Clubs urged to appoint Public Information Officer

During the South African Radio League's President's net last Sunday, details of a new marketing and Public Relations Initiative for Amateur Radio were announced. It is called the Public Information Officer Network.

Clubs are invited to appoint a PIO as part of a national team co-ordinated by the national body, the SARL, but each one serving his or her own club and area.

The objective is the promotion of amateur radio by disseminating information to the media and the community at large about Amateur Radio, the SARL and the PIO's local club.

The SARL is inviting clubs to canvass an enthusiastic person to join the network and become a PIO for Amateur Radio, their local club and the national body, the SARL.

The network will have its own Web Pages with lots of information, PowerPoint presentations that can be used in presentations, audio files, media releases and pictures about Amateur-Radio-in-action.

The SARL is compiling a PIO manual that will provide guidelines and train PIOs. The SARL will run regular short courses via teleconferences. Make news material available that can be customised for local newspapers - we are even planning radio spots that can be placed as public service announcements - free of charge.

Visit ClubTalk on www.sarl.org.za to download an application form to join the PIO Network.