February 1998 South Texas PIO Report

                             Media Traffic

I have received no reports from any of you regarding media hits or any news
releases sent to the media.  Please let me know how you are doing!

In the past month I have only heard from one of you (thanks Morgan!).  I know
that we can all do a better job at promoting Amateur Radio.  Let's get with it!

                              Recruitment

I have sent 5 letters to STX ARRL affiliated clubs asking for their help in
recruiting more PIO's.  So far I have received no responses.  If you know of
any Amateur who would like to help promote Amateur Radio please send me their
name, callsign, address and email address (if they have one).

                          Electronic Communications

I have set up a STX PIO web page for storing sample press releases and a
record of the PIO reports that I am sending to you.  The URL is:

http://www.qsl.net/ka5wss/stxpio/

This page is not intended for people to find out more about Amateur Radio.
Rather it is to serve as a resource for you to use to become better PIO's.  So
please don't refer non-PIO's to the page for more information.  You're supposed
to be the source of information!

I have arranged to set up a South Texas PIO mail reflector but do not have
details on when this will be done.  I'll let you know when I get a
confirmation.

                             Upcoming Events

Some upcoming events that might be worthy of a PR effort:

Mar 7     Skywarn training at 3M (Austin)
Mar 26    Austin Simulated Emergency Test (maybe Mar 27)
Apr 18/19 MS-150 Bike Ride (Houston to Austin)
Jun 27/28 Field Day (nationwide)
Jul 31    Summerfest (Austin)
Oct 3     Communications for St. John's Charity 5K (Central Texas)
Oct ??    Simulated Emergency Test (nationwide)

Please let me know what you intend to do cover these or any other events!

The item on the list that requires immediate attention is the Skywarn training.
This should get good looks from the media given the recent Jarrell tornado and
Amateur efforts to help afterwards.  There will be a number of meteorology
experts in attendance.  Play it up as much as you can!

NOTE: There are also a large number of Skywarn classes being conducted by the
National Weather Service all across the section in the next couple of months.
So there is an opportunity for your area as well.  Check out the Texas Skywarn
page at http://www.skywarn-texas.org/ for the meeting times and locations or
send email to me for more information if you do not have Web access.

Feel free to use the press release examples on the STX PIO web page in
creating your own release.  I have an example already online for the upcoming
Skywarn training.

                               Attached Files

I have attached two files to this report.  Included are two sample press
releases for the upcoming SkyWarn training.  One is in Word for Windows and
the other in text format.  The specific information pertains to the Austin
training but you can use them as guides to creating your own release.  The
Word for Windows version includes the logos of both the ARRL and the Skywarn
program.

I've uploaded the South Texas PIO Handbook to the STXPIO web page.  If you
can not get access to it through the WWW send me email and I'll make other
arrangements to get it to you.  The Handbook includes contact information for
some media sources and Amateur Radio groups.  The information now is heavily
Central Texas in nature so please send me any additions that you would like to
add.

If you are one of the people who can not receive file attachments from me
please see the STX PIO web page for links to the above mentioned files.

Please send me your comments and suggestions!

73,

Robert Barron, KA5WSS