[MIham] Fw: National Preparedness Month

[Tom VanderMel]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ARRL Field & Educational Services" <memberlist at www.arrl.org>
To: <kb8vee at comcast.net>
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2004 3:20 PM
Subject: National Preparedness Month


Hello ARRL members of the ARRL Field Organization who are:

Section Emergency Coordinators,
District Emergency Coordinators,
Emergency Coordinators,
Public Information Coordinators,
Public Information Officers,
and Affiliated Club Coordinators


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  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/

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 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
clubs at arrl.org.

(This message is also going to ARRL affiliated clubs and Section Managers.)