February 1999 South Texas PIO Report

                             Media Hits

James Hall (KC5OFV) provided updated Amateur Radio information including
listings of repeaters, nets and club meetings to several local Radio Shack
stores.

Providing up-to-date information to Radio Shack, computer shops and libraries
is a great way to target information at those places potential Amateurs are
more likely to be.  The next time you visit such a store or library take along
a few Amateur Radio brochures with your contact information and leave them
behind.  Old Amateur magazines are also better left at a library rather than
throuwn away!

                             Media Traffic

Ken Neal (K5KEN) reports that he is already planning for Field Day.  The Hill
Country Amateur Radio Club is circulating a questionaire to obtain ideas from
the membership on how to make Field Day more public and constructive.

In the meantime Ken continues to work the local press with announcements of
the monthly meetings in the Kerrville Times.  He also plans on submitting
articles about the planned communications support being provided to the
Kelly Creek Bike Classic in April.

                                Misc.

James reports that he will be adding to his responsibilities by becoming
the VP of Public relations for the South Texas Amateur Radio Club.

Thanks for Fred Mann (N5IVZ) for checking in letting me know that he plans on
more PIO activity in the near future.

An Amateur Radio tower bill is now working its way through the Texas
legislature.  I'll be following up with more information later.  Suffice to
say for now that you should be prepared to react to any news reports about the
bill and counter any negative press.  It's probably not the best idea to
promote the bill in the general press.  Rather concentrate on making sure
that your fellow Hams know about the bill are do what they can to support it.

                            Upcoming Events

Mar 6     Skywarn Class at 3M Austin
Mar 29    Airport Disaster Exercise (Austin)
Apr 11    Capital 10K (Austin)
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