The IAF held its 37th Annual General Meeting in Kearney Nebraska by kind invitation of NAFA from 19th – 24th November 2006.

The meeting started with a sponsored flight for delegates to the Archives of Falconry at the Peregrine Fund in Boise Idaho. The trip was to mark the inauguration of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Memorial Falconry Heritage wing of the Archives sponsored by UAE. The privilege was much appreciated by all who saw the amazing achievement that Kent Carnie and his and UAE staff have produced over recent years. At last there is a professionally run exhibition of the memorabilia, literature and art of our sport from all over the world that carries to our children and their children the memories of our way of life.

The AGM itself was staged over four days with morning meetings so that delegates and visitors from 32 countries could also share in the field meet put on by NAFA members. Hospitality was outstanding, many friendships renewed and new ones started. Quarry was abundant and the weather smiled on us with clear blue skies, cold nights and windless days. Evening entertainment was seemingly endless with speaker after speaker keeping us entertained until the last night when, through a highly amusing talk aptly entitled ‘Strengthening the bond’, the inimitable Steve Martin gave us much insight into the American view of falconry and their relationships with hawks.

Hawks flew high, many so high they were hard to keep in view, and in dry, crisp conditions grouse were easy to find. The weathering lawn was a falconers’ delight with so many remarkable birds on display of every species that it would have been hard to choose. I went to the first Kearney meet in 1986 – there has been so much progress in our sport in the past 20 years but most of the same faces were still there – Rick Sharpe, Dave Cherry, Bob Berry, Steve Chindgren, Jim Willmarth, Ralph Rogers, Frank Bond, Jim Ince, Danny Ertsgaard and many, many others – it’s just that they are all so much better at it now!

The IAF AGM finished on the Friday with the election of Frank Bond as the new President following the retirement of Patrick Morel, the re-election of Jose Manuel Rodriguez-Villa as Vice President for Europe, Asia, Africa & Oceania, the appointment of Tony Crosswell as Executive Secretary, Antonio Carapuco as Treasurer, Gary Timbrell as Chair of the Advisory Committee and new members of the Advisory Committee itself.

After the past 6 years Presidency of Patrick Morel the new President has a hard act to follow. Patrick has been an outstanding leader and diplomat and it was with much sadness that his term came to such a memorable end. He has seen the IAF grown from just a few members to now representing 60 associations from 48 countries. On my return to the UK my ‘inbox’ was full, the new team up and running with enthusiasm and many ideas to carry our sport into the next generation. Many thanks to the participants and our sponsors – it is quite amazing just what it takes to keep it all running but there is a wealth of talent, qualification and dedication amongst our membership who have proved so willing to support the effort of the IAF.

Our gratitude to NAFA for hosting this event and all the sponsors. Next years AGM will be in Gien, near Paris France, probably late October, by kind invitation of ANFA and we all look forward to meeting again.


Captions for photos:

Photos by Bohumil Straka




1. IAF President Frank Bond with his white female Gyr falcon




2. Retiring President Patrick Morel, New President Frank Bond with the delegates Ata Eyeberdiyev from Turkmentistan and Pavel Yakimov from Bulgaria.