IREF is an organization created to provide support to IOTA expeditions. The Foundation will depend on contributions from members on at least an annual basis. IREF has been born out of a grass roots desire to advance the sport of "Island Chasing" and has not received any endowments to help achieve these goals. IREF is a 501(c)(3) organization.
About IREF
IREF is an organization created to provide support to IOTA expeditions. The Foundation will depend on contributions from members on at least an annual basis. IREF has been born out of a grass roots desire to advance the sport of "Island Chasing" and has not received any endowments to help achieve these goals. IREF is a 501(c)(3) organization.This designation allows US contributors to deduct contributions to IREF, Inc. from their federal income taxes.
IREF is an international organization. The Board of Directors is made up of members from Great Britain, Portugal, Japan, and the United States. The Board will make all of the expedition funding decisions. The principles that the foundation are based on are:
> To provide funding and other support for expeditions to IOTA qualified islands for the purpsoses of operating amateur radio & promote radio science through portable island operations
> To provide funding and other support to amateurs resident on IOTA qualified islands where such assistance can be shown to improve their capabilities in achieving the same objectives.
> Promote International goodwill through amateur radio.
> Advance the body of knowledge for those interested in portable island radio operations in areas of expedition planning, antenna use and deisgn, radio propogation studies, and general radio science
> Unite amateur radio operators as a potential force to deal with issues concerning the advancement of the amateur radio hobby
> Promote expedition effectiveness by encouraging multi-operator, around the clock operating
> Promote prompt QSL delivery
The categories of membership are:
> Lifetime Membership ~ $500USD
> Sustaining Membership ~ $250USD
> Supporting Membership ~ $100USD
> Contributing Membership ~ $99USD or less
We will recognize each contributor on this web page. The amounts above are suggestions only, any contribution will be appreciated. Contributions may be made in the form of checks to the postal address below or by credit card through the PayPal service. Click the button below to use the PayPal service.
How IREF evaluates expeditions
The purpose of the following grading scale is to help with the decision of how much support is granted by IREF to an expedition. The areas of interest are the rarity of the island, number of operators, operating strategy, number of stations, QSL practices, the expense of reaching the island and the net experience of the expedition team. This process is only be a tool in helping the board of trustees make its funding decision.
Category | Criteria | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
Rarity of Island | |||
New IOTA | 20 | ||
Top 5% | 18 | ||
Top 10% | 16 | ||
Top 20 | 14 | ||
top 30 | 10 | ||
Top 50 | 5 | ||
* Percentages deal with the need within the continent that the island is found | |||
Number of Operators | |||
3+ | 10 | ||
2 | 7 | ||
1 | 3 | ||
*An operator consists of a licenced amateur radio operator | |||
Operating Strategy | |||
24 hours per day | 10 | ||
18 Hours per day | 7 | ||
12 hours per day | 5 | ||
8 hours per day | 3 | ||
* The times represent operating hours during a day | |||
Number of Days Operating | |||
4+ | 10 | ||
3 | 7 | ||
2 | 5 | ||
1 | 2 | ||
Number of bands used | |||
7-9 | 10 | ||
5-6 | 9 | ||
4 - must include 4 of the 5 primary bands: 3.5, 7, 14, 21, 28 | 8 | ||
3 - Must include 3 of the 5 primary bands | 6 | ||
5 - Must include either 14 or 21 MHz | 5 | ||
1 - Must be either 14 or 21 MHz | 2 | ||
Number of stations | |||
2+ | 10 | ||
1 | 5 | ||
QSL Practice | |||
Within 3 months | 10 | ||
Within 4 months | 7 | ||
Within 5 months | 5 | ||
Expedition Experience | |||
2+ expeditions - based on difficulty & success | 6-10 | ||
1 expedition - based on difficulty & success | 1-5 | ||
Difficulty of reaching the island and the net experience of the operating team will be evaluated and used to help make decisions regarding the funding of the expedition. This process can be used as an incentive for additional funding after the expedition if certain goals are attained. For example, a limited funding commitment to a certain expedition because of lack of experience, etc., however if a significant number of QSO's, QSL timing, etc. are achieved additional funding could be forthcoming.
http://www.islandradio.org/index.html
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