Hello All, Obviously, a great deal happened while I was on vacation! I have been keeping track via Internet cafes, but it was not possible to read (much less respond to) everything that hit my inbox while Linda and I were touring Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Serbia. Staff has been able to reach me by telephone, but we have the right people in the right positions and it hasn't been necessary to consult me except by email. I arrived in Davos, Switzerland on Friday and (in between and sometimes during IARU Region 1 Conference meetings) have been trying to get up to speed on email ever since. My unread inbox is more or less under control at this point, and I hope to keep it that way at least until Friday. Paul Rinaldo is here at the conference as well as Frank Butler, who is attending at his own expense. Rod Stafford arrived today and is attending in his role as Region 2 President. Larry Price is here as IARU President, and Vice President Tim Ellam was here briefly before heading to Geneva for an ITU meeting. After the conference we will be going to Zurich for the IARU Administrative Council meeting this weekend. I return to the US on Monday and will be in the office next Tuesday. As for the conference itself, there are about 160 delegates here from 47 countries in Region 1. They are plowing through hundreds of pages of documents and proposals submitted in advance. The working language is English, although it is the native language of very few of the delegates. I want to thank the Election and Ethics Committee and the Executive Committee, in particular, for handling a difficult issue while I was away. I have already thanked staff for their incredible (and ongoing) performance during the Katrina emergency, but I want you Board members to know how proud I am of their work and that of the field organization. 73, Dave Sumner, HB9/K1ZZ