It is a truism often repeated, but in my opinion, never justified: ARDF must take hold in more Region 2 countries before there can be a Region 2 ARDF Working Group (WG).
An ARDF WG consists of representatives from those countries whose member societies wish to participate in the sport. Those representatives working within the context of the ARDF WG then take actions to administer and promote the sport regionally: defining a rules set, establishing protocols for sanctioning Regional Championships, creating educational material for competitors and organizers, cooperating with other Regions in order to promote the sport, etc.
An ARDF WG consists of representatives from those countries whose member societies wish to participate in the sport.
Clearly, one or two delegates cannot possibly be representative of all 42 countries/territories in IARU Region 2. And it would never do for a non-representative WG to exercise authority over all of Region 2.
One or two delegates cannot possibly be representative of all 42 countries in IARU Region 2.
But promoting ARDF throughout the Region is a large part of the work of the IARU Region 1 ARDF WG (See *). It should be likewise for a Region 2 ARDF WG. So consider: what if the Region 2 ARDF WG were only empowered to take actions in support of propagating ARDF throughout Region 2? In other words: until a representative number of countries is participating in the Region 2 ARDF WG, the WG’s activities could be limited to the business of increasing the number of participating countries. It would have no authority to establish rules or policies that would apply to ARDF in Region 2 as a whole until a threshold of Regional representation is achieved. But even without such authority, a promotion-only ARDF WG might be just what is needed to break out of the chicken-and-egg situation that ARDF finds itself in. We can’t have a Region-wide group to promote ARDF in the Americas until the sport takes hold broadly, and the sport can’t spread broadly until it has a body with Region-wide standing and reach.
Until a representative number of countries is participating in the Region 2 ARDF WG, the WG’s activities could be limited to the business of increasing the number of participating countries. Such a “promotion-only ARDF WG” might be just what is needed to break out of the chicken-and-egg situation that ARDF finds itself in.
ARDF promotion doesn’t mean just getting the word out. It means identifying the barriers to the sport’s spread in Region 2, and effectively removing those barriers. It also means communicating in the languages of our Region: Spanish, English, Brazilian Portuguese, and Canadian French. The job requires the talents of a diverse group: not necessarily a large group, but probably not a single individual.
ARDF promotion doesn’t mean just getting the word out. It means identifying the barriers to the sport’s spread in Region 2, and effectively removing those barriers.
For the IARU Region 2 Organization to consider a proposal to establish a promotion-only working group, the facts must be laid out, a reasonable recommendation based on those facts must first be made to the Executive Committee, and the recommendation must be affordable to the IARU Region 2 Organization.
On that final point, the proposal could stipulate that the “promotion-only Region 2 ARDF Working Group” operate independently of financial support from the IARU Region 2 Organization – at least initially. The WG could be self-supporting through volunteer labor and donations from ARDF supporters in the USA and elsewhere. Some official accountability for any funds raised would need to be put into place in order to give contributors confidence that their donations are being used as intended.
In its “promotion-only” state, an ARDF WG could be self-supporting through volunteer labor and donations from ARDF supporters.
Proposal: Our IARU Region 2 ARDF leadership should explore possibilities for making such a Region 2 ARDF Working Group happen, and soon. ARDF established a foothold in the Americas nearly a generation ago: if it does not take the next step soon, we could lose the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of this unique radiosport in our hemisphere.
* ARDF Working Group Promotional Tasks
The IARU Region 1 ARDF Working Group lists the following responsibilities for itself. Those responsibilities related to promotion and communication, rather than the regulation or administration of the sport are highlighted.
1. To disseminate information related to ARDF.
2. To develop ARDF materials and answer questions from other IARU bodies.
3. To provide ARDF advice and help to IARU Member Societies, to prepare bulletins and educational material, to assist the IARU Regional Member Societies in ARDF activities.
4. To submit ARDF advice, proposals, and recommendations to the Executive Committee.
5. To participate in the organization of IARU ARDF events.
6. To undertake ARDF activities on behalf of the IARU Region.
7. To organize IARU international events and championships.
8. To support sport and technical progress in ARDF.
9. To prepare the ARDF competition rules.
10. To provide for skilled referees serving at International, Regional and World Championships.
11. To cooperate with similar bodies in other IARU regions that promote and administer the sport, helping promulgate and standardize the sport throughout the regions, and coordinating ARDF activities between the regions.