ARRL Headquarters staffers will be among those journeying to Germany this week to represent the League at HAM RADIO 2013 — the International Exhibition for Radio Amateurs, commonly known simply by its location, Friedrichshafen. The gathering takes place in the Messe convention center on the shores of Lake Constance June 28-30. Some 200 exhibitors from nearly 3 dozen countries are expected at HAM RADIO 2013 along with upward of 15,000 visitors. This year’s HAM RADIO theme is “The Amateur Radio Adventure: DXpedition,” and representatives of several DXpeditions will explain for visitors the thrill of operating from remote areas of the world.

Billed as Europe’s biggest Amateur Radio convention — and sometimes as “Europe’s Dayton” — this HAM RADIO is the 38th international exhibition and the 64th Lake Constance Convention of Radio Amateurs, sponsored by the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC), which established the fair. In addition to touring the indoor exhibitions and booths of vendors, organizations and flea marketers, attendees can participate in lectures, international and national meetings, and large-stage presentations.

The ARRL contingent will be on hand to greet international visitors and to network with representatives of other national ham radio societies. The League also supports DXCC card checking at its booth — very popular within the international ham community. In its role as International Secretariat for the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), the ARRL will host a meeting area for IARU officials and friends at the convention.

Attending on the behalf of the League will be ARRL International Affairs Vice President Jay Bellows, KØQB, and HQ staff members Norm Fusaro, W3IZ; Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, and Dave Patton, NN1N. Representing the IARU will be President Timothy Ellam, VE6SH, Vice President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, and Secretary Rod Stafford, W6ROD. ARRL will post photos of the event to its Facebook page.

DXpedition teams will include those who organized DXpeditions to Rodriguez Islands (3B9SP), Comoros (D64K), Uganda (5X8C), Clipperton Island (TX5K) and Campbell Island (ZL9HP). An annual Ham Rally (ages 8 to 18) and Ham Youth Camp (up to age 27) will be the centerpiece of activities for children, teenagers and young adults attending the convention. — thanks to Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R; some information provided by the Messe, Friedrichshafen