[FPARC] Club News: Emergency Preparedness Month

[Bill Sinbine]

To All ARRL Affiliated Clubs:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), along with many other agencies 
and organizations including ARRL, are launching "National Preparedness 
Month" beginning on September 9, 2004.  In addition, September 11 is ARRL's 
Amateur Radio Awareness Day.

The two events offer great opportunities for Amateur Radio to showcase its 
valued service to the nation.  ARRL Affiliated Clubs and the Field 
Organization should take advantage of this national event and set up 
demonstrations in public arenas, such as schools, malls and fairs, to 
present and explain to the public, under the banner of National 
Preparedness Month, just what the Amateur Radio service provides to their 
community.  This is also an excellent opportunity to recruit prospective 
hams for licensing classes that you may be forming for the fall season.

"National Preparedness Month brings together an amazing coalition of 
partners to make citizen preparedness a priority for every city, every 
neighborhood and every home across America," said Homeland Security 
Secretary Tom Ridge. "Homeland security is a shared responsibility and I am 
pleased that so many organizations and so many national leaders are working 
together to help get this information out into communities across the nation."

As a reminder, the League has printed material available for Affiliated 
Clubs and others to use for these types of exhibits.  Brochures can be 
downloaded free from the web at: 
<http://www.arrl.org/htdig/?method=and&words=brochure>http://www.arrl.org/htdig/?method=and&words=brochure 
or Exhibit Kits can be ordered through Linda Mullally, KB1HSV. 
Lmullally at arrl.org

There is a small shipping fee for the printed material.


While displays should be informative, they should also be neat and 
simple.  Here is an example of the display that the New York City ARES 
group did at Ellis Island on Flag Day this past June: 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/06/22/3/>http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/06/22/3/

Ham groups can invite public officials, served agencies and first 
responders to stop by the exhibit to talk about plans for the Simulated 
Emergency Test or other drills.   Need a sample of a news release to spread 
the word?  Go to 
<http://www.arrl.org/pio/handbook/sample-news-release.html>http://www.arrl.org/pio/handbook/sample-news-release.html 
and customize the release to match your club's plans.

ARRL members and schools may use National Preparedness Month to set up 
their own emergency communications plans.

We really hope that ham groups will take advantage of this opportunity and 
get out into the community.  If you have any questions about National 
Preparedness Month or about demonstrations in general please contact ARRL 
at <mailto:clubs at arrl.org>clubs at arrl.org


73,

Norm Fusaro, W3IZ
ARRL Affiliated Club/Mentor Program Manager
225 Main St.
Newington, CT 06011

<mailto:w3iz at arrl.org>w3iz at arrl.org
860-594-0230






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Bill Sinbine
n4xeo at bellsouth.net