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IN THIS EDITION:
Ward Silver, N0AX, writes, “I was trying to remember the name of this site when I was at ARRL - it's a "self-publishing"-style site, but for stuff like coffee cups, tee-shirts, etc. This may be a good way to create and produce additional niche products or just plain, old schwag at low cost. www.zazzle.com
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Another website of interest for PIOs may be http://landing.trafficz.com/index.php?domain=supermegapizdetc.com. This is supermegapizdetc.com and it has FREE grammar, spelling and research tools which can be useful as you write things for the media.
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Following up on last month’s article on all the activities the ARRL does for members and Amateur Radio, Steve Katz, N8WL, spotted the March 1964 issue of QST (p. 67), reprinted from the November, 1919 issue. The quote in it was timeless:
"The Importance of Our ARRL
...There is no such thing as organization if each one of us starts out to be thoroughly selfish. If all our efforts are to be directed solely for the benefit of self, we are purely individual and able to take about as much form as the individual sands of the sea. We are an incoherent, uncontrolled crowd. On the other hand, if just a little of our efforts is devoted to the common cause, we automatically establish organization and efficiency and protection, and everything else that is elevating, improving and worth the having...When an amateur asks that old-time question, "What do I get out of joining the ARRL?" the answer should be, "Protection." He cannot have it unless somebody joins an organization and does the work. Unless he joins and does his bit, he must not complain when his fellows place him in the list of unenviables who are not willing to do any work themselves..."
- Hiram Percy Maxim
Steve adds, “What a great quote! I often hear other hams (complaining) about the League doing this or not doing that, and they won't join that so-and-so organization because the League doesn't perfectly reflect their beliefs and values (no organization does!). This is the perfect quote to throw back at the ARRL bashers. It ought to be on a bronze plaque on the entrance of HQ (is it?) and it ought to be on the Contents page of every issue of QST. Without the ARRL there wouldn't be any ham radio for non-members to enjoy!”
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Here’s another chance to get some local coverage in an idea sent in by Bill Morine, N2COP, for a pitch:
“Many ham radio operators from your area are probably flocking to Dayton, Ohio this May 17 -20. Dayton is the home to Hamvention®, the Mecca of ham radio. Somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 of America’s 650,000 licensed ham radio operators descend on this Midwestern city the third weekend of every May to learn what’s new in what’s been dubbed the most fail-safe form of emergency communications. Attending from our area will be:_______________ At Dayton, they are expected to see new ways of applying emergency communications on the behalf of the public, such as _____.”
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Got a good idea? Spot something other PIOs can use? Write it down in a short paragraph or two and send it in to apitts@arrl.org for possible inclusion in CONTACT! This is where we can share opportunities with each other.
In all of the news discussions following the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech, there were several comments that, once again, the cell phone systems were jammed and unworkable. WTIC radio here in Connecticut had further discussions on this system failure featuring engineers from TAB Computer Systems. They stated that most cell phone systems AT BEST only can carry 3-4% of their clients at one time. I was surprised at this and began my own little research program into this. Starting with http://tinyurl.com/ysvwpn I found that they were right! While some were a little more, that seemed to be the average.
Now, if only three or four percent of cell phone subscribers can be on the system at one time in an area even in the best of times, it really shows that the reliance on these devices in a crisis is not only unfounded, but truly asking for trouble. (Somehow I can hear Clint Eastwood’s voice as you dial for help asking, “Do you feel lucky?”)
Please share this information with your ECs and other EmComm people, and also have it ready as an information point when you speak with media.
A new video Public Service Announcement will be coming out in May. Based on the opening of Richard Lubash’s great work on “Katrina- The Untold Story,” it will be available in mp4 computer format for downloading off the www.emergency-radio.org website. On request, a DVD version will be available for TV broadcasters.
You can see a preview of it at http://tinyurl.com/ypxjuy . You will need a good internet connection and Quicktime.
And….
NY metro, NJ, Phila, Washington, DC …..
You may have seen it on TV already! With special thanks to COMCAST and Dan McMonigle, N3IXQ, the East Division of COMCAST’s systems have been playing ARRL’s PSA’s in absolutely fantastic spots for several weeks. COMCAST’s generosity in this action, the community service that they are providing, and their cooperation deserves not just our thanks but also praise for what can be done working cooperatively with a major media outlet. While cable systems in other areas of the country may not be as structured as COMCAST’s Eastern Division, it shows that with a first class PSA, you CAN get good coverage if you try.
