(Name of your local contact)
(Contact's day and evening phone numbers)
(Contact's E-mail address)
(TOWN, State, date) -- Even today, when people are more eager than ever to try out the new communications technology being developed, 650,000 enthusiasts around the country say they plan to hold on to a more traditional way to communicate.
On "Amateur Radio Awareness Day," September 19, Amateur Radio operators around the country will host hands-on demonstrations, give talks to young people and take part in other activities to help raise public awareness about Amateur Radio. The annual event is sponsored by the 160,000-member American Radio Relay League (ARRL), headquartered in Newington, Conn.
"Amateur Radio has survived the surge of cell phones, the Internet and all the wireless wonders that fascinate people today," says (your local contact). "It's because Amateur Radio is more than just a way to contact someone. Earning a license and operating a radio is a unique skill, and people like the challenge. For enthusiasts, it holds a charm unlike any other form of communication today."
Amateur Radio operators are often recognized for their volunteer emergency work. When a tornado ravaged Northeast Georgia in March, local Amateur Radio operators mobilized to help emergency officials. Their communication skills became needed when power was knocked out and cellular telephone networks soon became overloaded. Amateur Radio was used most recently to support emergency communications efforts during the wildfires in Florida.
Today's Amateur Radio enthusiasts come from virtually every age bracket and from every profession. Throughout the year, Amateur Radio operators help coordinate communications for marathons, bike races and parades. Some show local students how they can make new friends on the air or talk to astronauts on the space shuttle. For most Amateur Radio operators it's talking to other enthusiasts across town or on the other side of the world that keeps them coming back for more.
To find out more about Amateur Radio, contact (your local contact, name and phone number) or telephone the American Radio Relay League at 1-800-32 NEW HAM.