{"id":2871,"date":"2018-10-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-09-30T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.iaru-r2.org\/qsl-bureau-policy\/"},"modified":"2018-10-01T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2018-09-30T22:00:00","slug":"qsl-bureau-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iaru-r2.org\/en\/qsl-bureau-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"<span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> Bureau Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4680 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.iaru-r2.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/iaru-251x500.png\" alt width=\"180\" height=\"359\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>To <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> Member-Societies<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At its September 2018 meeting in Seoul the <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> Administrative Council discussed the past, present, and future of the <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> bureau system.<\/p>\n<p>The exchange of <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> cards by radio amateurs is a&nbsp;practice that is almost as old as radio itself. It began as postcard reports of distant reception at a&nbsp;time when two-way contacts over significant distances were relatively rare and the reports were valued as the best evidence of a&nbsp;transmitting station\u0092s range. It developed into a&nbsp;social gesture \u0096 \u0093A <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> is the final courtesy of a&nbsp;<span class=\"caps\">QSO<\/span>\u0094 \u0096 as well as a&nbsp;means of documenting achievements.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> bureaus \u0096 national-level clearinghouses for cards sent in bulk from one country to another \u0096 came about initially because the addresses of individual stations were not widely available (in part because amateurs in some countries operated without the benefit of a&nbsp;license) and international postage for individual cards was relatively expensive. For many years the <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> bureau system was reliable, inexpensive, and almost universal for countries with more than a&nbsp;handful of amateurs.<\/p>\n<p>In recent years several developments have impacted the <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> bureau system:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Computer-generated QSLs have flooded the system with cards that are not desired by the intended recipients.<\/li>\n<li>Amateurs have become more environmentally conscious and regret the large volume of undeliverable and unwanted cards.<\/li>\n<li>Electronic confirmation systems, including but by no means limited to the <span class=\"caps\">ARRL<\/span>\u0092s Logbook of The World (LoTW), have reduced the necessity of collecting cards to earn awards.<\/li>\n<li>Newer, younger amateur licensees are not as wedded to the tradition of <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> card exchange as their older counterparts.<\/li>\n<li>The cost of sending packages of <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> cards internationally has increased dramatically.<\/li>\n<li>Holiday-style \u0093DXpeditions\u0094 and contest operations by visitors have burdened smaller bureaus with cards that cannot be delivered locally, causing some to cease operation entirely.<\/li>\n<li>Budgetary pressures are forcing member-societies to reassess their priorities, especially in countries with declining amateur populations.<\/li>\n<li>Some member-societies find it increasingly difficult to recruit volunteers or to pay staff or contractors to operate their <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> bureaus.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Administrative Council policy on <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> bureaus is set out in Resolution 85\u2009\u2013\u20099, first adopted in 1985 and revised most recently in 2009. In 2016 the Administrative Council sought the views of member-societies on the possible suppression of Resolution 85\u2009\u2013\u20099. With the exception of the <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> Region 2&nbsp;Conference that year, which expressed support for the resolution while also endorsing electronic confirmation, there was very little response.<\/p>\n<p>In Seoul the Administrative Council concluded that Resolution 85\u2009\u2013\u20099 should be replaced with a&nbsp;new Resolution 18\u2009\u2013\u20091 that better reflects the current situation. Because this represents a&nbsp;significant change in policy it is being communicated to member-societies in advance of the effective date of 1&nbsp;January 2019.<\/p>\n<p>Member-societies are invited to direct any questions or concerns regarding this change to <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> Secretary David Sumner, <span class=\"caps\">K1ZZ<\/span>: <a href=\"mailto:secretary@iaru.org\">secretary@\u200biaru.\u200borg<\/a>. Any expressed concerns will be addressed by the Administrative Council prior to the effective date.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><strong><span class=\"caps\">RESOLUTION<\/span> 85\u2009\u2013\u20099<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>(Revised 2009)<\/p>\n<p><strong>(<span class=\"caps\">TO<\/span> <span class=\"caps\">BE<\/span> <span class=\"caps\">SUPPRESSED<\/span> <span class=\"caps\">EFFECTIVE<\/span> 1&nbsp;<span class=\"caps\">JANUARY<\/span> 2019)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>concerning <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> bureaus<\/p>\n<p>The <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> Administrative Council, Auckland, November 1985,<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><u>recognizing<\/u> that the exchanging of <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> cards is a \u201cfinal courtesy\u201d in an Amateur Radio communication,<\/li>\n<li><u>recognizing<\/u> that the cost of exchanging cards between individual amateur