South Texas PIO Handbook

Introduction

This document is intended to provide the Public Information Officers of the Central Texas area the information that they need to perform their duties. The League often provides valuable assistance in accomplishing a PIO’s tasks but they lack the detailed information of individual locations required to successfully promote the hobby of Amateur Radio.To be effective PIO's must present a consistent, clear and ever-present image of Amateur Radio to the media and community-at-large. To assist this process this document will attempt to detail the way in which Austin-specific information should be portrayed and the work required to get that message across to others.

Guidelines

The phrases Amateur Radio and Ham Radio should always be capitalized. Both phrases are proper names and denote a radio service of the Federal Communications Commission. The preferred term is Amateur Radio though at least one reference to Ham Radio is desired as the public may know of us by either name.The Amateur Radio clubs in the Austin area do not compete against each other and no media communications should imply that they do. When a reporter appears to be forming an opinion that there is competition be sure to point out that each club concentrates on a different facet of Amateur Radio and they complement each other. be sure to point out that many local Amateurs belong to more than one organization.

News Releases

Developing an attractive news release form is one of the first things a PIO should do. These forms will be used to convey information to a wide variety of people and often present the first impression to members of the media. So spend some time to come up with a neat but conservative design that implies a professional image. A complete sample press release can be found at the end of this document.

Newspapers

For Austin, newspaper generally means the Austin American-Statesman. However there are several other newspaper outlets that should not be overlooked. This includes small town newspapers outside of Austin and alternative newspapers within the city itself such as the Austin Chronicle and UT’s Daily Texan.Small town newspapers outside of Austin should not be overlooked. The Central Texas DX and Contest Club operated their 1995 Field Day in a remote Burnet County location. The Burnet Citizen's Gazette was interested in covering the event and wrote up a nice two page article including several photographs.

Area          Newspaper/Contact      Address                  Phone        FAX            
Austin        Aus American-Statesman P.O. Box 670             445-3650     445-3679 Metro
              Jerry White            Austin                                445-3968 XL
                                     News@Statesman.Com
 
Austin        Austin Chronicle       P.O. Box 49066           454-5766     458-6910
                                     Austin 78765

Austin        Daily Texan                                                  471-2952
                                     texan@utxvms.cc.utexas.edu

Austin        Lake Travis View                                263-1100     263-3583
                                     107 RR 620 South, Box 5F
                                     Austin, TX 78734

Austin        Northwest Journal      8805 Royalwood Drive     250-5358

Austin        West Austin News       3301 Northland Dr.       459-5471     N/A
                                     Suite 408
                                     Austin 78731

Bastrop       Bastrop Advertiser                              512-321-2557 512-321-1680

Burnet        Burnet Bulletin                                 512-756-8911
              Sarah Wartes

Burnet        Citizen's Gazette      P.O. Box 43              512-756-6640 512-756-6640
              Scott White            Burnet 78611

Cedar Creek   Cedar Creek Pilot

Cedar Park    Hill Country News      P.O. Box 1777            259-4449     259-8889
                                     Cedar Park, TX 78630

Lago Vista    North Lake Travis Log  P.O. Box 4410            267-4449     267-4464
                                     Lago Vista, TX 78645

Marble Falls  The Highlander                                               210-593-3650?
              Billy Berkenbile

Pflugerville  Pflugerville Pflag     P.O. Box 447             251-5574     251-6221
                                     Pflugerville, TX 78691

Round Rock    Round Rock Leader                               255-5827     255-3733
                                     rrtxleader@aol.com

Round Top     Round Top Register

San Marcos    The Daily University Star

Smithville    Smithville Times                                512-237-4655

Westlake      Westlake Picayune      PO Box 160790            327-2990     328-6470
                                     Westlake, TX 78716

??            Cedar Post                                      258-8850

Television

Television is a tough media to break into but it is by no means impossible.

The telephone numbers listed below are the news hotline numbers, if one was available.

Area          Station/Contact      Address        Phone        FAX
Austin        ACTV-Community Acc.                 478-8600     478-9438
                                   1143 Northwestern Av.
                                   Austin, TX

Austin        KEYE Ch. 42                         835-0042     490-2111 FAX
              Assignment Desk      10700 Metric Blvd.          837-6753 (Comm Events)
                                   Austin, TX
                                   k-eyetv@aol.com

Austin        KGBS Ch. 65

Austin        KLRU Ch. 18          P.O. Box 7158  471-4811
                                   Austin, TX 78713

Austin        KTBC Ch. 7           119 E 10th St. 472-0988     495-7060
              Bill Alford          Austin, TX                  495-7091

Austin        KNVA CH. 54          908 W. MLK     478-5400     476-1520

Austin        KVC Ch. 13           119 E. 10th St 476-7777     495-7091 FAX (Comm. Events)

Austin        KVUE Ch. 24          3201 Steck Ave 459-9442     459-6538
              Mike George
              Assign Desk          news@kvue.com

Austin        KXAN Ch. 36          908 W. MLK     476-2863     469-0630
                                   news@kxan.com

