Imagine, for a moment, an IARU without separate entities known as Region 1, Region, 2 and Region 3. Imagine a total restructuring that would create a single global entity, erasing the discrete regions separated by oceans, languages and cultures.
The IARU has announced that it is considering just that and has released a proposal to unite the independent regions as one, combined with the International Secretariat, to streamline decision-making, to better coordinate shared concerns and to bolster membership in regions where it is declining. The IARU's administrative headquarters is presently based at the ARRL in the United States.
The IARU has released guidance on potential restructuring to help the organization meet modern challenges. The proposed changes would combine the 3 separate regional organizations into a single global entity.
The proposal (PDF) outlines a number of areas where the currently independent, regional organizations struggle. Problem areas include declining membership, duplication of resources, lack of coordination, and other various inefficiencies. The changes are designed to establish a number of benefits:
This overwhelming change would not happen overnight, of course. The IARU will be asking member societies to vote after they have reviewed the consultation on restructuring, which is available on the IARU website. Any changes that are approved would not take place before next year.