This is what I fished yesterday. I dedicate it to this list.
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From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2007 04:59
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [STXARES]
Why Is a PIO Important?
Posted by: "Bill Rimmer" [EMAIL PROTECTED] n5lyg1
Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:38 am (PST)
Allen G Pitts, W1AGP
ARRL Media & PR Manager
During the month of September 2007, there were many positive
articles in the media about Amateur Radio. But, there were also a
few which did major damage to the public perception of our
Service.
Unfortunately they were in large metropolitan newspapers and, by
the time an ARRL PIO learned about them, it was too late to change
things. These articles were proclaiming the "death of Amateur
Radio", that it was antique and an anachronism to the 21st
century, full of ancient grumpy men and that the hams themselves
were not friendly nor welcoming. The real tragedy of this is that
the reporters were quoting their community's own local hams!
None of the articles had numbers or empirical data to show the
true trends underlying the present state of amateur radio. None
looked beyond the personal opinions voiced by their local club or
they might see the recent gains following February 2007. None of
them saw the larger picture around the country or the work being
done in schools, scouting, ARISS, digital work, ARES and other
EmComm actions. But they had their quotes, and that was enough to
hurt us.
While not all areas of the country are motivated by the same
approaches, there really is a lot of new growth in important
areas. In some places, emergency operations and EmComm is indeed a
BIG deal.
We are gaining many new hams entering the field because they want
to be part of a response operation. That is part of this year's PR
push on EmComm. In other areas, it may not be EmComm that is the
big draw. It could be the hobby side of the Service. For them, the
"Hello!" materials are still available and timely. If that fits
your area, then use them there. In some other places or
situations, it will be the technical side of Amateur Radio that is
of interest. The ARRL is working on a coordinated program for that
to come out in 2008. It will be the hardest of the three to
create, but plans are already well along.
These three, Hobby, EmComm and Technical activities are the
motivational keystones of the Service. No one thing is going to
attract "the general population." We encourage you to look at your
own local situation. Which type of motivator works best in your
area? Use that one. In the meantime, our importance in EmComm is a
motivator in antenna issues, spectrum defense and other political
situations.
Are we "dying" out? Not really. Amateur Radio never was, nor will
be, a "mainstream" activity. But recent numbers are up and, just
as important, the percentage of hams who actually get on the air
or go on to higher class licenses is up. With the 10 year
license-lag, most who are dropping out seem never to have been
active to begin with. We also see trends which follow the solar
cycles -- currently at a low.
To quote Pogo, "We have met the enemy and he is us." Over the past
two months the national PR Committee has seen far too many
articles quoting their local hams saying we are all dying out!
With attitudes like that, is it any wonder the reporters print it?
It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.
This is why we need informed, active PIOs and hams need to defer
media responses to them. Anytime you or a ham in your area is
contacted by the media, steer them to your local PIO. If you don't
have one nearby, steer them to your section's PIC. These
professionals are trained in showing the best that amateur radio
has to offer to the public and to prospective licensees. Fifteen
minutes of individual fame is not worth the damage your personal
opinions could cause to us all.
Post by (NOT WRITTEN BY):
Bill Rimmer, N5LYG
EC Northwest Harris County A.R.E.S.
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73 de Demetre SV1UY