Radio

Area          Station/Contact Address                Phone        FAX
Austin        KAHK 107.7
Austin        KAMX 94.7                              390-5789?
Austin        KASE 101        705 N. Lamar           495-1300     473-2233
Austin        KAZI            8906 Wall St.          836-9544     836-1146
Austin        KELG            7524 N. Lamar          453-1491     458-0700
Austin        KEYI 103.5 FM   811 Barton Springs Rd. 474-9233     397-1425
Austin        KFIT            110 S. Wild Basin Rd.  328-8400     328-8437
Austin        KFON 1490 AM    811 Barton Springs Rd. 474-9233
Austin        KGSR 107 FM     505 Barton Springs Rd. 472-1071     472-0143
Austin        KHFI 96.7 FM    811 Barton Springs Rd. 474-9233     397-1425
Austin        KHHT 93.3 FM    8309 N IH-35           390-5933?
Austin        KICK 92 FM                             218-0111
Austin        KIXL 970 AM     3910 S IH-35           444-3000
                              kixl@cis.compuserve.com
Austin        KKLB            7524 N. Lamar Blvd.    390-5552
Austin        KKMJ 95.5 FM    4301 Westbank Dr.      327-9595     329-6257
Austin        KLBJ AM-FM      8309 N IH-35           832-4000     832-4063
                              klbj590@aolcom
Austin        KMFA 89.5       3001 N. Lamar Blvd.    476-5632     474-7463
Austin        KNLE 88.1       12703 Research #222    257-8801
                              Austin, TX 78759-4321
Austin        KNNC 107.7 FM   1600 Nueces St.        472-1077
Austin        KOOP 91.7       505 San Jacinto Blvd.  472-5667     472-6149
Austin        KPEZ 102 FM     811 Barton Springs Rd. 474-9233
Austin        KROX 101.5
Austin        KTXZ 1560 AM    400 E. Anderson Ln.
Austin        KVET AM-FM      705 N. Lamar Blvd.     495-1300     473-2233
Austin        KUTZ            12710 Research Blvd.   331-9191
Horseshoe Bay KBAY 104.7

Libraries

Do not overlook libraries in trying to get the word out about Amateur Radio. While seldom mentioned in League packets about PIO’s, local libraries do offer some important chances to promote the hobby.Every local library should have at least one, good, introductory book about Amateur Radio on its shelves. Such books serve as a permanent repository of information for people wanting to find out more about it. Radio and television spots are short and most newspaper articles convey little real information. Library books provide a source of detailed information that an individual may reference to supplement what they first saw on TV or heard on the radio.In 1995 a library book donation was organized to get as many Now You're Talking books into Austin libraries as possible. A bulk purchase of 12 books were arranged through Radio Shack and distributed to area libraries. Note that Austin public libraries now handle book donations at every branch, not through the main branch downtown.Many libraries have public information sections where brochures from a variety of organizations are on display. Three Austin public libraries have been targeted to display brochures about Amateur Radio. This test project is on-going. The three branch libraries are:

Area      Branch              Address        Phone number
Austin    Anderson Village    Anderson Lane
Austin    Little Walnut Creek Rundberg

Each of the above branches should be visited periodically and their stock of brochures replenished if required.

Public Demonstrations

The national Amateur Radio awareness day is held on the 3rd Saturday of September every year. It is a day in which clubs around the country set up demonstrations in public areas and try to promote the hobby. While some clubs attempt to do this for Field Day as well the focus of intentions is different. For Field Day most participants are trying to make contacts on the air. For awareness day the entire event is centered around introducing Amateur Radio to the general public.

Amateur Radio Contacts

American Red Cross

Last updated May 17, 1996

Position                Name            Callsign  Phone         Email
Communications Officer  Stuart Rohre    K5KVH     512-255-3932  rohre@arlut.utexas.edu

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)

Last updated February 25, 1998.

Meetings: Travis Co. - 5th Tuesday of the month
          Williamson Co. - 2nd Thursday of the month
Web Site: Travis Co. - http://acadlp.com/ares/
          Williamson Co. - http://members.aol.com/kb5ywl/wcares.html


Position                Name            Callsign  Phone         Email
Dist. Emer. Coordinator Joe Fisher      K5EJL
Comal Co. E.C.          Todd Covington  N5IJR     512-349-8090  tcovington@notes.primeco.com
Travis Co. E.C.         Mac Cannary     KB5VYT    512-339-9531  kb5vyt@texas.net
                                                  512-613-3306 pager
                                                  512-257-1109 FAX
Travis EOC Liaison      David Hoge      WD5FGZ    512-622-0619  wd5fgz@tlc.state.tx.us
Travis NWS Liaison      Jim Neely       WA5LHS    512-604-3012
Williamson Co. E.C.     Pete Olhaver    KB5YWL    512-244-1062  kb5ywl@aol.com

American Radio Relay League

Last updated Feb. 26 1998.

