[South Florida DX Association] "Hello" Campaign Provides Rallying Point to Promote Amateur Radio

[wa4aw at juno.com]

"Hello" Campaign Provides Rallying Point to Promote Amateur Radio 


NEWINGTON, CT, Mar 15, 2006--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
focus 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. 


Ham radio allows hundreds of youngsters each year like these at Central
Park Middle School in Schenectady, New York to speak directly with the
crew of the International Space Station.
 

"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 and radio and TV public service announcements. 

Pitts describes the promotion is "quite simply the largest PR campaign
that ham radio has ever attempted." Based on the word "Hello," which he
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, Pitts explains. "We stay
upbeat, positive and hopeful. Nothing threatening, too difficult or scary
is included." 


Offering a Warm Welcome 


Copies of the special four-page "Hello" brochure are available from ARRL
Headquarters.
 

Pitts says the site points prospective Amateur Radio licensees to groups
that have indicated they will provide a warm welcome to newcomers--a good
"Hello!" 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, who spent the better part of the
past year meeting with various ham radio groups and leaders to sort out
"what could realistically be done" to make the campaign take off. Behind
the effort is "an army of dedicated, truly motivated PIOs and others who
want to see ham radio flourish," Pitts says. 

"I believe that by placing good tools into your hands, you will use this
opportunity to the fullest," he added. "There will be more to come as the
year unfolds." 

What's Available Now? 

A series of 30-second radio public service announcements (PSAs) has been
developed for the "Hello" campaign. The plan is make a new one available
about every eight weeks. These "mini-commercials" for ham radio are
already being played on dozens of stations across the country, and the
numbers keep growing. 

"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. 



ARRL Field Day, held the fourth weekend in June, offers a great
opportunity to demonstrate Amateur Radio to young and old alike.
 

Experienced radio amateurs like ARRL Web Youth Contributing Editor Andrea
Hartlage, KG4IUM (left), "Elmer" or mentor younger licensees or
prospective licensees.
 

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.) Pitts suggests 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
your 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. 

Ham Radio on the New Main Street 

The "Hello" campaign will show that despite the Internet and other
technologies, the possibility of being able to talk with everyday people
around the world and sometimes in exotic locales--coupled with the
surprise, art and uncertainty of DXing--remains a major attraction for
Amateur Radio. The "Hello" campaign also will take advantage of FCC
action--anticipated this year--to drop the Morse code requirement at
least for General class applicants. 

"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."