[FPARC] November reminders

Tue, 04 Nov 2003 03:19:42 +0000

Hi All

This is for the people that aren't signed up on the ARRL sections list and 
to keep the list alive by having some traffic on it....

Art. I see that you changed your email address.....  Does this mean that 
you got your dsl???

73, Bill N4XEO

Date: 3 Nov 2003 15:02:32 -0000
From: "ARRL Web site" <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: November reminders

You won't receive the section news summary for a few weeks so I'm taking
this opportunity to send a few comments and reminders to you.

We have a new feature at www.sflarrl.org that our webmaster, Evelyn
W4WYR has been having fun with.  Each month (usually changing around the
15th) we have a survey of section members.  The current questions are
about retaining the CW requirement.  You need to give your e-mail, name,
etc but don't worry.  We won't sell the info and we won't build an
address book and send Spam.

There are 2 hamfests later this month that I will be attending: in
Titusville, sponsored by North Brevard ARC and in Okeechobee, sponsored
by Okeechobee ARC.  Links for details about both hamfests are at
www.arrl.org/sections/SFL.html.  Stop at the ARRL table at both hamfests
and say hello to me and other section volunteers.

Speaking of volunteers.  There are many opportunities to volunteer and
help ARRL.  Check the Volunteer link at www.sflarrl.org for the job
descriptions.  Yes, there's time and effort involved -- the appointment
is not wallpaper for your shack.  The rewards are smiles and thank you
and the personal feel good of helping others.

I've received several requests asking me to assist with permits for
towers.  I'm happy to send you information via e-mail about PRB-1 and
the state laws.  I also have information that will help if you need to
talk to local governing bodies about changing the regulations.  I have
no idea what the zoning regulations are in areas where I do not live.
Each county and municipality is different.  To complicate matters
there's the added rules of homeowners associations and deed
restrictions.  The best place to start is the building department of the
county or municipality where you'll find out about height, placement,
and number of towers allowed.  The deed restrictions are on file at the
courthouse or county administration offices.  Ask questions at your
local club, on ARES nets, etc.  Don't rely only on your fellow hams.
Rules change -- visit the government office.

Below is another installment of Every Ham is a PIO.  Remember, if you
are speaking to a reporter during an emergency or a public service
event, talk about radio and what you are doing for the event.
Statements about damage, injuries, etc need to come from the event
coordinator or the ICS commander.

Monitor local repeaters.  The snobirds are returning from the nawth.
Welcome your fellow hams as new or returning friends.  Invite them to a
club meeting or event.  Be available to give directions to visitors.
Actually this is good advice year round.

73,  Good Health, Good DX, and Many Multipliers.
Sherri, W4STB

_________________________________

Every Ham is a PIO
Hints for Interviews -- Part One

Keep these five thoughts in your mind whenever you speak about Amateur
Radio:  Amateur Radio is not for everyone.  People are curious about
Amateur Radio.  Most people have heard of ham radio.  Ham radio is
simple.  Ham radio is complex.

I purposely use both the terms Amateur and ham radio.  Both terms are
widely used but your audience may not be familiar with both terms.  Use
both terms when you speak.  Early in your interview, whether it be
one-on-one with a friend or reporter or on a radio or TV talk show or
speaking before a group, say --Amateur Radio, most folks know it as ham
radio--- or a similar phase that you are comfortable with.

Next, explain we have an FCC license that we took an examination/test to
obtain.  Add that our purpose is to provide emergency communications.
Mention that many hams have helped develop new communications
technology, we use computers and radio together and we have fun.  That
wasn't so hard, was it?  You now have added to their curiosity and told
them that ham radio is both simple and complex.  For additional
information that you can use to explain ham radio go to:
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ham-radio.htm or
http://www.arrl.org/hamradio.html

Talk in layman's terms.   Don't speak Geek. Give the reporter literature
and information on how to contact you. Avoid one-word answers and stick
to the subject.  If you don't know the answer, say so and refer the
question to another Amateur or offer to research the subject and reply
later.  When expressing an opinion say --In my personal opinion--.  If
you give credit give the credit to all involved.   Avoid all criticism.

Fax or mail TV and Radio interviewers background information and
questions you would like to be asked.  Remember they are curious but
uninformed and you need to inform the interviewer as well as your
audience.  Take copies of the information that you faxed or e-mailed to
the interview -- things get misplaced and duplicate copies on hand
insures that you'll be represented the way YOU intended. Additionally,
it's a good idea to be able to verbally recite your pitch in 10, 20 and
30 second versions (the elevator speech) for those hosts and producers
who are too frantic to focus on a piece of paper.  For TV wear solid
color clothing, no white shirts or blouses and no shiny jewelry.

---We are our own worst publicists. We have a good product, a wonderful
hobby, we do wonderful things, and we go home and don't tell anybody.
We have to sell the good product. -- Jim Haynie, W5JBP, ARRL President
at 2001 Dayton Hamvention

I'm repeating part of Jim Haynie's message because I can't say it
better.  If you've ever heard Jim speak you'll hear that first sentence
somewhere in his presentation.  It's one of the sound bites he uses.  In
a future article we'll talk about sound bites, the elevator speech, and
the message.  For more information on interviews visit
http://www.arrl.org/pio/handbook/chap8.html

Relax. Smile. And remember to include magic, emergency assistance,
history, technology discoveries, and love of Amateur Radio whenever you
speak.

73, de Sherri, W4STB

Note:  If you reprint the article for a newsletter add the quotes as
appropriate.  This e-mail server does not allow quotation marks.

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Section Manager: Sharon T. Brower, W4STB
[email protected]
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