Media
Vol 14 # 12
In this issue:
SKYWARN Recognition Day Wrapup
SKYWARN Recognition Day Wrapup
Over 90 National Weather Service (NWS) field offices were active for December 3rd's SKYWARN Recognition Day, from Fairbanks, Alaska to Key West, Florida. Every December, ham radio takes a day and says “Thank you” to SKYWARN volunteers for the contributions you make. BE sure to submit your score summary soon! This year, the Maxim Memorial Station W1AW was a “bonus” station for the event. Go to the ARRL Facebook page to watch a Facebook Live video on W1AW’s involvement in #SKYWARN16.
The fires near Great Smoky Mountains National Park around Gatlinburg, TN have caught all of our attention. Thanks to Tennessee SM Keith Miller, N9DGT, and TN PIC Cathy Goodrich, KK4IWN, for getting info out about the role ham radio played in shelter communications.
If your club is looking for another way to interact with your community, talking to Santa via Amateur Radio is a great tool for your toolbox. The Three Rivers ARC in Kamila, ID and the Mid-Del ARC in Oklahoma both recently had successful “Talk to Santa” community events. Reach out to a local merchant or library, get a local to play Santa on a VHF or UHF simples frequency, and help make a lot of kids happy. Plenty of goodwill to be had for very little investment.
Please join me in saying hello and welcoming these new ARRL PIOs to the team:
Indiana: Jay Farlow, W9LW
Every company and organization has a story to tell. How is your club telling yours to your community? Here’s some insights on how telling your group’s story raises visibility and builds name recognition, or “brand awareness:”
2016 was a year of big change. We’ve seen leadership changes, both in our country and within ARRL itself. There will be new philosophies, new ways of doing things. We’ve had some very successful programs: National Parks on the Air is on track to make one million contacts from NPS units this year, and has raised the visibility of Amateur Radio within the National Park Service, and park visitors, significantly. The new ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio Initiative is just getting off the ground, but has already helped some college clubs improve their stations and cooperation with school staff. Increased use of social media is allowing ARRL to diversify our story-telling and brand recognition to different audiences, and offer new ways to raise visibility of clubs and projects that promote our skills and services.
2017 will bring challenges and projects for all of us. But, one thing at a time. ‘Tis the season! Make merry, be thankful for your blessings, and consider what the best way is for you to be of service; not just to Amateur Radio but to your community and fellow man.
Thanks for all you do.
Sean Kutzko, KX9X
ARRL Media & Public Relations Manager
About ARRL >> Media and Public Relations >> Contact Issues >> Contact 2016 >> December 2016
