Press Release -FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Proudly hosting the 2012 Arkansas State ARRL Convention

What:

Annual NWA Hamfest & Preparedness Festival

Where:

Rogers First Church of the Nazarene 4911 W. Pleasant Grove Rd. Rogers, Ar (36.287830 -94.186457)

When:

Saturday, June 9th, 2012 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Why:

Ham Radio Operators have traditionally contributed their time and the use of their equipment to the community for Public Service. Even to the point of defending the Amateur use of portions of the electromagnetic spectrum from commercialism. Ham volunteers have organized entities that can be called upon by official channels to actually make progress to help with disasters. We don’t just show up with good intentions. We are part of the organized effort.

Who:

The Benton County Radio Operators Club (BCRO) is an organization of amateur radio operators (hams) that use their own equipment from the hobby they love to provide another layer of emergency communications to local government and beyond. They work under the auspices of a national radio organization: American Radio Relay League and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES). The BCRO routinely organizes “weather nets” during serious weather events, triggered by SKYWARN events and provide an extra layer of communications through the Benton County Emergency Operations Center (EOC). They provide a presence at the EOC in tandem with direct communications with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Tulsa, Ok. Most ham operators are also trained SKYWARN storm spotters. Some spotters actually go chase the storms while others only keep a lookout from their home. Local media also monitors the ham frequencies for up to date, verifiable immediate news by trained spotters.

Agenda

• Flea Market Tables $5, at the door at 7am, many available
• Entry fee $10 includes 1 ticket, same as last years entry price
• Extra tickets for door prizes $1.00 each at the door
• Doors open to the public at 8am, Credit/Debit accepted at door
• BCRO has donated a Yaesu FT-897D Grand Prize at the end of the hamfest!!!
• Community Blood Center will have their Bloodmobile there
• 8:00-9:25 Seminar – “Ham Radio for Preppers”
• 9:00-10:25 ARES/RACES forum – Kirk (?)
• 9:30-11:00 Youth Room - Advanced SKYWARN Storm Spotter Training for licensed amateur radio operators by local media weatherman: Dan Skoff (KF5CKK)
• 9:45-12:00 ARRL-VE (FCC) License Testing sessions (Testing starts promptly at 10:00)
• (No entry fee for test only)
• 10:30-12:00 Fellowship Room - ARRL section forum –Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
• Tables are rented for ham radio flea markets for those interested in purchasing used equipment.
• Associated Radio, 2 regional ham radio vendors will be present for those interested in purchasing new equipment
• Flex Radios Demonstration Table (modern SDR style radios)
• L D Tactical supplies, Vendors for Preperation Supplies & Foods
• D & L Antenna will be present for those interested in purchasing new equipment
• Benton County Emergency Operations Center Mobile Command Center will be on static display
• Bentonville Bomb Squad Truck on static display
• Established Vendors and flea market tables will be there
• Numerous giveaways have been donated by Icom Amateur Radio Products