New League Brochure Targets Kids:

A colorful, new, kid-tested ham radio brochure is available from ARRL Headquarters. "Leap into Amateur Radio" aims at an elementary school audience and introduces youngsters to the hobby.

"Amateur Radio is an exciting hobby that lets you meet new people of all ages--and have a great time!" the full-color, tri-fold flier emphasizes. "Getting started is easy!"

Field and Educational Support Team Leader Mary Lau, N1VH, headed the team that produced the flier. She cited two objectives in its design. "There was a desire to specifically target 8 to 11 year olds," she said, "as well as the need to supply a youth-oriented handout to replace the Archie's Ham Radio Adventure comic book that is no longer published."

The brochure is comprised of colorful graphics, photos of kids operating and several boxes of basic text explaining what Amateur Radio is and does. There's also space on the back for local clubs or organizations to affix their contact information, so that children and their families can get more information about the hobby. The back panel also includes a blurb about ARRL and gives its e-mail address.

On the "What is Amateur Radio" page right inside the tri-fold brochure is a brief explanation of what Amateur Radio is. "Anyone can be a ham--no matter what age, sex or physical ability," the flier points out. Accompanying the text are photos of youngsters--a boy and a girl--on the air. Fully open, the flier presents four capsules of information about Amateur Radio:

* How ham radio and wireless technologies fit into lives that include cell phones and the Internet.

* The several modes hams use to communicate with each other--including voice, computer, and even telegraph key.

* The various types of operating activities available--including public service and the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program.

* How simple it is to get started in Amateur Radio and whom to contact.

Assisting the in the project were ARRL Educational Program Coordinator Jean Wolfgang, WB3IOS; Educational Correspondent Marjorie Bourgoin, KB1DCO, and Field and Educational Services Assistant Linda Mullally, KB1HSV.

After assembling the material for the flier and putting together a prototype, Lau and her staff got the brochure into the hands of a number of area youngsters for some product testing. The children offered a few ideas to make the handout even more appealing, she said. Arizona-based graphic artist Cameo Hill did the final layout and design.

"Leap into Amateur Radio" will become available in mid-February--free of charge and in limited quantities of up to 25 fliers--to any Amateur Radio operator or amateur club. Lau said the only cost will be for shipping. The brochure is now available as an Acrobat PDF file via the ARRL Web site http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/materials/Leap-into-AR.pdf.

To order copies of the brochure, interested clubs or individuals should contact Linda Mullally, KB1HSV, lmullally@arrl.org; 860-594-0292.

Source:

The ARRL Letter Vol. 22, No. 03 January 17, 2003

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