[Fists] ARRL: Hams say "Hello"

[John]

Hello, er, Hi. You've never heard the ham expression: "hello radio, hello 
radio" on voice, when checking if a freq is clear and/or other occasions as 
well? Besides, I may be wrong but I think the hello campaign from ARRL is 
saying hello to the community let us tell you about amateur radio.

73/88 de John, ks4xn

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <nancy at tir.com>
To: <fists at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2006 10:23 AM
Subject: [Fists] ARRL: Hams say "Hello"


> Sending CC's may delay your post. If you feel that your post needs to go 
> to more than one destination please send them separately.
>
>
>
> Check this out if you haven't already.
>
> This looks like another nail in the coffin for the technical service, ham 
> radio as we knew it, and a big push toward making Ham radio a generic 
> radio hobby.
>
> According to the ARRL web site mentioned below, Hams don't say CQ or Fine 
> Business or Thanks for the call, (on "voice"), Hams say "Hello". I don't 
> listen to much "voice" radio but the only place I've heard "Hello" on the 
> air is on CB, as in "Hello, good buddy".
>
> At least they do mention that some hams LIKE to use Morse code, and they 
> do have audio of what "hello" sounds like in Morse code.
>
> Of course, Amateur Radio could use some PR, but it's a very poor choice of 
> focus or maybe just badly executed. It blends us in with citizens band and 
> family radio service. I hope it was unintentional, but I don't think the 
> ARRL does anything unintentionally.
>
> When I read that press release and the web page I got a sick feeling in 
> the pit of my stomach. Am I over-reacting?  If you must flame me, please 
> do it off the reflector at nancy at tir.com.
>
> 73
> Nancy
>
> www dot hello-radio dot org (the reflector doesn't allow posts with html)
>
> Press release from ARRL:
> The first components of the ARRL's "Hello" Amateur Radio public relations
> campaign now are available. "This campaign will give hams the tools they
> need to reach out in their communities to non-hams and influence their
> perception of Amateur Radio," says ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager
> Allen Pitts, W1AGP, who conceived the campaign and is its principal
> Headquarters contact. The "Hello" campaign is aimed at recasting Amateur
> Radio in the light of the 21st century and focusing on its universal
> appeal. At the same time, it will mark the 100th anniversary of what many
> historians consider the first voice radio broadcast in 1906 by Reginald 
> Fessenden.
>
> "For years, ARRL public information officers (PIOs) and others interested
> in promoting Amateur Radio have been looking for leadership and a rallying
> point from which we can join together in a major promotion for ham radio,"
> Pitts said. This is it! Tools include a distinctive "Hello" Web site { www 
> dot hello-radio dot org }and radio and TV public service announcements.
>
> Based on the word "Hello," which Pitts calls "possibly the most pleasant
> word in any language," the coordinated campaign will set "a positive,
> upbeat tone that highlights the international capabilities of Amateur 
> Radio," he
> explained. The "Hello" Web site is designed for non-hams to learn a little
> bit about Amateur Radio and to arouse more interest. The site points
> prospective Amateur Radio licensees to groups that have indicated they
> will provide a warm welcome to newcomers. The national "Hello" campaign 
> can
> bring curious people into contact with ham radio groups, but it will be up 
> to
> local radio amateurs to make them truly welcome, Pitts maintains.
>
> "The key to creating a new ham operator is to develop a relationship with
> a current ham operator," says Pitts. Behind the effort is "an army of
> dedicated, truly motivated PIOs and others who want to see ham radio
> flourish."
>
> A series of 30-second radio public service announcements (PSAs)
> has been developed for the "Hello"
> campaign. "You can help by downloading the PSAs from the ARRL Web site
> onto a CD and taking it to your own local radio station," Pitts suggests.
>
> A broadcast-quality video for the "Hello" campaign will be available in
> April.
>
> Copies of the special four-page "Hello" brochure
> are available  from ARRL Headquarters for use during presentations to 
> non-ham groups.
> (Full details on the "Hello" campaign plus a pull-out copy of the brochure 
> are
> available in the April issue of QST.) The brochures are suitable for talks
> to schools, clubs, displays and other venues promoting Amateur Radio to
> the public. There is a space on the back page to add local club info.
>
> "For 100 years, the magic of the human voice over radio has brought
> imaginations to life. It opened a whole new era of human communication,"
> the brochure declares, urging, "It's your world. Get on the radio and say
> "Hello."
>
> To obtain copies, e-mail the "Hello" campaign.  Donations
> are welcome (make checks out to "ARRL") to help cover return postage to
> ARRL, Public Relations, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.
>
> "Hello" logo bumper stickers will be on sale through the ARRL on-line
> catalog. Buttons for the "Hello" campaign will be available at Dayton 
> Hamvention and at other major Amateur
> Radio events. Banners for the "Hello" campaign will be flying at Dayton
> Hamvention and at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in
> April. After that, they will be made available for use at major events in
> 2006.
>
> "ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, was correct in stating that the Main
> Street of today is not the same as the Main Street of yesteryear," Pitts
> says. "To reach out today, the very first requirement is that Amateur
> Radio operators be perceived as friendly and trustworthy. That's a true 
> public
> relations goal and the primary focus of the campaign."
> _______________________________________________
> Fists mailing list
> Fists at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/fists
>