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 Previous: Opportunities Fair showcases ham radio to retirees |  Next: The K7RA Solar Update |
 ARRL is an official affiliate program of Citizen Corps, an initiative within the Department of Homeland Security to enhance public preparedness and safety. |
NEWINGTON, CT, Aug 26, 2004--During September, the ARRL will be among dozens of organizations and agencies participating in National Preparedness Month. "The Ready Campaign," produced by the Ad Council in partnership with 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, which starts September 9, with its own "Amateur Radio Awareness Day" on September 18.
"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 can provide to the community.
ARRL Club/Mentor Program Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, suggests that while displays should be informative, they also need to be neat and simple. He cited as an example a public demonstration that New York City Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) members put on in June.
"This is also an excellent opportunity to recruit
prospective hams for licensing classes that clubs may be forming for the fall,"
Fusaro 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. "Get Ready Now" brochures are available. Visit the Ready.gov Web site for more information.
 W1AW/90 will be on the air from 10 AM until 10 PM on Amateur Radio Awareness Day, September 18. |
On Amateur Radio Awareness Day, September 18, W1AW/90 will be on the air from 10 AM until 10 PM Eastern Time with ARRL staff members, new Section Managers in town for the annual Section Managers' Workshop and volunteers from the Newington Amateur Radio League as operators. White encourages amateur groups to invite public officials, representatives of served agencies and first responders to visit their public displays to discuss plans for their Simulated Emergency Test (SET), typically in early October, or other drills.
Some clubs already have jumped on the National Preparedness Month/Amateur Radio Awareness Day bandwagon, Fusaro notes--in some cases by taking advantage of already scheduled events during September.
The Middletown Amateur Radio Club--W2MAR--in New Jersey will take part in Middletown Day activities September 18 with a public ham radio display featuring HF, VHF and UHF operation, an information table, traffic handling and displays on the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES). The club expects some 3000 visitors in town, including state and local officials.
Also in New Jersey, the New
Providence Amateur Radio Club will be assisting in the Berkeley Heights 5K
Run on September 19, an annual event the club uses as an emergency response
practice run on VHF and UHF frequencies. The club will have a station in
operation on HF, VHF and UHF as well as an information table and traffic
handling. This year, the club will be testing out its new mobile crossband repeater
system, which it hopes will fill in some communication holes in the rather
hilly town.
 Members of the Ak-Sar-Ben Amateur Radio Club in Omaha, Nebraska, take time to have some fun on the air in this 2000 public demonstration that tied in with a local showing of the movie Frequency. (L-R) Jim Channel, W0ATU; Brian Behrens, AB0BB; and Pat Joseph, N0HPP. The club also had a demo table and brochures available. |
In Illinois, Amateur Radio Awareness Day falls on the same
weekend as the three-day Peoria
Superfest 2004 Amateur Radio and computer show. The Peoria Area Amateur Radio Club will have an
all-day demonstration at the Exposition Garden Fairgrounds on September 18 to
include an HF, VHF and UHF station, information table, traffic handling and
other activities.
 New York City Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) members displayed their colors and showed the public what a valuable resource they have in Amateur Radio during a Flag Day celebration held June 12-14 on Ellis Island--within view of the Statue of Liberty. |
On the West Coast, the Space Park Employees Association Amateur Radio Club (W6TRW) in Redondo Beach, California, will have its emergency communications team (ECT) van at the Northrop Grumman Space Technology open house September 18 all day. The occasion will include tours of the ECT van along with amateur television (ATV) demonstrations, an information table and, of course, club applications.
In addition, several clubs throughout Southern California
will be assisting in the Angeles Crest 100 Mile
Endurance Run, which begins September 18. Participating clubs include The
Pasadena Radio Club, the Jet Propulsion Lab Amateur Radio Club and the Western
Amateur Radio Club. The Amateur Radio volunteers provide safety communication
and runner data during the event using VHF FM voice and packet.
 The ARRL is celebrating its 90th anniversary during 2004. |
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 Linda Mullally, KB1HSV, lmullally@arrl.org to order.
The Ready Campaign to engage Americans in emergency preparedness will kick off September 9 at the US Capitol. Co-chairs are US Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), and US Representatives Christopher Cox (R-CA) and Jane Harman (D-CA).
"We really hope that Amateur Radio groups will take
advantage of the opportunity to get out into the community for National
Preparedness Month and Amateur Radio Awareness Day," White said. The League has
a sample
news release available that clubs and groups can customize to help spread
the word. More information about National Preparedness Month or Amateur Radio
demonstrations in general is available from ARRL.
| Previous: Opportunities Fair showcases ham radio to retirees | Next: The K7RA Solar Update |
