Iroquois County Amateur Radio 147.030+ and 444.625+ - Meetings 2nd Thursday at the Red Cross Office in Watseka, IL

We had several guests visit us at the first ever Iroquois County Amateur Radio Club Field Day event at the Glenn Raymond School in Watseka, IL.  Several came out to view the Ham and Amateur Radio operators and equipment that we use.  We made several contacts including a US Navy Ship in the Ocean.

 View Photos of Our Event By Clicking Here… and Enjoy the Following Videos…

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Check out the new additions to the ARRL Multi Media Library

http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/materials/videos.html

We are happy to announce that there are five new additions to the Multi Media Library that clubs can use as meeting programs or as part of a mentoring session. These programs are also good for the individual. They are entertaining and informative.

Well known contester and DXer, ARRL Assistant Technical Editor Dean Straw, N6BV, has two new programs on HF Contesting For The Beginner and DX-pedition to Venezuela.

There is also a superb program from Allen Wolf, KC7O, that showcases the communications that was provided for a 24 hour endurance run in the mountains of California.

Mark Spence, WA8SME, ARRL Technology & Education Program Manager (The Big Project) shares his program on the fundamentals of Digital Signal Processing (DSP).

And finally, a program that covers the basics of repeaters for new hams. Most new hams first contact is through a local repeater. This program is designed to be an introduction to repeaters for the brand new ham.

We are always looking for fresh new programs to add to the Multi Media Library. If you have a PPT or video that you would like to submit for consideration, please mail it to

ARRL
Attn. Field & Educational Services
225 Main St.
Newington, CT 06111
CQ Field Day

Field day is fast approaching. Has your club made plans yet? Whatever it is that your group decides to do, make sure that you have plenty of food on hand and make the focus on having fun. Be sure to check out the rules for new changes this year.

http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2005/rules-fd-2005.html

Be sure to order Field day T-shirts and pins early so you will have them in time for FD.

http://www.arrl.org/catalog/index.php3?category=Pins%2C+Patches%2C+Maps%2C+Gift+Ideas+%26+Supplies

Classes and Upgrades

How is your club doing with licensing classes and upgrading new hams? Are you mentoring new hams? We would love to here your success stories. Drop us an e-mail with your latest successes. clubs@arrl.org

73,

Norm Fusaro, W3IZ

When the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) met in Las Vegas for their annual conventions in late April, the ARRL was well represented. ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, headed the League contingent. Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, Pacific Division Director Bob Vallio, W6RGG, and Vice Director Andy Oppel, N6AJO, rounded out the delegation. The presence of thousands of broadcasters offered Pitts an ideal opportunity to promote the ARRL “Hello . . . — Celebrating 100 Years of Voice over Radio Worldwide” public service announcements. Pitts gauged success on the basis of what he *didn’t* end up taking home.

“I carried 60 full ‘Hello’ press books containing news releases, information and PSAs to the NAB,” Pitts said. “At the end of the three days only one was left, and that went to a radio station manager I met in the airport going home.” Pitts reports he’s been hearing from hams, engineers and radio station managers that the PSAs are airing on cable systems and radio stations. In addition, of the 4500 brochures he took to the convention, he had but 300 left.

The highlight each year for radio amateurs attending the NAB convention is the ham radio operators’ reception, sponsored this year by Bob Heil, K9EID, of Heil Sound Ltd. Some 2000 radio amateurs with broadcasting industry connections attended the April 26 affair.

The big news at this year’s reception was that Heil will be inducted next month into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. A veteran music industry soundman and sound reinforcement innovator, Heil has worked with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, including Chuck Berry, The Who, the Grateful Dead, Joe Walsh, WB6ACU, and ZZ Top.

NAB Vice President of Science and Technology John Marino, KR1O, co-hosted the event.

ARRL President Harrison greeted the gathering on behalf of the League and spoke briefly about the changes and challenges Amateur Radio faces in the 21st century.

Charlie Wooten, NF4A, was honored as Clear Channel Communications “National Engineer of the Year,” and Heil presented him with a microphone bearing Wooten’s call sign. Pitts credits Wooten with getting the “Hello” campaign PSAs on many Clear Channel radio stations.

Pitts said he found a lot of interest in the “Hello” campaign among those attending the broadcasters’ gatherings. “But it takes more than just passing out disks to make it on the air,” he added. “It takes a personal contact, and that’s why we need continued action by our public information officers nationwide.”

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 focusing 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.

“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.

Based on the word “Hello,” which Pitts 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. The site points
prospective Amateur Radio licensees to groups that have indicated they will provide a warm welcome to newcomers. 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. Behind the effort is “an army of dedicated, truly motivated PIOs and others who want to see ham radio flourish.”

A series of 30-second radio public service announcements (PSAs) has been developed for the “Hello” campaign. “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.

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.) 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 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 Ammateur  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.

“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.”