Vol 10 No 9

September 2012

In this issue:

· Jamboree on the Air – JOTA

· Observant Ham Scores PR

· Ham Radio Geek

· Music Video

· Incentives

· CCR Issue

· National preparedness Month

· What Happened to Kanzius’ Work?

· ARRL Centennial release #1

· The Last Word

Jamboree on the Air October 2012

It's time to begin pulling your plans together for the October 2012 Jamboree on the Air. I know that several of you have already registered your planned operations. For the rest, you can register your station at http://www.scouting.org/jota/station_registration.aspx

Jamboree on the Air for 2012 will be held October 20 and 21. Last year’s effort saw a 600% increase in reported Scout participation in the USA --- 3,000+ American Scouts were a part of exciting activities and a superb introduction to the fun and technology of amateur radio. Worldwide participation reached just short of 750,000 Scouts operating from more than 6,000 amateur radio stations, across 150 countries. A participant patch is available, as is a certificate/log sheet that can also be used to fulfill a Radio merit badge requirement.

The 55th Jamboree-on-the-Air is October 20–21, 2012. The official hours are from Saturday at 00:00 hours local time (right at midnight Friday) to Sunday 24:00 (midnight Sunday evening). So you’ve got the whole weekend to make JOTA contacts.

Through JOTA Scouts are introduced to radio technology and to other Scouts around the USA and around the World. They get a chance to talk with one another and share information that broadens their perspective on other cultures, on geography, and on the technology and hobby that provides the means for their communication.

A great deal of supporting information for your local event is available at http://www.scouting.org/jota Of particular interest for PIO’s will be the sample news release at http://www.scouting.org/jota/news_release.aspx JOTA in the News at http://www.scouting.org/jota/JOTA_in_news.aspx and the graphic files at http://www.scouting.org/jota/graphics.aspx

This can be a great event to not only show amateur radio in action but to show service to Scouting as well as getting youth involved in this great hobby. Route questions to Jim Wilson, National JOTA Organizer, at [email protected]

Observant Ham scores PR

Bill Ronay, KM4LS writes:

I had observed the Georgia flags at most of Morgan County’s Fire Station locations to be faded and very worn. Knowing that my state legislator, Rep. Doug Holt (R- GA 112) may have access to a supply of flags, I contacted him for a “donation”. Asking how this could be arranged, invited him to FD 2012 at the Morgan County Public Safety Complex EOC/EMA and he could bring the flags along. The Morgan County Fire Chief, Mark Melvin, had also been included in an email PR list I used to invite local officials...and he accepted.

Not knowing which day Chief Melvin would choose, I was amazed when he and the Representative Holt walked into the EOC within minutes of each other. Seizing the moment, I decided to make the presentation “official” right then and there! Charles Roswell, K2MGL, AEC Morgan County ARES, had his camera poised and took the shot. Representative Holt received the credit for donating the flags; WR4MC was the presenter; and now the flags, eight in all, are flying from as many MCFD flag poles.

I Geek Ham Radio

Another interesting and unusual media score by a creative PIO:

Jeff Cowall wrote on the Chelsea District Library blog at

http://chelsealibrary.org/adult_blog/2012/06/28/i-geek-ham-radio/

Nice writing about the joys of ham radio

- even if he can’t spell ARRL in the links at the bottom ;-)

Ham Music Videos


NA4ZI – Paul Wieloszynski, under the name “Braintrusts” is posting ham radio music videos on YouTube. They are good and the vocals are enough to make you drool on your 756 Pro. Well done. Here’s one at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz-siTzUbDY

Incentives and kids?

I received an interesting phone caller with a question. His son is working on earning his Extra license and he got to thinking about incentives for youth to earn their licenses or upgrade. We know that some clubs have these type of programs – but who, what and how well does it work? There really was no good information on the results of such efforts.

For example, some groups have offered HT radios to youth getting their Technician class licenses. How many youth participated? How many dropped out? Was it a good incentive for them or not?

