GAREC
  Saving lives through Emergency Communications   Welcome to GAREC-2009!

EmComms across Borders   -   Program and Conference Documents

24 August 2009 (Monday)
10:00 Opening Ceremony
Mr. Shozo Hara, JA1AN, The President of the JARL
Mr. Tim Ellam, VE6SH, The President of the IARU
Nomination of the Statement Committee

10:30 Coffee Break

11:15 GAREC's as a process since 2005
Dr. Seppo Sisatto, OH1VR

11:30 Annual activity reports by Regions 1, 2 and 3
Region 1: Mr. Greg Mossop, G0DUB
Region 2: Mr. Dave Patton, NN1N
Region 3: Mr. Jim Linton, VK3PC
Chaired by Mr. Tim Ellam, VE6SH

12:30 LUNCH

14:00 Amateur Radio Services as a partner of the ITU and the IFRC
Mr. Tim Ellam, VE6SH, The President of the IARU
Chaired by Mr. Dave Sumner, K1ZZ

14:45 Earthquakes and Amateur Radio
China: (CRSA report presented by Mr. Keigo Komuro, JA1KAB)
Italy: by Mr. Alberto Barbera, IK1YLO - Photos -
Japan: by Mr. Ken Yamamoto, JA3MVI
Chaired by Mr. Jim Linton, VK3PC

15:45 Coffee Break

16:00 CoA's - experiences - future
Mr. Greg Mossop, G0DUB
Mr. Francois Botha, ZS6BUU
Chaired by Dr. Seppo Sisatto, OH1VR

17:00 Social Hour - Beverages

25 August 2009 (Tuesday)
09:00 Presentations of the Conference Papers
Mr. Francois Botha, ZS6BUU
Ms. Bonnie Crystal, VR2/KQ6XA
Mr. Doug Ingham, ZL2TAR - Map
Mr. Faird Ng, VR2UNG and Mr. Alan Kan, VR2KY
Mr. Johnny Tan, V85DB
Mr. Joop Verdoes, PA1JAV
Chaired by Mr. Jay Oka, JA1TRC

10:30 Coffee Break

10:45 GlobalSET's - experiences and the future
Mr. Greg Mossop, G0DUB
Chaired by Mr. Dave Patton, NN1N

11:30 Technical and practical solutions for EmComms - Equipment producers
ICOM - Mr. Kiyoshi Sakurai, JA3FMP
Chaired by Dr. Seppo Sisatto, OH1VR

12:30 LUNCH

14:00 Bushfire Communications - Australia
Mr. Jim Linton, VK3PC
Chaired by Mr. Dave Patton, NN1N

14:45 Panel: EmComms across Borders
Ms. Bonnie Crystal, VR2/KQ6XA
Mr. Hank Kryger, WA9QJH
Mr. Greg Mossop, G0DUB
Chaired by Mr. Dave Sumner, K1ZZ

15:30 Coffee Break

15:45 Closing Session
The acceptance of the GAREC-2009 Statement

16:30 Closing of the Conference
IARU Region 1 Conference and GAREC-2011
GAREC-2009 General Information

The Fifth Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (GAREC) Conference will be held on 24 - 25 August 2009, in connection with the JARL Tokyo Ham Fair at Tokyo Big Sight, Ariake, Tokyo Japan. The Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) hosts the Conference.

The Theme of the GAREC-2009 will be "Emergency Communications across Borders" The program will include presentations about operations during disasters that occurred since last year's conference and discussions about new developments in technology and their application in emergency communications. The detailed program will be published in late April.

All Amateur Radio Operators interested in Emergency Communications are invited to participate. The fifth GAREC continues the work of its four forerunners:
After the first and the second GAREC in Tampere, Finland, the third GAREC in Huntsville, Alabama, USA, and the fourth GAREC in 2008 in Friedrichshafen, Germany, this year's event will be the first GAREC conference in IARU Region 3.
The proceedings and the statements of the 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 conferences can be found at the GAREC web site.
Emergency Telecommunications are, by the way, also the theme of this year's World Amateur Radio Day (WARD-09) on 18 April 2009, see http://www.iaru.org/worldAmRadioDay.html.

