D.R. (Max) Raicha, 5Z4MR, of Kisumu was invited by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1 to attend the triennial Conference in San Marino as the ARSK [Amateur Radio Society of Kenya] delegate. Whilst in San Marino he was privileged and honoured to meet Capitano de Castello [HW The Mayor] of San Marino. The meeting was at the Castello della Citta di San Marino.

HW the Mayor of Kisumu City Cllr. Shakeel Ahamed had requested Max to carry a Goodwill Message and the shield of The Kisumu City Council. The photograph shows Max presenting the shield to Giulietta Della Balda.

In return HW Giulietta Della Balda presented the Shield of San Marino to Max for presenting to the City Council of Kisumu.

At another function at San Marino, Max with Bob Whelan, G3PJT the President of Radio Society of Great Britain ( RSGB )

IARU 2002

A total of 43 Amateur Radio Societies were represented, 39 in person and 4 by proxy. After grueling days of discussions and deliberations a number of new recommendations and resolutions were passed.

A New Executive Committee

Several members of the existing Region 1 Executive Committee retire at the end of this year, and Conference elected a new Committee as follows:

Chairman: Ole Garpestad, LA2RR ~ Norway
Vice-Chairman: Tafa Diop, 6W1KJ ~ Senegal
Secretary: Don Beattie, G3BJ ~ UK
Treasurer: Andreas Thiemann, HB9JOE ~ Switzerland
Members of the EC:

Abdi Razak A.Al-Shahwarzi, A41JT ~ Oman
Hans Ehlers DF5UG ~ Germany
Panayot Davev, LZ1US ~ Bulgaria
Hans Timmerman, PA7BT ~ Netherlands
Max Raicha. 5Z4MR ~ Kenya.

The Election of Max to the Executive committee is not only an honour for ARSK but also to Kisumu City and Kenya as a whole as this is the 1^st appointment of anyone from East Africa in 51 years.

At the Gala Dinner on the eve of departure from San Marino Max presented a memento to President Julian of the host society.

The next conference will be held in Davos, Switzerland in 2005.