stations is prohibitive in most cases, unless an efficient international bureau system in operation,<\/li>\n<li><u>recognizing<\/u> that an amateur who sends a&nbsp;card via the bureau usually has no way of knowing whether the amateur to whom it is addressed is a&nbsp;member of his national <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> society, and<\/li>\n<li><u>recognizing<\/u> that most <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> member?societies operate incoming bureau systems that are available to members and non?members alike, but that some are unable, for good and sufficient reason, to provide service to non?members even it the expenses of doing so are fully reimbursed,<\/li>\n<li><u>resolves<\/u> that member?societies are strongly encouraged, whenever possible, to provide incoming <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> bureaus service to non?members within their operating territory, if such non?members agree to pay the full cost of this service; and if they are not already doing so, to explore appropriate means and methods for delivering <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> cards to non-members, and<\/li>\n<li><u>further resolves<\/u> that member?societies shall not forward <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> Cards to bureaus operated by non?members of <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span>, if there is an <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> member?society in the country concerned that forwards cards to non?members who agree to pay the full cost of this service.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<p><strong><span class=\"caps\">RESOLUTION<\/span> 18\u2009\u2013\u20091&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>(<span class=\"caps\">EFFECTIVE<\/span> 1&nbsp;<span class=\"caps\">JANUARY<\/span> 2019)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>concerning methods of confirming (QSLing) radio contacts (QSOs)<\/p>\n<p>The <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> Administrative Council, Seoul, September 2018<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><u>recognising<\/u> that many radio amateurs wish to receive confirmations of the radio contacts (QSOs) they make with other amateurs, either in the form of physical <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> cards or by electronic means,<\/li>\n<li><u>recognising<\/u> that the cost of exchanging <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> cards between individual amateur stations in different countries can be prohibitive unless an efficient means of international bulk exchange is in operation, as has been the case for decades thanks to the <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> bureau system,<\/li>\n<li><u>recognising<\/u> that systems for exchanging electronic confirmations now exist that are much faster and less expensive than exchanging <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> cards, and therefore are growing in popularity as additional or alternative methods of confirmation,<\/li>\n<li><u>recognising<\/u> that an amateur who wishes to send a&nbsp;card via the <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> bureau system usually has no way of knowing whether the amateur to whom it is addressed is a&nbsp;member of his national <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> member-society and often does not know whether the other amateur wishes to receive cards via the bureau,<\/li>\n<li><u>recognising<\/u> that most <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> member-societies operate incoming bureau systems that are available to members and non-members alike, but that some are unable, for good and sufficient reason, to provide service to non-members even if the expenses of doing so are fully reimbursed,<\/li>\n<li><u>recognising<\/u> that many <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> cards that enter the bureau system are not desired by the intended recipients and may not be deliverable, either for this or some other reason, and<\/li>\n<li><u>sensitive<\/u> to the importance of avoiding the unnecessary environmental impact of <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> cards being printed, transported, and ultimately discarded without being delivered,<\/li>\n<li><u>resolves<\/u> that member societies are encouraged to continue to offer <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> bureau service in their countries, exchanging cards with the bureaus of other member-societies, for as long as doing so is economically justifiable, and<\/li>\n<li><u>further resolves<\/u> that amateurs are encouraged to adopt confirmation practices, including but not limited to using electronic confirmation systems, that reduce the volume of unwanted and undeliverable <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> cards being introduced into the bureau system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> Member-Societies At its September 2018 meeting in Seoul the <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> Administrative Council discussed the past, present, and future of the <span class=\"caps\">IARU<\/span> <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> bureau system. The exchange of <span class=\"caps\">QSL<\/span> cards by radio amateurs is a&nbsp;practice that is almost as old as radio itself. It began as postcard reports of distant reception at a&nbsp;time when&nbsp;[\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iaru-r2.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iaru-r2.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iaru-r2.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iaru-r2.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iaru-r2.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2871"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.iaru-r2.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2871\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iaru-r2.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iaru-r2.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iaru-r2.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}