Every April 18, hams around the globe observe World Amateur Radio Day (WARD). Sponsored by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), World Amateur Radio Day marks the founding of the IARU in 1925. Radio amateurs worldwide will celebrate Amateur Radio’s contribution to society. WARD 2016 coincides with National Parks Week in the US, so listen for amateurs on from NPS units for National Parks on the Air (NPOTA).

“April 18 is the day for all of Amateur Radio to celebrate and tell the world about the science we can help teach, the community service we can provide, and the fun we have,” the IARU said.

Amateur Radio pioneers — including ARRL co-founder Hiram Percy Maxim, 1AW —met in Paris in 1925 and created the IARU to support Amateur Radio worldwide. As Maxim and his counterparts envisioned, the IARU is an international confederation of national Amateur Radio organizations that allows a forum for common matters of concern and collectively represents matters to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Today the IARU includes 160 member-societies in three regions. IARU Region 1 includes Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Northern Asia. Region 2 covers the Americas, and Region 3 is comprised of Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific island nations, and most of Asia. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has recognized the IARU as representing the interests of Amateur Radio.

Groups may promote their WARD activity on social media by using the hash tag #WARD2016 on Twitter and on Facebook.