Earlier this month, IARU Region 1 held its triennial conference in Cavtat, Croatia. Forty IARU Member Societies were present, with another 12 Member Societies represented via proxy. IARU Vice President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, and IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, attended the conference, along with ARRL International Affairs Vice President Rod Stafford, W6ROD, and representatives from IARU Regions 2 and 3..

Sunday, November 16, marked the opening of the five day conference that was hosted by. Hrvatski Radioamaterski Savez (HRS), Croatia's IARU Member Society. HRS President Krešo Kovarik, 9A5K, welcomed local and national officials and conferees. Kovarik said he was pleased that that the IARU chose to have the 2008 conference in Croatia, and expressed his view that this would be of great value to Croatia and to the HRS.

Ellam spoke next, relaying greetings from IARU President Larry Price, W4RA, who was unable to attend. Ellam took this opportunity to briefly review the work done by IARU over recent years and said he "looked forward to WRC 11." He thanked Region 1 and the HRS for their excellent organizational arrangements for the conference. Region 1 President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, echoed Ellam's good wishes and noted that there were 50 delegations present for this conference, either in person or by proxy.

The conference was formally opened by Krešo Antonovic, Director of Electronic Communications and Postal Service Directorate, Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Croatia. A postage stamp commemorating the conference was unveiled at a reception for heads of delegations and invited guests that followed.

One of the highlights of the conference was the election of new officers. With 41 out of 49 votes cast, Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, of the Netherlands, was elected President. Mustapha Diop, 6W1KI, of Senegal, was unanimously elected Vice President. Dennis Green, ZS4BS, of South Africa, was elected Secretary and Andreas Thiemann, HB9JOE, of Switzerland, was elected Treasurer. Rounding out the Region 1 Executive Committee are Hani Raad, OD5TE, of Lebanon; Betty Magnon, F6IOC, of France; Nikola Percin, 9A5W, of Croatia; Panayot Danev, LZ1US, of Bulgaria, and Colin Thomas, G3PSM, of Great Britain.

In preparation for the expansion of 40 meters in Region 1 on March 29, 2009, the HF Committee debated a band plan to incorporate the change from 7.000-7.100 to 7.000-7.200 MHz. The conference adopted the following plan:

The conference had an eye to both new and young radio amateurs. Delegates agreed unanimously to recommend to Member Societies the importance of the annual Jamboree on the Air and encouraged the organizations to assist Scouts with the event. By doing so, the delegates said, this will promote Amateur Radio to Scouts to where they will get their Amateur Radio license and become active on the air.

The delegates also recommended that an additional category be introduced to Amateur Radio contests "wherever possible." Details for the "Youngsters and Newcomers" category will be left to individual contest organizers to develop. Delegates also encouraged contest organizers to replace signal strength reports required in contests with "some other less predictable exchange, so as to enhance the skill requirements of contest operators."

Delegates had three choices for the next conference: South Africa, Spain or England. Sun City, South Africa was chosen as the venue for the 2011 meeting.