Position                Name            Callsign  Phone         Email
STX Section Manager     Ray Taylor      N5NAV     830-625-1683  n5nav@arrl.org
STX PIC                 Robert Barron   KA5WSS    512-837-4051  ka5wss@arrl.net
STX SGL                 Clif Maloney    KM5HY
Brazoria Co. LGL        Don Lamont      WD5AAH                  wd5aah@hotmail.com

Austin Amateur Radio Club (AARC)

Last updated Feb. 2, 1998 W5KA station is located at the American Red Cross building on Pershing Drive (across from the airport).

Address:  P.O. Box 13473
          Austin, TX 78711-3473
Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of the month


Position                Name            Callsign  Phone         Email
President               Jill Francis    KC5OJK                  kc5ojk@gte.net
Vice President          Lew Thompson    W5IFQ     835-3389
Treasurer               Roger Wines     W5WIA     453-2193      75610.1026@compuserve.com
Activity Manager        Joan Cox        KD4SRD    512-288-4135  w0raokd4srd@worldnet.att.net
Newsletter Editor       Lloyd Crawford  N5GDB     892-3912      n5gdb@texas.net

Austin Amateur Television Club

Last updated Feb. 2, 1998

Meetings: 3rd Tuesday of the month

Austin Repeater Organization (ARO)

Last updated Feb. 24, 1998

Address:  P.O. Box 4763
          Austin, TX 78765
Meetings: 1st Tuesday of the month
Web site: http://www.acadlp.com/aro/


Position                Name            Callsign  Phone         Email
President               Jeff Schmidt    N5MNW     255-6753      jeff_schmidt@email.sps.mot.com
Vice President          Hugo Sanchez    N5JGX     459-7228      hugo@eden.com
Secretary               Sam Mihalik     NM5MV     282-6229      SMihalik@fds.tdh.state.tx.us
Treasurer               Roger Wines     W5WIA     453-2193      75610.1026@compuserve.com
Editor                  Lloyd Crawford  N5GDB     892-3912      n5gdb@texas.net

Central Texas DX and Contest Club

Last updated Feb. 2, 1998

Meetings: 4th Monday of the month
Web site: http://www.kkn.net/~ctdxcc/

Highland Lakes Repeater Society

Position                Name            Callsign  Phone         Email
??                      Dale Cockle     K5JIC     512-756-7461  k5jic@directnet.net
??                      John Adam?      KC5FW                   jadam4@directnet.net

Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA)

Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)

Last updated May 17, 1996

Position                Name            Callsign  Phone         Email
State Radio Officer     Larry Gentry              424-2138
Travis RACES            Joe Canfield    N5HPC?

Skywarn

Last Updated February 23, 1998

Web Site: http://www.skywarn-texas.org/

STARC - South Texas Amateur Radio Club

Last Updated April 28, 1998

Meetings: 4th Thursday of the month, 7:30PM at
          Windsor Park Church of Christ
          4420 S. Staples, Corpus Christi

State of Texas

Last updated May 17, 1996

Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management

Position                Name            Callsign  Phone         Email
State Radio Officer     Larry Gentry              424-2138
Emer. Operations Center                           424-2138

UT Amateur Radio Club (UTARC)

Last updated April 28, 1998.

Callsign: N5XU
Address:  UTARC
          SOC #73
          100-C W. Dean Keeton St.
          Austin, TX 78712
Meetings: 3rd Thursday of the month (during school year only)
Web site: http://www.utexas.edu/students/utarc/


Position                Name            Callsign  Phone         Email
President               Ken Harker      KM5FA                   kharker@cs.utexas.edu
Vice President          Robin           KC5NUU                  r.m@mail.utexas.edu
Sec./Treas.             Michael Evans   KD5AAD                  mlevans@mail.utexas.edu
Newsletter Editor       Robert Barron   KA5WSS    837-4051      ka5wss@arrl.net

Williamson County Amateur Radio Club

Last updated February 24, 1998.

Address:  WCARC
          P.O. Box 1644
          Georgetown, TX 78627
Meetings: 1st Thursday of the month
Web Site: http://www.io.com/~bonner/radioclub/


Position                Name            Callsign  Phone         Email
President               Dave Hassell    AB5WX     512-244-1657  ab5wx@aol.com
Vice President          Flo Adams       KC5PPL    512-759-7044  fmadams@austin360.com
Secretary               Ed Underwood    W2EBH     512-863-9732  eunderwood@austron.com
Treasurer               Bob Redoutey    N5KF      512-244-7178  redoutey@bga.com
Activities              Martha Underwood N2VRF    512-863-9732
Co. Emergency Coord.    Pete Olhaver    KB5YWL    512-244-1062  kb5ywl@aol.com

3M Amateur Radio Club (3M ARC)

Last updated May 20, 1996

Position                Name            Callsign  Phone         Email
President               Scott McWaters  KK5EO                   KK5EO@aol.com

Government Contacts

City Halls

City         Phone #            FAX #
Austin
Bastrop
Cedar Park                      258-6083
Georgetown
Hutto        512-846-2017       512-846-6000
Lago Vista                      267-7070
Leander
Manor                           272-8636
Pflugerville 251-3076           251-5768
Rollingwood                     327-1869
Round Rock                      218-7097
Taylor
Westlake                        327-1863

State of Texas