Download and show your local cable outlet the mp4 version. If they are interested, let Allen know who and where, (send contact and address to apitts@arrl.org) and we’ll mail them the DVD quickly.
Below is the main press release for you to edit and use as you wish. Also – do not forget about any Spanish speaking options in your area! Here is the link to get a press release in Spanish!!!
For Immediate Release
Ham Radio Operators Demonstrate Modern Emergency Capabilities
75th Public Demo of Emergency Communications June 23-24
Newington, CT – For 75 years, Amateur Radio operators across the country have been providing emergency communications when other systems failed or overloaded in a crisis. Each year they take their equipment into unusual locations to test and make sure Ham Radio will always be there to get the message through. This year, is their the 75th “Field Day” as thousands of Ham Radio operators will be showing off their emergency capabilities this weekend.
Over the past year, the news has been full of reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications in emergencies world-wide. During Hurricane Katrina, Amateur Radio – often called “Ham radio” - was often the ONLY way people could communicate, and hundreds of volunteer “hams” traveled south to save lives and property. When trouble is brewing, ham radio people are often the first to provide critical information and communications. On the weekend of June 23-24, the public will have a chance to meet and talk with these ham radio operators and see for themselves what the Amateur Radio Service is about. Showing the newest digital and satellite capabilities, voice communications and even historical Morse code, hams from across the USA will be holding public demonstrations of emergency communications abilities.
This annual event, called "Field Day" is the climax of the week long "Amateur Radio Week" sponsored by the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. Using only emergency power supplies, ham operators will construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools and back yards around the country. Their slogan, "Ham radio works when other systems don't! " is more than just words to the hams as they prove they can send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, internet or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis. More than 30,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year's event.
"We hope that people will come and see for themselves, this is not your grandfather's radio anymore," said Allen Pitts of the ARRL. "The communications networks that ham radio people can quickly create have saved many lives in the past months when other systems failed or were overloaded.”
In the _____locality_______ area, the _____group name_____ will be demonstrating Amateur Radio at _______location______ on ____date___. They invite the public to come and see ham radio’s capabilities and learn how to get their own FCC radio license before the next disaster strikes.
There are 660,000 Amateur Radio operators in the US, and more than 2.5 million around the world. Through the ARRL, ham volunteers provide emergency communications for the DHS Citizens' Corps, Red Cross, Salvation Army, FEMA and thousands of state and local agencies, all for free.
To learn more about Amateur Radio, go to www.emergency-radio.org. The public is most cordially invited to come, meet and talk with the hams. See what modern Amateur Radio can do. They can even help you get on the air!
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PIO’s
Gain FAME
Score 500 points
Impress your Friends and Relatives
Win a FREE trip to...
…well, maybe not a free trip, but you sure can get three out of the four.
We may still be in the depths of winter, but Field Day planning has begun in many clubs and groups. The plans you make now will bring big changes later.
How would you like to be a hero and bring in 500 FD points for your group
before you ever touch a radio?
As you plan Field Day:
Total = 500 points!!
Fame, points, prestige, applause, adulation
Several states have gotten their governor involved. Last month’s CONTACT! gave information and ideas about getting a proclamation. Among those that followed through on this was Michigan. Their state proclamation might be useful to others in getting a declaration even at this late date. See it by clicking here
There’s LOTS more Field Day materials and information in the 2007 edition of the Swiss Army Knife for PIOs 2007. If you do not have a copy of your own, go to http://www.wa4zxv.com/ and you can download from there.
May
4-6 EmComm West
18-19 Dayton Hamvention®
19 Armed Forces Day
20 Dayton Hamvention®
21 Hurricane Awareness Week
25 McGan Award Nominations due
26-27 CQ WW WPX CW ContestJune
1 Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins
9 ARRL June VHF QSO Party
10 ARRL June VHF QSO Party
16 Kid's Day
17 Amateur Radio Week Begins
23-24 ARRL Field DayJuly
14-15 IARU HF World Championship
21 CQ WW VHF Contest
21-22 North American QSO Party--RTTY
22 CQ WW VHF Contest
I hope to meet many of you at Reno, Dayton or later in Alabama at the national convention. Please stop by the ARRL PR area, share your thoughts, ideas and concerns. We have a wonderful PIO corps with good motivation and insights which is the backbone of our efforts to get the word out to the public. It’s a real joy to meet many of you in person!
73
-de w1agp