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ARRL is committed to public relations and has built a national PR program designed to represent Amateur Radio to government, the media and the public. The Newington Headquarters' national effort is supported, and greatly enhanced by, ARRL public information appointees and other interested volunteers who work to promote Amateur Radio on the local level.
In the News...
There’s something about hams that makes them want to open the plastic box and see what’s inside every gizmo they encounter. What makes it work ? This inquisitive and creative streak that is the third component in the trilogy of the ARRL Public Relations campaigns. First came “Hello.” Then came EmComm. For 2008 comes “We Do That!”
Unwrapped at the Dayton Hamvention® , the new coordinated PR effort shows the technological activities which Amateur Radio’s people love. Once again, this is a campaign with several interlocking parts:
Brochures
An attractive brochure celebrating ham technology has been created will be available from www.arrl.org/brochures. It shows hams doing many exciting activities, from “Green Radio “ to SETI, through time and space itself. Download as web-optimized PDF [177kb]
WeDoThat-Radio.org
A new, special Web site has been created just for this campaign. Maximizing the strong points of the Hello-Radio and Emergency-Radio Web sites before it, WeDoThat-Radio.org uses some of the newer technologies similar to the blog format which allows easy topic additions, changes and visitors to even ask questions.
Talk on a Disk
What began as an experiment in 2007 became a major success as the ARRL’s “Talk on a Disk” was quickly snatched up and used by people making presentations to groups. This CD disk contains all the materials you need to make a good PowerPoint presentation before a non-ham group. It has the slides and also supportive audio and video. For 2008 a brand new “Talk on a Disk” has been created highlighting the technology campaign and coordinated with the brochures. It can make almost anyone look good in front of a group. Just follow the script! Or, you can modify it to meet local needs. If you have a presentation to make and want to talk about the technology of ham radio, contact apitts@arrl.org about it.
Swiss Army Knife for PIOs
The “Knife” is actually a computer CD with all the basic forms and information a PIO should need in one place for 2008. Last year over 1000 of these were made and requested. With audio and video files, documents in computer forms that you can modify to meet local needs, hundreds of pointers and ideas, the Swiss Army Knife for PIOs has become a mainstay for PR work and has been copied by other organizations for their people too. Disks are available for PIOs by writing to apitts@arrl.org
Stickers
Let’s admit it, hams and kids like free things and stickers are fun. So we made up a bunch to share. If you happen to have a presentation to students, it’s a nice touch. They are “free while the supply lasts” at larger ham conventions.
Public Service Announcements
There are PSA’s for radio station play on the www.arrl.org/pio Web page and more will be coming out as the year unfolds. These mp3 files are easily downloaded and can be taken to your local radio stations.
Need help?
There is a wealth of materials available for anyone to use on www.arrl.org/pio . This is the Public Information page with files to read, hear, see and freely download. Here you can find background information handouts for media as well as all sorts of helpful files and tips. In addition, each month ideas, information and timely materials are published for local PIOs to use in the special e-zine CONTACT! (look to the left side of this page) and you can find it at www.arrl.org/pio/contact . The ARRL Public Relations Committee is also able to aid groups and these PR veterans have a wealth of knowledge you can draw upon. There is a public relations email reflector where PIOs from around the country share their problems, ideas and successes with other PIOs, plus it is the source of public information if major events begin to unfold.
It’s up to you
The effort your club, and you as an individual, put into positive PR work will pay off for your radio future in many ways. Go show them “It’s not just your grandfather’s radio anymore.”
Audio and Video PSAs
We have many audio PSA mp3 recordings available. Most are serious, but Amateur Radio also has its humorous side too.
Not Your Granddaddy's Radio Anymore (MP3)
The following 7 audio PSA’s are meant to be a suite. They are a matched set which is intended to position Amateur Radio in a positive light in the minds of people.
We are creating a mental image of ham radio. Parallels are on your TV or broadcast radio every evening. Like much of modern advertising, there is no specific “call to action.” None is needed as the purpose is to create positive ideas and feelings in the mind of the public about Amateur Radio, irrespective if they will ever become hams themselves or not. In an age of antenna restrictions and frequency challenges, positive images about the Service in the minds of people can be just as critical as recruitment to local club memberships. I hope you will distribute them to your local radio stations, acting for benefit of ALL Amateur Radio operators.
If you wish to make up your own audio PSA using this format, write to me at APitts@arrl.org and I can send you the matching music bed.
Special thanks to Don Carlson and Gary Pearce who aided in making these.
