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Amateur Radio Awareness Day is Saturday, September 17.
The ARRL will be among dozens of organizations and agencies participating in National Preparedness Month. The campaign, headed by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is aimed at making citizen preparedness "a priority for every city, every neighborhood and every home" in the US. The League will combine its role in National Preparedness Month with its own "Amateur Radio Awareness Day" on September 17.
"The two events offer great opportunities for Amateur Radio to showcase its valued service to the nation," said ARRL Field and Educational Services Manager Rosalie White, K1STO. She encouraged ARRL-affiliated clubs and Field Organization volunteers to take advantage of the occasion to set up public demonstrations of Amateur Radio and to present or even demonstrate--under the banner of National Preparedness Month--the free services Amateur Radio provides to the community.
"This is also an excellent opportunity to recruit prospective hams for licensing classes that clubs may be forming for the fall," ARRL Club/Mentor Program Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ added. In addition, ARRL encourages all Amateur Radio operators to have a family emergency communication plan in place in case of an emergency, such as a severe weather event. Visit the Ready.gov Web site for more information.
On Amateur Radio Awareness Day, September 17, W1AW will be on the air.
In addition to displays and operating, here's some
Additional PR activities you can include are:
The ARRL has printed materials available for ARRL-affiliated clubs, ARES groups and others to use for public exhibits and ham radio demonstrations. Brochures may be downloaded free of charge from the ARRL Web site. For a small shipping fee, exhibit kits also are available. Contact Margie Bourgoin, MBourgoin@arrl.org to order.
(is always better than "Dat Information")
Hams are not the only people who deal with disinformation, misinformation and sometimes plain ignorance. The federal government has more than it's share of problems too. To help fix the situation, they have created a special website to respond to the errors that they hear. It is rather interesting reading as sometimes the denials and clarifications are more confusing information than you knew --or want to know. The site is at: http://usinfo.state.gov/media/misinformation.html
The US Post Office also has a special website for the same purpose.
What does this mean to us as PIO's ?
When you become aware of incorrect "facts" it is best to respond as quickly and directly as possible. Contact the reporter or author. Be polite but clear. State the bad information, what is the correct information, and offer to be a resource for the writer if there are more questions on similar topics. We've done that here at ARRL HQ for several months, and we're turned many reporters into friends.
How can a journalist or a news consumer tell if a story is
true or false? There are no exact rules, but the following clues may help
indicate if a story or allegation is true.
First, does the story claim that vast, powerful, evil forces are secretly
manipulating events? If so, this fits the profile of a conspiracy theory, which
is rarely true, even though such theories have great appeal and are often
widely believed. In reality, events usually have much less exciting
explanations.
Second, is the story startlingly good, bad, amazing, horrifying, or otherwise
seemingly "too good" or "too terrible" to be true? If so, it may be an "urban
legend." Urban legends, which often circulate by word of mouth, e-mail, or the
Internet, are false claims that are widely believed because they put a common
fear, hope, suspicion, or other emotion into story form.
For example, after the September 11 attacks, a story arose that someone had
survived the World Trade Center collapse by "surfing" a piece of concrete from
the 80th floor to the ground. Nothing so extraordinary occurred, but many
initially believed this, out of desperate hope that some people trapped in the
towers miraculously survived their collapse.
Third, be aware of widely repeated allegations that are false, but which many
continue to believe. The AIDS virus was not invented in a laboratory. Americans
do not adopt children from other countries to use them in organ transplants.
Likewise, there are many exaggerated fears about depleted uranium, probably because people mistakenly associate it with weapons-grade uranium or fuel-grade
uranium, which are much more dangerous substances.
Fourth, consider the source. Conspiracy theorists often circulate false or skewed information. Ideological extremists frequently spread false stories.
Fifth, research the claim further and, if you wish, ask us. We can't respond to
all requests for information, but if a request is reasonable and we have the
time, we will do our best to provide accurate, authoritative information.
The United States Power Squadrons have not allowed any time to pass before acting on the new relationship with the ARRL.
The USPS is producing a book, with the working title "Marine Amateur Radio." The book covers selection, installation, licensing and use. I am told the book will come off the press the first week in July, and will be in the book stores about 15 July. I do not know the price at this time, but expect it to sell under $20.
"The
President can make you a general, but only communications
can
make you a commander." General Curtis LeMay
The ARRL Annual Report for 2004 is on the web in pdf format
at:
2004
Annual Report
There are over 230 members of the Public Relations email reflector.
Sometimes we may think we are alone. We wonder who else is trying to raise awareness about the many activities and benefits Amateur Radio has for individuals and the community. Perhaps we are facing a problem -- how to accomplish something or how to word it just right.
There are other times when things "click" and you just have to share the joy with someone out there who understands.
If you are not already a part of the PR reflector community, but would like to join us, just drop a line to APitts@arrl.org and we'll get you hooked up.
I first encountered those words across the screen of our old Zenith TV in the very early 50's. I would wait while some poor technician scrambled to fix whatever tube had blown at the station. Now I hear it on my radio when someone's telephone rings. (Note... beware of VOX. It can be embarrassing!)
Attention all PIOs. Please stand by. There are some major things in the wind and we hope that the August issue of Contact will start to fill you in on them. I believe you will be most surprised and pleased. The staff and members of the PR Committee have been working very hard, and we think we have something wonderful in the planning. If it plays out, we will need a LOT of help (don't we always -- and you always are there for the hobby), but "it's a doozie!"