[Elecraft] Good Public Relations (WAS: OT - Lighthouses and Amateur radio)

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Hi Ken:

Thanks for the clarification. I think the subject IS appropriate to Amateur
Radio Operators and so Elecraft owners. We, as Amateur Radio Licensees, have
an obligation to consider the impact of our activities on non-Hams. I would
be miffed to bring some of my European relatives to, say, our local Newport
Oregon lighthouse to see a bit of history and find some sort of Ham radio
operating activity going on that detracts from the experience of visiting a
historic structure. 

It never occurred to me that any such group would intrude on places like
lighthouses in a way that was obvious or intrusive to those visitors not
particularly interested in the radio activity. It's true that one never has
a second chance to make a good first impression.

It's something to be aware of as we choose how we operate and enjoy our
hobby, wherever we are.

Ron AC7AC


-----Original Message-----

I acknowledge this topic isn't appropiate for here.  Well, I -do- have a K2
built at an Oregon lighthouse .... (:-)

Ron, others ...

Yes, we've been working in the park and at the lighthouse for five years and
they're well-aware that I'm an amateur radio operator.  One ranger is
slightly familiar with the hobby ... he was especially interested in the
suit-sat experiment and I've supplied him with the orbiter's down-link
frequencies for his scanner.  A fellow host is K7JJ.

I pretty confident that the park management and staff are "OK" with the
hobby as a whole and they do understand what lighthouse week is about. I
think they go along with the operation each year because they know if they
didn't there would be flack from the Lighthouse Society and others. On the
other hand if they didn't have to take the flack from the
visiting public because of the operation they'd be happier.   In
reality, it's us hosts who have to deal with the visitors.

My comments mostly relate to the lighthouse visitors and their impression of
the amateur radio operation/s at the lighthouse.  There's very little
opportunity to "educate" them about what's going on.  Most aren't at all
interested and see the operation as a visual intrusion into their photo-op
and resent the "clutter" of the antennas, RV's, tents, noise, etc.  "Who ARE
those people?" "What's going on out there?" "Oh ... my cousin plays with
radios, too ... his handle is Stump-Jumper. Do you know him?"

Most lighthouse visitors are well-aware of the history and the need to
preserve the structures and their history.  That's why they visit.  I don't
see much, if any, help with preservation by handing out contacts to QSL
collectors.  Few have any interest in lighthouses beyond getting a "unique"
QSL and they're unlikely to join the Lighthouse Society as a result of a
QSO.

I'd give a whole lot to be able to eleminate the word "HAM" from our hobby.
Most of the visitors see us as just that ..."hams"... those strange folks
outside on the lawn.  I detest the name.

Perhaps my view is jaded ...

73! Ken Kopp - K0PP
k0pp at arrl.net


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Ron D'Eau Claire
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Saturday, 23 June, 2007 03:29
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Pacific Coast Lighthouses First Day of Issue
Ceremony


Well, Ken, did you step up and identify yourself as an Amateur Radio
Operator and explain how that activity helps promote an awareness of these
historic structures around the country?

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----

As a passing comment ...


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