow to organize an EmComm Exercise I
How to organise an Emcomm Exercise II

Organisations in Emcomm
Closing session
GAREC-2009
The Fifth Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (GAREC) Conference took place on 24 - 25 August 2009, in connection with the JARL Ham Fair at Tokyo Big Sight, Ariake, Tokyo Japan. The Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) hosted this year's GAREC.

The Theme of the GAREC-2009 was "Emergency Communications across Borders". The program included presentations about operations during disasters that occurred since last year's conference and discussions about new developments in technology and their application in emergency communications.

GAREC 2009 Materials
GAREC-2008
GAREC-08 took place Thursday, 26 and Friday, 27 June 2008 in Friedrichshafen, Germany, in combination with HamRadio 2008 (27-29 June) in the conference center of the Friedrichshafen Messe, Room "Oesterreich."

GAREC 2008 Materials
GAREC-2007
The Statement of GAREC-07
GAREC-07 took place in Huntsville, Alabama, USA, on 16 and 17 August 2007, the days just before the annual Huntsville Hamfest and the 2007 ARRL National Convention. Some of the presentations made during the conference are available at gaiss.tssg.org/GAREC07 and more information can also be found at arrl-al.org/GAREC07.htm.

GAREC-2006
GAREC-2005