The Organizing Committee for GAREC-2009 consists of
Seppo Sisatto OH1VR, and Jay Oka JA1TRC.
Members of the Program Committee are;
Keigo Komuro JA1KAB, Jim Linton VK3PC, and Hans Zimmermann, F5VKP/HB9AQS.

Contact: Seppo Sisatto, OH1VR, < Seppo.Sisatto@uta.fi >
Organizing Committee

REGISTRATION: Started : 06 May 2009 Registration can be made online at GAREC web-site
A registration fee of Japanese Yen 8000 (cash) will be collected on the first day of the Conference.

VENUE: Tokyo Fashion Town Building (TFT)   East-Wing 9th Floor
3-1, Ariake, Koto-ku, TOKYO 135-0063   Access

TFT Building is just 2 or 3 minutes walk from the hotels listed below.  Area Map

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION: There are following two nearby hotels and they have their own online booking systems. The prices mentioned below are INTERNET ON-LINE RESERVATION rates. You will get higher rates if you make reservation by e-mail.

Hotel Sunroute Ariake   <INTERNET ON-LINE RESERVATIONS>
3-1-20 Ariake, Koto-ku, TOKYO 135-0063
TEL: +81 3-5530-3610
Starting rate: 8/21 7500, 8/22 9000, 8/23 6800, 8/24 7500, 8/25 9000 (Single room no Breakfast; with Breakfast, add 1000)
(Online Reservation system tips: If you do not get the desired date at the "Check room rates & Availability" window, just select the Month and ignore the date. Then click (SEARCH). You will get a calendar window that shows number of rooms available and starting rate on each day.)

Tokyo Bay Ariake Washington Hotel   <INTERNET ON-LINE RESERVATIONS>
3-1-28 Ariake, Koto-ku, TOKYO 135-0063
TEL: +81 3-5564-0111   FAX: +81 3-5564-0525
Starting rate: 8/21 9950, 8/22 9950, 8/23 6000, 8/24 6600, 8/25 8600 (Single room no Breakfast)

You can find other hotels at following web-sites;
JAPANiCAN.com
Agoda   (Payment in advance)
  Country: Japan, City: Tokyo   select Location: Odaiba

ARRIVAL IN TOKYO: Participants can fly to Tokyo (Narita Airport: NRT) directly from most of the world hub airports.

The easiest way to get to the above listed hotels from Narita Airport is the Airport Limousine Bus.
A single trip from Narita to Ariake costs 2,700 Yen.
Departure time from Narita Terminal 2 is at 8:45, 10:55, 13:50, 15:50, 16:50, 17:50 and 18:50, daily.
Airport Limousine Information

VISA AND IMMIGRATION INFORMATION: As visa requirements to Japan may vary for the citizens/nationals of different countries, please check the visa requirements with your nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate. Kindly visit the web-site of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MoFA) for more details.
As of February 2008, Japan had taken measures concerning the waiver of visa requirements with 62 countries and regions. Please see the following web-page of the MoFA.
For the visa supporting letter, please contact below.

INSURANCE: Due to the procedural difficulties and budgetary constraints, the Organizer is not able to bear the cost of insurance for the participants' any medical expenses or any other expenses. We, therefore, request all participants to kindly make necessary arrangements for insurance and medical coverage before travel.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION: 
Weather:   Tokyo has four distinct seasons and it would be hot and humid in August, having average temperature of 28-33 degrees Celsius.
Time Zone:   UTC + 9
Electricity:   The standard electricity supply in Japan is 100V. Please be sure to prepare the correct adapter. Voltage converters will not be provided at the meeting.
Mobilephone:   Please note that 3G cellular service is widely available in Japan, but GSM service is not.
For roaming service with Japanese cellualr operators, please consult with your mobilephone operator.

CONTACT INFORMATION:JARL International Section
E-mail:   intl@jarl.or.jp
(Please include the word "GAREC:" in the subject when you send e-mail to us in order not to miss your e-mail.)
FAX:   +81 3-3943-8282
TEL:   +81 3-5395-3106   (00:30-09:00 UTC on weekdays)
Postal Mail:   14-5, Sugamo 1-chome, Toshima-ku, TOKYO 170-8073, Japan