Perhaps there are other incentive programs that we have not yet heard about. While the idea sounds good, does it really work with today’s youth? To find out, we need some actual data and history from groups – and the only way to find this out is from YOU.

If your club or group has tried an incentive program with youth under age 18, please email us and let me know about it. Who, what, when, where, why, how many, did it work? Inquiring minds want to know! [email protected] and please use the subject line “Incentives.”

Hams, FCC and CCR issues

The FCC report on Amateur Radio and EmComm impediments is out at http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db0820/DA-12-1342A1.pdf

While it does not appear they want to do anything about the CCR issues (and we could argue about that all day), it does contain language and passages which are quite complimentary and can be useful to you in your dealings with local media. I suggest you read it and keep a copy on your computer to use as a resource as needed.

September is National Preparedness Month

We wrote this up in the August edition, but it bears repeating...

You can see the Power point presentations made for 2012 plans at

http://www.citizencorps.gov/downloads/pdf/6_5_12_NPM%20Webinar_Final.pdf

Are you doing an event or activity for this? Be sure to add it to the list at

http://community.fema.gov/connect.ti/readynpm/view?objectId=191603&exp=e1

ARRL has been registered as a Coalition member under the communications grouping. (Unfortunately, it appears at this point that some of the website there is not working right, so it may be hard to find.) But we encourage Amateur Radio groups to take advantage of this month’s opportunities to join in by listing their actions on the FEMA website and reaching out to their communities in some preparedness related actions this month.

Free Materials: Want Free Emergency Preparedness brochures, posters & publications and more to support your events? Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. http://community.fema.gov/connect.ti/readynpm/viewBlogArticle?articleID=50297

What Happened to Kanzius’ Work?

This past weekend I ran into Juan Manfredi, NAØB, at the Western PA hamfest and convention. It turns out he works for the University of Pittsburgh. That got my interest as I knew that was one of the two main locations where the research started by John Kanzius was ongoing. You may remember that Kanzius found a way that showed great promise in killing cancer cells. To refresh you, here’s how it works:

You take gold nanoparticles (incredibly small things) and coat them with a special protein that is absorbed by cancer cells but not taken in by normal cells. Then you use radio energy to heat up the nanoparticles. The heat kills the cancer cells but not other tissues around them. Kanzius was a ham, Unfortunately he himself died of cancer before the research was finished. But it still goes on and progress is being made. So I was happy to hear what Juan could share:

It was great to meet you earlier today at the Skyview hamfest.

As you surely know research on the Kanzius machine is coordinated (and funded) by the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation.

http://www.kanziuscancerresearch.org/research/research-institutions-projects

At the University of Pittsburgh, this research is conducted by Dr. David Geller,

Professor of Surgery, co-director of UPMC, and expert in Liver Cancer.

http://www.kanziuscancerresearch.org/research/research-institutions-projects/dr-david-a-geller

http://www.upmc.com/Services/liver-cancer/experts/Pages/geller.aspx

There are other articles and dissertations on Kanzius machine written by students.

You can find them by typing pitt.edu Kanzius on Google.

73 de Juan, NA0B.

University of Pittsburgh Panther Amateur Radio Club W3YI Trustee.

For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:

Bob Inderbitzen, Marketing Manager,

ARRL

[email protected]; tel 860-594-0213

ARRL Centennial Convention in Hartford, July 2014

August 29, 2012 NEWINGTON, CT – ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio^®, announced the organization will hold its national Centennial Convention in Hartford, Connecticut, July 17-20, 2014. The Convention will mark 100 years of the ARRL’s founding in Hartford. The theme for ARRL’s Centennial year is “Advancing the Art and Science of Radio -- since 1914.”

