This is the month!

ARRL’s Ham Radio Open House is happening all over the world in April, centered around April 18 which is World Amateur Radio Day.

ARRL has joined forces with HamSCI and SciStarter to invite clubs to welcome the public into their ham radio stations. April is Citizen Science Month and we’re hoping to help document 1 million acts of science as visitors get hands-on at the club stations.

As of April 1, more than 30 clubs are signed up to host an ARRL Ham Radio Open House.

ARRL Ham Radio Open House Stations:

W2NPT in Fair Lawn, New Jersey

W1AW at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut

K2GSG in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York City

W1TU in Ellsworth, Maine

KC4RC in Camden, South Carolina

HI8RCD in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

PU1YRF in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

K0QIK in Fergus Falls, Minnesota

KO4WTM in Jupiter, Florida

W0WYV in Omaha, Nebraska

KQ4YNH in Sacramento, Kentucky

W2DQ in Yapank, New York

WV7HS in Youngtown, Arizona

K6ARN in Ontario, California

W1VCM in Windsor, Connecticut

W7ASC in Phoenix, Arizona

W2GSB in North Lindenhurst, New York

NR0AD in Platte City, Missouri

W1STR in Natick, Massachusetts

W3USR in Scranton, Pennsylvania

KL7EX in Fairbanks, Alaska

W4ZBB in Fort Walton Beach, Florida

W0OEL in West Union, Iowa

NS9RC in Northbrook, Illinois

W3PIE in Uniontown, Pennsylvania

W4HAW in Lake Worth Beach, Florida

N1D in Athens, Georgia

WA5CKF in Irving, Texas

K3RTV in Bowie, Maryland

K8HPS in Flint, Michigan

K8SCH in Cincinnati, Ohio

Dozens of clubs around the country have already said they are participating in Ham Radio Open House – but it’s not too late for your club to decide to take part.

ARRL wants your club to be successful. Here are the steps to prepare for your club’s ARRL Ham Radio Open House:

1. Pick a date.

Select a date (or dates) any time in the month of April to host your club station’s open house to maximize visitor traffic to your operation.

2. Use the media kit.

ARRL has created a comprehensive media kit prepared by veteran PR professionals on the ARRL Public Relations Committee. These pros want to help you shine and have given you a turn-key solution. Use as much or as little of it as you’d like – but its all there: Sample press release, PR tip sheet, media outreach timeline, and more. Find it on www.arrl.org/world-amateur-radio-day.

3. Location, Location, Location!

The ARRL Ham Radio Open House locator tool is available at www.arrl.org/Open-House. It is a two-way street. Add your club’s information to the interactive tool or use it to find an activation already planned in your area. This is the same tool many are used to using to find ARRL Field Day sites.

4. Be a social media superstar.

Social media is how many people find activities. Make sure your club is using the power of this outreach tool to spread the word of your event. In the HROH media kit, you’ll find a section devoted to social media best practices.

5. Be ready for next steps.

You’ve planned for weeks, visitors are showing up in droves, they’re having a great time getting on the air. Don’t leave them hanging on what’s next! Have a plan to get back in touch with them and welcome them to your next club meeting. Prepare a licensing class to enable them to dive right into becoming a ham. Let them know about your club’s ARRL Field Day plans and have them be a part of them.

The majority of active hams are ARRL members, so let them know the value you get from an ARRL membership and encourage them to join. Don’t forget about the free student membership for those aged 21 and under. www.arrl.org/membership.

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