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IN THIS EDITION:
Are you involved in an interesting new technological area? Does it relate to Amateur Radio? If so, you may be able to help us keep the new www.WeDoThat-Radio.org website fresh and interesting.
We’re interested in showing the new technologies which are being developed, especially in wireless communications, and their relationship to hams and our Service.
The goal is to give the readers information:
a) This is NOT about your granddaddy's era ham radio
b) Amateur Radio leads to many interesting science areas to explore
c) This is fun – and can even lead to careers
d) Why not join us?
What would be involved for you is pretty simple. I am looking for sets of materials on new (Amateur Radio related) technical experiments or developments or applications including:
what it is about and what it does targeted to NON-hams
where to get more information about the topic
(Hopefully showing the equipment used)
Talking about or demonstrating it for non-ham
Explaining it to a non-ham
Obviously not all of the topics sent to us are used. Each of us has one or more “pet” modes or ways to do things and if it is not something fairly new to the technology scene, it probably is not appropriate for the purpose of this site. But, if you have information on a new dongle, Asterisk, whiz-bang, phizzy or some other way in which ham radio experience is opening or paired up with a new and exciting technology, then we would like to hear about it!
There are many ways in which a news story can go astray. Even with wonderful material, excellent work by the PIO and a good story, it can happen.
You probably have read many comments made about the old, tired “Hamming It Up” line that reporters use. It was cute once. Maybe twice. But now it usually is simply an annoyance and shows a lack of literate creativity on the part of the author.
Usually. However it also can have other interpretations. Recently the News-Press (Ft. Meyers, FL) ran a bad headline during Storm Fay:
Radio operators ham it up in Estero shelter
By news-press.com • August 18, 2008
If you were a casual reader, what does that imply to you? I asked a very “scientific survey sample” (5 friends and my wife) who unanimously told me that the radio operators were goofing off in the shelters. Maybe they were putting on some skit for the refugees?
This is really unfortunate as the article itself is a good one! The Amateur Radio operators were doing service for their community and providing back up communications in a time of real need. They are to be commended.
Ham radio operators are setting up at the shelter at Estero Community Park’s recreation center.
The operators are setting up an emergency connection between the shelter and the emergency operations center…
But you only knew that if you read the whole article, not if you glanced at the headline.
So what can be done about this? Comments have already been received by the newspaper, praising the writing but criticizing the headline. However it is already done. The best we can do is to be aware of the problem and, when talking to a reporter or someone who may post a story, ASK what the headline may be. If they are not sure, then casually joke to them,
“I sure hope you have something better than that old ‘Ham it up’ cliché.”
ARRL and Citizen Corp are teaming up to assist local school districts (if they need the help) to set up and register their NOAA Weather All Hazard Public Alert Radio.
An August 19 news release says, “Federal agencies have begun distributing more than 182,000 Public Alert Radios to preschools, Head Start programs, K-12 nonpublic schools and nonpublic school central offices, K-12 school district offices and post-secondary schools. In two earlier phases, the federal government distributed radios to all 97,000 K-12 public schools across the country, bringing the program to a close this September with a life-saving radio in every school in the nation.”
Two years ago, in the fall of 2006, some ARRL members, affiliated clubs and Field Organization appointees were called upon to help when this project was in its pilot phase.
“The radios are distributed by the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with funding from the Department of Homeland Security and assistance from the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services,” according to the news release.
The radios are designed to signal different types of alerts ranging from weather emergencies to child abductions, and from chemical accidents to acts of terrorism. The radio acts as a sentry, standing guard 24/7, to sound an alarm when danger threatens.
If you, as Amateur Radio operator, or as part of an Amateur Radio club or an ARRL Field Organization appointee, would like to help Citizen Corps in this project, please contact your local Citizen Corps Council to offer assistance. Where there isn't a Council, please contact local emergency management.
Contacts should not be made directly to local schools but, instead, should be made by Citizen Corps and Emergency Management to local school district superintendent's offices to ensure a coordinated plan. Assistance to schools will be provided at the request of, and in coordination with, the school district.
For additional information on the Public Alert Radios for Schools program, see the Web site at public-alert-radio.nws.noaa.gov. The general public can learn about these radios at www.weather.gov/nwr.
"Amateur Radio: Your Resource in Disaster and Emergency Communication" was selected as the theme for the next World Amateur Radio Day, April 18, 2009.
In summer 2009 the Military Vehicle Preservation Association is going to be duplicating a large 1919 era convoy of restored vehicles across the country and will want Amateur Radio aid. While many plans are yet to be settled, it is a PR opportunity for groups along their path. Their route and schedule is at http://www.mvpa.org/convoy/convoy.htm . More information will be available as it gets closer. If interested, contact terry.shelswell@inergyautomotive.com .
September 2008
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
Charles Harpole, K4VUD, shared this one:
The Sanskrit word "ham" (unknown pronunciation) is connected with the chakra of the throat, part of the symbol for this chakra is the thunderbolt, and it is associated with the element "ether" and the principle of sound and sense of hearing.
If that is not century-old pre-figuring of ham radio, I do not know what else to think.
To sum:
The word “ham” = throat, thunderbolt, ether, sound and hearing.
Wow, those ancients sure were smart!
For more information see:
Ajit MOOKERJEE, "Kundalini:The Arousal of the Inner Energy" published by Destiny Books, Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767 Third Edition, 1986 on page 42.
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up men to gather wood, divide the work and give them orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”
-Antoine de Saint-Exupery
“He’s got it right.”
-Allen G. Pitts, W1AGP
CONTACT! is a little short this edition as we prepare for possibilities with Hurricane Gustav. Everything from renewing media contacts and addresses to making up media folders with the latest information, getting people and resources lined up, writing “cheat sheet” talking points and introducing team players to each other – it’s all going on in these last days of August. Even if Gustav fizzles, there will be another one later.
Please remember, if you are involved in any major actions, TAKE ACTION PICTURES! (They are golden to us!) Do not talk for your served agency; they have their own PR people. Talk for Amateur Radio and be visible.
Even if you are not in the hurricane area itself, you may have refugees coming your way. Get ready for media calling on you NOW while you can. Contact your Section PIC and find out what they plan and have available.
Of course there will be coverage from ARRL HQ too.
At a minimum, print out the following page and get it to every ARES person you can. Fill in those blanks you can ahead of time and give it to them to pass on to any media or VIP that happens their way.
Amateur Radio Action Brief
The _____________________ Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®) has been activated to assist with primary/auxiliary emergency communications for this event. The group is coordinated by _________________________ (name of EC).
_______________ ARES is working with the ______________ county/city/town Office of Emergency Management and the following agency(ies):
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
The group is providing communications links between: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Amateur Radio operators are stationed at the following locations to provide communications assistance:
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________(#) of Amateur Radio operators are at the sites
_____________(#) of additional Amateur Radio operators are on standby for additional communications needs.
For more information contact
________________________ (name of PIO or ARES leader)
________________________ (e-mail)
________________________ (phone and pager numbers)
__________________________________________ (current location if known)
ARES is a program of the ARRL – the national association for Amateur Radio
Media Contact for the ARRL is:
APitts@arrl.org
(860) 594-0328 (w)
(860) 798-9478 (c)
We hope and pray that nothing happens. But we are prepared better than ever before. If a major hurricane hits, I know you will make all of Amateur Radio proud of the ARRL PIO corps.
-Allen