WARO PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2002

This year has gone so fast it is hard to believe that twelve months have gone by as President of WARO. I must report that this has been a very significant year for WARO, being the 40^th Birthday year. Those of us who were fortunate to be able to take part in the celebrations of this milestone, both in Rotorua and also at Christchurch in the South Island, will I am sure agree with me that WARO has come a long way in those 40 years.

It was very heartening to me to be able to present 40 year certificates to two of those foundation members at Rotorua, and also to be able to meet with another original member of WARO, who is no longer a participant in our great hobby. WARO is certainly a very healthy organisation financially and membership wise. It is great to see that we have so many DX members too. Darleen Magen WD5FQX will be the first DX member to attain 30 years of continuous membership.

It is pleasing to have so many WARO members upgrading to HF frequencies this year and also for the activity of the ZL YLs on the HF bands to have increased during the year. Where the presence of ZL YLs on the 14.222 YL DX net was very few most Mondays, now there are more ZL YLs than all the other countries. Yes most of the YLs heard are also WARO members.

 There have been several opportunities during the year for the WARO members to hold get togethers namely Hamilton, where a very enjoyable morning tea meet and presentation was held at the Novotel hotel a great time was had by all in attendance. Then there was the Paengaroa Amateur Radio Club Market day where an enjoyable morning tea was held, also Cambridge Amateur Radio club market day. I believe these get togethers must be encouraged, there have probably been some other opportunities for the WARO members of both the North and South Island to meet together which I don't know about. It has also been very pleasing to read of the travels of many of our members in the WARO Bulletin.

The WARO executive committee have been great to work with this year, we are fortunate to have such a willing band of YLs to take on these positions and to carry them out so positively and efficiently. To those members retiring from the Executive I wish you well, thank you for all the time and effort you have given to WARO it has been a great commitment on your part. I would like to welcome those who have offered to be on the executive for the coming year, we do have some who have been on the executive before returning to the committee after an absence, and we also have some very new members of WARO who have offered their services. I look forward to working with you, and enjoying our wonderful hobby together.

Wishing you all good DX and may you enjoy many happy times communicating with your YL friends all over the world.

33 Bev ZL1OS President.