INDIANA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB WORKSHOP
Seventeen Amateurs, representing Nine Indiana counties attended this very useful workshop which lasted four hours.
Participants were divided into two groups and ask to discuss for one hour, the following topics:
ORGANIZING A SUCCESSFUL FIELD DAY OPERATION
WRITING NEWS RELEASES TO ATTRACT MEDIA AND PUBLIC ATTENTION
FEEDING THE TROOPS ON DONATED MONEY
PICKING THE RIGHT LOCATION
FILLING THOSE HARD TO FILL OPERATING TIME SLOTS
HOW TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED.
After the small work group sessions, the entire group was tasked with assembly of an outline on what it takes to sponsor a good "Field Day Operation"
Here is that outline:
General Items..
1..Get good coordinator and committee to head up operation
2..Have club or group select modes of operation
3..Determine if exercise is for Fun or Serious Contest
4..Have a MASTER check list.Field Day Check List
5..Make detailed list for each station.
ie. radio, coax, antenna, tuner, mike, cw key, extension cord, grounding cable
Select site..committee does this..
Determine operating environment, access to public, safety and security
Operating positions
a.Hunt for night hawks to operate overnight.
b.Have sign up sheet to guarantee position coverage.
c.Recommend radio supervisor/Public Information person.
d.Create e-mail list to establish operator schedule.
e.Have awards for most contacts or longest operating time etc.
Set up Public relations needs:
For those who attended the workshop, Jack W8ISH gave a shot presentation on proper procedure for
a good NEWS release. He explained the inverted pyramid of writing news releases.
The following items were listed as guidelines in this area.
1. Advance news release to newspapers, radio and TV
2. Send via mail, fax, e-mail 1-2 weeks ahead of field day event follow
with call
3. Release needs club name, time, place and reason for holding event
4. Prepare brochure about club and amateur radio day/night contact person
5. Put flyers in Radio Shack, electronic stores, public libraries
6. Heavily publicize on local repeater and invite scanner listeners to
come
7..Don't forget Food, food, food ....Hams respond to food.
8..Get donations from local food stores, ie Walmart,Meijers,Marsh, McDonalds
9..Local stores support community groups with donations at special
events in exchange for publicity.
10.Have club brochure and news release to help explain need for donation.
11.Make signs to show who donated food.
12.Follow with ”Thank You” note from club.
13.Have an evening pitch-in meal, invite the family to see what
dad is doing.
14.A mid-night cookout and Sunday morning biscuits and gravy are crowd
pleasers.
15.Demonstrate other modes like APRS, PSK31, SATELLITE, AT, SSTV
Fun Group / Contest Group
Solve the context (Vs) fun field day by having two locations with
different call signs.
a.Keep it fun to attract new people.
b.Have new people start by assisting with listening before operating.
c.Have extra headphones and splitter box for guests to listen.
REVIEW FD SUCCESS, Have your group review at the next
meeting and make note of the suggestions for next year.