Hiram Percy Maxim (1869-1936), a leading Hartford inventor and industrialist, founded the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) in May 1914, together with Clarence Tuska, secretary of the Radio Club of Hartford. Today, ARRL serves over 158,000 members, mostly licensed radio amateurs, in the US and around the world. The organization’s headquarters has been maintained in the Hartford area since its founding. ARRL’s present facilities are located on Main Street in Newington, Connecticut, a suburb of Hartford, and are visited by nearly 2,000 groups and individuals each year. The site is also home to The Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station since 1938. The radio station, W1AW, is known as “the flagship station for Amateur Radio” and is known world wide. ARRL employs around 100 people.

“The 2014 Centennial Convention is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said ARRL Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen explaining that event will have all of the trademark elements of a proper convention and hamfest; presentations and forums, exhibits, vendors, demonstrations, flea market, activities for youth, and banquet. “But, plan on some very special centennial-themed activities,” he added, “including tours of ARRL headquarters and W1AW, guest presenters, some surprises, and lots of celebrating! We want ARRL members to come with all of their experiences from the first one hundred years of Amateur Radio and ARRL, and leave with a shared vision for ARRL’s Second Century.”

The decision to host the Centennial Convention in Hartford was reinforced by the organizers of the New England Division Convention, held every two years in Boxborough, MA. “Boxborough’s organizing sponsor, FEMARA, Inc., graciously agreed to forgo holding a convention there in 2014,” said ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer. “Instead, FEMARA has offered to help share its expertise and volunteers as we prepare to bring this national level celebration to Hartford.

The area boasts dozens of attractions and activities, making Connecticut a great destination for members who plan to attend the convention with their family and friends. Nearby attractions include the Connecticut Science Center, Mark Twain House, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, and Wadsworth Athenaeum. Hartford is served by an international airport (Hartford/Springfield BDL), and is conveniently located between Boston and New York City. Hartford’s centrally located Union Station is serviced by Amtrak and major bus companies.

Interested parties may learn more about ARRL, Amateur Radio and the Centennial Convention at www.arrl.org/expo.

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About ARRL and the Amateur Radio Service

Amateur Radio (often called “ham radio”) provides the broadest and most powerful wireless communications capability available to any private citizen anywhere in the world. The principles of this federally licensed radio service include public service, radio experimentation, and international goodwill.

ARRL is the national membership association for Amateur Radio operators in the US. Its mission is “to promote and advance the art, science and enjoyment of Amateur Radio.” ARRL members span the globe, supported by the organization’s programs, activities, publications and experts. ARRL publishes books, software, online courses and resources for Amateur Radio licensing, operating, and education. ARRL and its members also provide outreach to schools and teachers, inspiring students to pursue education and careers in the fields of wireless technology (radio, electronics, and computers).

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The Last Word

With September as National Preparedness Month and JOTA coming in October, PIOs have things to work with in the coming months. I hope you use one or both of these events as a springboard for good coverage of some local actions.

Here at HQ we have to think much further down the road and work has already begun on the 2013 budget and plans for the year. In addition, the Public Relations Committee and a special Centennial planning committee have been looking seriously into options for 2014. While I am not at liberty to disclose their thinking at this stage, I can tell you “Get your track shoes out – it’s going to be a PR blast!”

While we realize that other major organizations (with big budgets) recently had centennials, and few outside the organization itself seemed to care, that still leaves a lot of action for PIOs. If there are 704,000 or so licensees and 158,000 or so ARRL members, what about those 546,000 who are inactive or riding on the efforts of others? Then there are the “affinity groups” such as EmComm, RV-ers, educators, DIY groups and such. There are some exciting times and PR materials in the draft plans. I think you are going to be pleased – and very busy!

I must also comment on the unfortunate death of a friend, Joel Kleinman, N1BKE and the Managing Editor for QST. It was a major shock to all of us here at HQ to learn of his death in a house fire. He was a true gentleman and a good friend of PR efforts. While you can read the details in the news reports and personal history in an obituary, what you don’t see in print is the wry smile and consistent helpfulness he had for others.

Once you attain the age of 12 or so, you realize there are some folks who are just toxic and then there are some folks who somehow always help those around them to relax and grow. Joel was definitely one of the people who helped others relax and grow. I miss him. We all do.