{note: deadline is Tuesday, October 3- reply today if interested!} This notice is being sent to scholars, media activists and policy advocates who would like to learn more about participatory media as it is practiced around the world. AMARC is the World Association of Community Broadcasters, and they are having their triennial conference this November in Amman, Jordan. There is a unique, very short notice opportunity for some activists and scholars to be able to attend this important event. Community radio is often ignored by governments, and forgotten by funders in favor of fancier public radio stations. In the US, some people denigrate community radio as being of marginal importance to the mainstream American public discourse. Often the positive impacts of these community stations can be missed, or taken for granted. But the AMARC gathering is an incredible opportunity to see participatory community radio in the global context, from brave stations in conflict zones to stations that serve as the main public forums and prime information sources of their towns. AMARC can challenge North Americans to strengthen our stations, and inform activists, scholars and ultimately policy decisonmakers of the opportunity that community radio presents for a democracy. Meeting peers who make media in other countries can help us learn some lessons about democracy that we can bring back to the United States--our country which sometimes acts as if we have a trademark on the word "democracy. " We have just learned, at this late date, that some long sought funding assistance will be available for some North American Community Radio organizers, scholars, and media activists to attend the upcoming AMARC conference in Amman Jordan. In addition to the group of community radio practitioners who are going, we are especially seeking people who can help us to study the value of community media in economic, social, and political terms in the current debates, and people who hope to help build the movement for a more free, participatory, less corporate dominated media. Total costs including airfare, hotel and registration are predicted to be $2000-2500. Full or partial funding assistance will be available for several people from North America. If you are interested and able to attend this important meeting, please contact Norman Stockwell ([log in to unmask]) or Elizabeth Robinson ([log in to unmask]) for more information and details on the application process and responsibilities for those receiving funding assistance. We need to get your application in by Tuesday, October 3rd! crazy! we know! (If you are able to, please plan on covering at least some portion of your expenses, using this funding to augment and assist your own personal fund raising). p.s. We will probably also take a few days afterwards to build and train a small radio radio station for a few days afterwards with a women's organization in another town in Jordan. It will be very exciting if it works out! ======================= The Road to AMARC 9 World Conference in Amman, Jordan AMARC 9, the 9th world Conference of AMARC, will take place in Amman, Jordan from the 11 to the 17 of November 2006 (<http://www.amarc9.amarc.org> ). The Internet Jordanian pioneer and FM broadcaster Ammannet (<http://ammannet.net>) will host the conference in partnership with media and journalists groups from Jordan and Palestine. AMARC 9 will bring together up to 300 or 400 community broadcasters from more than 110 countries and all regions of the world. The ninth gathering of community radio broadcasters will take a week and consist first of all in a World Conference that will allow participants to analyze and explore the challenges facing community radios. In order to have an input on the situation of the community radio movements, the challenges and the ways to increase its efficiency, we have put an on line form to gather your opinions and feedback Please visit <http://amarc9.amarc.org> . In order to increase our participatory approach, the International Board of Directors has established a Contents & Themes committee to define the Agenda in consultation with our members, so please send your suggestions. During the Conference, we encourage regional or sector assemblies, as of the Women International Network. We also encourage parallel events such as training for trainers, Internet broadcasting of the conference proceedings. Please send your suggestions to *<[log in to unmask]>* The voting and associate members of AMARC will meet in the 9th AMARC World General Assembly to receive the reports of the International Board, to define the Amman Declaration of Community Radio Broadcasters, to adopt the strategic plan 2006-2010, to elect the new international Board of Directors and adopt resolutions to tackle the challenges facing the community radio movement. Please update your membership information contacting *<[log in to unmask]>* or writing to AMARC International or to your regional AMARC office. Please visit regularly the AMARC website for news <www.amarc.org> . This year AMARC Link will be distributed monthly to encourage participation in AMARC 9. =====<http://wiki.amarc.org/index2.php? topic=amarc9_home&style=amarc9&site=amarc9&lang=EN>==========