Emergency Communications video PSA
CLICK HERE to see the 30 second video Public Service Announcement about Amateur Radio’s EmComm capabilities by Richard Lubash.
(You need Quicktime software program)
OR – you can download it by right clicking on 30-second Video for ARES
DVD copies are available for broadcast and cable TV
KATRINA - The Untold Story is a 5 minute video, with coments from our served agency representatives,by Richard Lubash is great for meetings with community leaders. You will need a new version of Apple's Quicktime (free program and very much worthwhile at Apple) to see it and the file is 52 megs long. But it's wonderful! Right click and choose "save as"
Hello Video - 4 minute mini-presentation explaining Amateur Radio for non-hams
CLICK HERE for 4 min Hello video [Windows Media, 13.5 MB]
CLICK HERE for 4 min Hello video [MPEG, 43 MB]
This presentation of 3.8 minutes is perfect for passing on to cable TV, schools, meetings, or as a stand alone presentation. You may need Quicktime to see it (free program and very much worthwhile at Apple). DVD and DV copies are available by writing to
PR
ARRL
225 Main St
Newington, CT 06111
We Do That!
The special 2008 Technical campaign brochure is available. There’s space on the back to add in your club or group conbtact information. These are not for hams, but for people interested in technology who are “thinking about” becoming hams and for those who still see ham radio as only something out of the 1940’s.
To purchase, send a check ($6 per 100 brochures and made out payable to ARRL) along with your request to: Brochures - ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Be sure to include the mailing address where you want them sent! OR... You can put it on your credit card by going to: www.arrl.org/brochures
We Do That – Radio.org website
The technical campaign website for 2008 is up. Topics can and will be added to it as the year goes on. If you have a specific technical topic, write it up and send it in with audio and/or video to apitts@arrl.org
Ham Radio - Getting the message through website - Emergency-Radio.org
A special website explaining Amateur Radio emergency operations and capabilities for indivduals in a crisis is still there, but there’s a new “landing page” for all of the PR website pages: www.emergency-radio.org. and the Hello Website hello-radio.org
The “Hello” site is also still up. It is meant for NON-hams to learn a little bit about us and to arouse more interest. Again, we stay upbeat, positive and hopeful. Nothing threatening, too difficult or scary was included. We try to point the prospects to groups that have indicated they will provide a warm welcome to newbies - a good "Hello!"
Public Information Officers are often selected by clubs and groups and their names sent on to their Section Manager for appointment as a PIO. Being an ARRL PIO is both rewarding and fun, and all it takes is a desire to promote your favorite hobby - ham radio.
Materials, hints and helps and even a special email reflector with the latest information are available to PIO's. If your club or group does not have one, ask your Section Manager about it.
We especially need PIOs who have a background in ARES activities and emergency communications! Too often great ham stories are not printed because everyone was busy doing things and no one was contacting the local media about it.
Looking for the latest information about PR activities? Need help with an idea or project? Have a good story to share? The ARRL's PR e-mail reflector is where hundreds of PIO's gather to find information and share success.
From "cut and paste" articles of interest to insert into your local club newsletter to formal news releases to share with the media, this is the place to look for the latest information. You can join the reflector by sending a request including your name, callsign, preferred e-mail address and a brief introduction to apitts@arrl.org. Also be sure to look at CONTACT! by clicking the multi-colored logo on this page
May
watch for Hurricane Awareness Week
16 Dayton Hamvention® days
23 Deadline for McGan Award entries
June
14 ARRL June VHF QSO Party
21 Kid’s Day
21 Amateur Radio Week Begins
28 ARRL Field Day
July
August
September
1 National Preparedness Month Begins
20 Amateur Radio Public Awareness Day
October
4 ARRL Simulated Emergency Test begins
18 Scouts Jamboree On the Air begins
20 School Club Roundup begins
November
December
8 Deadline for Leonard Award entries
31 ARRL Straight Key Night
January 2009
4 Kid’s Day
MEDIA INFORMATION Quick-Clicks Press Releases Learn more about ARRL's Officers and staff members who regularly attend ham radio events. This information may be used in convention brochures, handouts promoting an upcoming speaker, club newsletters, etc. Or call 860-594-0328 |
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This monthly on-line newsletter is designed to be a resource for ARRL Public Information Coordinators (PICs), Public Information Officers (PIOs) and anyone with an interest in Amateur Radio public or media relations activities. Each issue will contain helpful articles and tips to help you spread the good word about Amateur Radio.
If you are a member of the news media and would like more information about ham radio or the names of local experts to interview, contact ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP at (860) 594-0328 or send e-mail to apitts@arrl.org.
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