April 1999 South Texas PIO Report

                             Media Hits

Ken Neal (K5KEN) reports that the Hill Country Amateur Radio club provided
communications for the Kelly Creek Bike Races on April 10 and 11.  For
their efforts the group received coverage not only in the local press
but also San Antonio press and TV crews.

                             Media Contact

No reported contacts with the media this month.

                           Field Day Planning

Now is the time to start planning for Field Day publicity, if you have not
already done so.  There's only about one and a half months of "quality" time
to get in touch with your local media and make sure that some of them show
up to cover one of Amateur Radio's best events of the year.  What are your
plans?  Let me know!

I'll be working with the Austin Amateur Radio Club and other local clubs to
provide publicity for their effort.  We'll also set up a hospitality/PR
table for visitors to find out more about Amateur Radio.  Since the effort
will take place on a local high school campus we expect a few visitors to
find out what Amateur Radio is about.  Please consider doing the same for
Field Day efforts in your area as well.  At the very least make sure that
the participating clubs have some Amateur Radio brochures on hand to give
to interested visitors.  Those brochures should have your name and address
or phone number on them so that they can get quick answers to their questions
about Amateur Radio.  Individual recruitment may not be the main objective
of PIO's but it's a responsibility of all Hams.

                                Misc.

We've recruited a new PIO to our ranks this month!  Please join me in welcoming
Bill Elliott (KC5TYF) to the team.  Bill hails from San Benito in the Valley
and brings some professional experience to our ranks as he serves as the
Director of Community Relations and Educational Services for Valley Baptist
Medical Center.  Welcome Bill!

Know of anyone else who may be interested in helping promote Amateur Radio?
Please pass along some information to me so that I can get in touch with
him/her.

Alas, I also have to report that we will be losing a PIO.  Due to pending
business travels Ken Neal (K5KEN) will be forced to resign in the near future.
You'll be missed Ken and you're always welcome to return.

James Hall (KC5OFV) reports that he has been named to the Board of Directors of
the South Texas ARC.  The club is starting a general rag-chewing net on its
repeater to get people active.  They are also planning an upcoming Skywarn
organizational meeting.  Sounds like an opportunity for some PR!

Don't forget about the STX PIO web page:
http://www.qsl.net/ka5wss/stxpio/

Upcoming changes to the STX PIO web page:
* Add list of PIO's in the section, with email addresses where appropriate.
* Remove outdated recent media hit links.
* Restructure of the STX PIO Handbook to be web-centric.  Instead of one large
document it will be broken up into links to appropriate chapters and sections.

                            Upcoming Events

Jul 26-27 Field Day
Oct ??    Simulated Emergency Test (More on this next month)

Please send me your comments and suggestions!

73,

Robert Barron, KA5WSS