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IN THIS EDITION:
It all starts in two weeks. Are you ready?
As of March 1st, 14 days and counting! All systems GO.
If you still don't know what Hello is, you've been missing a lot in the PIO sphere. It is a major PR campaign by the ARRL for 2006 that has snowballed into not only a first class, national campaign, but also gained international interest. We've been talking to people about it for a year now and plans are still available and posted in last month's CONTACT!
The kickoff will be when the April edition of QST starts showing up in mailboxes (expected March 15). This will be quickly followed by the posting of the first of a collection of brand new audio PSA's which are meant for radio stations.
The special 4 page brochure targeted at the NON-ham public will be also be quickly available. You will be able to see a sample of this in QST. Please ask your ham friends to take the brochure out of the magazine and give it to a non-ham friend, relative or co-worker who might become interested. Doctors' offices and similar sites work too.
While the brochures are freely available, it would be most helpful if groups would at least pay for the postage in mailing them out. You can ask for them by emailing your request to hello@arrl.org . Be sure to put into your request what they are to be used for, how many, and where to send them. Please remember, they are not meant for hamfests, club meetings and such -- these are places where hams gather. The brochure is meant for distribution to NON-hams. So if you have a school presentation, speech to the Rotary Club or booth at the fair, then these are for you.
The Marketing Department will be selling quantities of the bumper stickers and pins. Expect to see their information about how to buy these coming out soon.
About April 1st the new video PSA should be available. It will be on DVD disks in 2 forms... the regular DVD and also the full, uncompressed .mov files. I believe we will need some help making tapes for those demanding BetaSP versions.
If you have a contact person at a local radio or TV station, now is the time to tell them it is the centennial of broadcasting and we have a GREAT announcement/PSA series coming up soon for them to use.
Most important of all is that you talk to your group's own members about how they will welcome curious people. Are they open to newcomers? Really? Are they willing to take the time, answer the questions, and just listen to what a non-ham has to say? Who will meet them at the door? How warm is the greeting?
This is our best chance to make a difference. Let's make the most of it!
GETTING A PROCLAMATION
Now is the time to begin laying the groundwork if your organization would like a proclamation from some government agency. The mayor's office, county government, or for PICs and SMs, the governor's office all have similar, simple procedures.
If you're unsure how to begin, a phone call to theofficial's office will get you started. Most cities have someone who handles such requests and they will give you all the information on timetables and what needs to be done.
The League has posted a sample proclamation for your use:
This document can be edited to fit your particular situation and most municipalities appreciate having a sample. Depending on the agency, once you make the formal request and give them all the particulars, in one to three weeks, you will get your signed and sealed proclamation. And you may get invited to a meeting for the official presentation.
Many times, this can be used as part of your new release for Field Day, Amateur Appreciation Week, Weather Awareness week or a special operating event. And it looks neat on the wall of your club station.
4-5 ARRL International DX Contest = phone
12 North American RTTY Sprint
Severe Weather Awareness Week -- see local dates
20 Flood Safety Awareness Week
25-26 CQ WW WPX SSB Contest
Your best chance for PR opportunities is the Severe Weather Week activity. Does your group or membership take part in Skywarn or a similar program? By contacting your local TV weather person soon, I believe you will find an interest in how ham radio aids their local forecasting and reporting. Your pitch points should include how it's good for the station's image, involves their listeners, and emphasizes community relationships.
You may find they are interested in doing piece showing hams in Skywarn or similar nets.
What's the BEST line in a speech or presentation? Try, "For Example..."
You will have the audience's attention for the next 5 seconds, and if your example is good, they will understand.
The opposite of this is, "Sort of like..." Even if the audience follows you, it's also NOT sort of like that too. So which is it?
The following is a brief listing of words that lead to problems:
Do you want to sound educated and important?
Perhaps you do not have any Shakespeare which you can "brush up," but there is another way...
Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est!
That sounds impressive! Even if it only means, "Yes, that is a very large amount of corn!" The point is that there is a website which has an arrangement of all those Latin quotations you can never remember but which can be so appropriate at times.
While I am not advocating using Latin frequently, dropping one or two appropriate phrases into a presentation is like adding hot sauce -- a little bit can spice it up and gain attention. Our website of the month is Latin Quotes and Phrases.
Are YOU making the most of Swiss Knife for PIO's ?
Kevin O'Dell, N0IRW, saw the PARC spot about "When all else fails" and within an hour he had used the information from his Swiss Army Knife to make up a great 30 second PSA playing on TV in Oklahoma. Other groups are using the handouts, posters and audio in presentations.
It's only good if you USE it to get attention!
Copies of the 'Knife are still available for ARRL PIOs. If you need one, send an email request with your name, call and mailing address to Allen at apitts@arrl.org .
Let us hear how YOU are using the ideas, insights and aids in your local areas!