[BCVHFA] AMATEUR RADIO AWARENESS DAY

[K8CM]

 From the ARRL Letter, Vol. 24, No. 33.

AMATEUR RADIO AWARENESS DAY TO FEATURE EMERGENCY POWER OPERATING EVENT

What makes Amateur Radio unique is its ability to communicate with one 
another anywhere in the world--and even in orbit--without having to rely on 
any outside infrastructure whatsoever. Hams can even do this without being 
plugged into the wall socket. Experienced radio amateurs take this 
capability for granted, but the general public is far less aware of it. So, 
an Emergency Power Operating Event (EPOE) on Amateur Radio Awareness Day, 
Saturday, September 17, will highlight Amateur Radio's ability to 
communicate worldwide without commercial mains, the Internet or a cellular 
telephone system.

"What better way to mark Amateur Radio Awareness Day than by calling 
attention to this unique capability?" says ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ. "It 
is particularly appropriate since September is the Department of Homeland 
Security's National Preparedness Month."

Amateur Radio Awareness Day activities typically focus on increasing public 
awareness. Past events have included public demonstrations, talks to 
community groups and getting local media coverage. According to DHS, 
National Preparedness Month is aimed at encouraging Americans to prepare 
for emergencies and to raise public awareness about the importance of being 
prepared.

This Amateur Radio Awareness Day, September 17, the ARRL will sponsor a 
15-hour Emergency Power Operating Event for stations operating off the 
grid. "It is not a contest," Sumner stresses. "It is simply a demonstration 
of what we amateurs can do without having to rely on the  commercial mains, 
and what we will do whenever the need arises."

An announcement in September QST (page 49) spells out the details. The 
event kicks off at 1300 UTC on Saturday, September 17, and wraps up at 0400 
UTC on September 18. The ARRL is inviting home stations to operate from 
generator or battery power. Mobiles and portable stations also are welcome 
to participate, although unlike Field Day, the emphasis is not on setting 
up a temporary station, but rather on operating your regular station on 
emergency power.

There is no set exchange; contacts may be casual, but operators are 
encouraged to share information on their emergency power sources in 
addition to the traditional signal report, name and location.

ARRL Maxim Memorial Station W1AW will be on the air for the event, running 
on emergency power from its 60-kW emergency backup diesel generator. W1AW 
Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, says the whole point is to showcase that 
Amateur Radio is prepared during National Preparedness Month--"and any 
time, for that matter," he adds. A special QSL will be available to 
stations contacting W1AW while running from an emergency power source. 
Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with all QSL card requests, and 
indicate on your card the emergency power source used. (Address cards to 
W1AW, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.)

"I hope we can work stations operating on emergency power in all 50 
states," says Sumner. "It should be a lot of fun, and we may even learn 
something!"

The League is encouraging participating radio amateurs or groups to invite 
local Citizen Corps leaders to see Amateur Radio installations in emergency 
power mode.

"The two events offer great opportunities for Amateur Radio to showcase its 
valued service to the nation," said outgoing ARRL Field and Educational 
Services Manager Rosalie White, K1STO. She urged 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 provides to the  community.

ARRL Club/Mentoring Program Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, believes a public 
Emergency Power Operating Event offers a great opportunity to recruit 
prospective hams for licensing classes clubs that may be forming this fall.