In late November I received an invitation, including the promise of a plane ticket and accommodation, from the Qatar Amateur Radio Society to attend an international Amateur Radio event to be held in conjunction with Qatar National Day on December 18. After consulting with President Craigie and International Affairs Vice President Bellows (who attended a QARS event in April 2010) it was agreed that I should accept. The Arab states are the most difficult for the IARU to influence and we can never have enough friends there. It took until noon today for everything to fall into place but I now have a ticket to Doha and back, leaving tomorrow and returning next Wednesday. IARU Region 2 Secretary Ramon Santoyo, XE1KK, will also be among the small group of international guests in Doha. Dave Sumner, K1ZZ