Loudoun Amateur Radio Group P.O. Box 1004 ● Purcellville, VA ● 20134 history.k4lrg.org

 

Date:   June 14, 2007

 

To:       All Media Outlets

 

From:   Randy Sly, Public Information Officer

Loudoun County Amateur Radio Group

Phone: 703-404-0754 / [email protected]

 

Re:       Loudoun Amateur Radio Week and Field Day 2007

 

Attached you will find a Press Release, Backgrounders, and other information for Loudoun Amateur Radio Week and Field Day 2007, two events that will be feature the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group (LARG) a club of Amateur Radio operators from around the Loudoun County area.

 

Amateur Radio made headlines a lot the past few years, particularly due to our role in providing early emergency communications during Hurricane Katrina, when no other means of contact was available. The Amateur Radio Service again proved to be the only totally reliable emergency communications resource in the world since we need no infrastructure in order to communicate. The importance of this capability is documented on page 177 of the recent report of the Select Bipartisan Committee of the House of Representatives, "A Failure of Initiative," on Hurricane Katrina. Amateur Radio is included in the list of "What Went Right" in the White House report, "The Federal Response to Katrina: Lessons Learned." Amateur Radio is one of the few communications services that succeeded in Katrina's aftermath.

 

On a local level, Loudoun County Amateurs participate in emergency activations such as SKYWARN, the severe weather spotting program of the National Weather Service, and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, which supports the Red Cross and County Emergency Operations Center. In addition, Loudoun “hams” perform many events of public service, providing communications for the Reston Bike Club-Red Cross Charity Bike Ride, the Multiple Sclerosis 150 Charity Bike Ride, US-Trail Rides, Potomac Safety Day, Hamilton Safety Day and other events as requested by the County, or individual groups.

 

You are invited to attend a special Field Day gathering for the Media and Public Officials between 3:00pm and 5:00pm on Saturday afternoon, June 23 at 14282 Rehoboth Church Road, Lovettsville, VA. There will be radio demonstrations; an opportunity to interview club officers, officials from the Virginia Section of the American Radio Relay League, and others; along with visits to any or all of our six operating stations. A map of the Field Day location can be found at: http://www.google.com/maps?q=14282+Rehoboth+Church+Rd,+Lovettsville,+VA+20180,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title.

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After reviewing the material, please feel free to contact me for any additional information. If you are looking for heroes or human interest, Amateur Radio is world of fascinating activity.