[ARRL-OK] --- Amateur Radio on The Glen Beck Show

[Mark Conklin]

--- Amateur Radio on The Glen Beck Show

March 14, ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Alan Pitts W1AGP
tapped NTX SM Walt Mayfield, KE5S00 to represent the ARRL on the Glen
Beck Show webcast which dealt with the Survivalist Community.  Beck,
whose show until recently was syndicated on the FOX network, now hosts
it on GBTV.com where he enjoys a demographic pattern of reaching over
93,000 people per day.  

The ARRL was well represented by Walt in a group forum setting.  He was
joined by three other gentlemen all of whom are more closely identified
with the Survivalist Community than Amateur Radio.  Beck acknowledged
that Amateur Radio is not routinely a participant in the Survivalist
Community, but that it is an important tool during disasters. During
the interview, ARRL contact information was scrolled across the screen
several times while Walt was on camera. Beck was so impressed with the
information that Walt presented during the 2 hour show, that he
publicly invited Walt back to participate in an hour long program
dedicated exclusively to Amateur Radio!

At the end of the program, Walt cited Amateur Radio's importance by
describing how a Nebraska community, which suffered a total telephone
outage, was benefited by local Amateur Radio operators.    Walt
reported that Glen Beck was very respectful, and that he was so
impressed with Amateur Radio that he wants to pursue an Amateur Radio
license himself. 

Kay Craigie, N3KN noted, "Hats off to the SM/NTX for handling this
presentation in a way that reflects well on ham radio and the ARRL."
Congratulations to Walt Mayfield, KE5SOO NTX SM.

A short clip of the program is posted on the ARRL WGD You Tube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uXT8zZbRFk&list=PL2FEFE950D987192A&index=1&feature=plpp
video