[2m] Open Letter To Hams

[KD5PCK@cs.com]

       An Open Letter To All New Orleans Area Ham Radio Operators
       

       For those who don't know me, my name is Scott Hernandez, my call is 
KD5PCK. I have been licensed for just over a year and hold a technician class 
ticket. 
       In that year, I have been trying to participate as much as possible in 
public service communications. For various reasons, this hasn't been easy. 
       First of all, when you mention the words "public service", hams 
immediately think of emergency communications. I believe that there is more 
to public service than emergency communications.
       Secondly, I have found a serious lack of willingness of trained 
communicators to share their training in message handling, emergency 
protocol, etc. I have heard several hams ask for more volunteers and not 
offer to help train these volunteers.
       "Why don't you do it?", is a response that I have also encountered 
many times when I have complained about the lack of volunteerism. That is the 
purpose of this letter.
       I am going to do it!
       I would like to take the next month to gather names and contact 
information of those hams that would be willing to volunteer to use their 
training and operating skills to support communications for various local 
events throughout the year. Once I have this list completed, I will be 
contacting local organizations to ask if they would have a use our services. 
While I do not expect to be greeted with open arms, I am willing to try.  
       I plan to first contact the New Orleans Track Club. This organization 
sponsors many foot races throughout the New Orleans Area. Most notably, the 
Crescent City Classic and the Mardi Gras Marathon. I would also like to 
contact various bicycling
groups to ask if they could use our services for their rides also.
       What is needed? I would ask that those interested have at least a dual 
band HT with one back-up battery pack and a willingness to volunteer. All 
egos should be checked at the door.
       I would like to address another issue at this time. Most hams think 
that if they are not tied to a radio that they are not useful. This is not 
the case. Volunteers are vital to many organizations. If the ham community is 
not welcome as far as communications, there is no reason that hams cannot 
volunteer in another capacity. We need to put aside the belief that we are 
somehow superior to other volunteers. Sure, we would have fun "playing radio" 
for a day, but there is nothing wrong with leaving the radios in the car and 
helping out in another way.
       What I ask of those interested is the following: 
       Please contact me via email with your name, address, phone number, and 
any email addresses you may have. I would also like a list of what equipment 
you may have that can be used for an event, such as, a foot race, bicycle 
race, or festival atmosphere.
       I prefer to receive email responses. If you need to contact me by 
other means, please see below for information.       
       I will compile this information until approximately November 15, 2002. 
At that time I will begin contacting various nonprofit agencies. Hopefully, 
soon after, we can start showing that hams care about the communities they 
live in.
       If anyone has a contact with an agency that we may be able to serve, 
or any comments, advice, or would be willing to assist me, please contact me 
ASAP.
       Thanks for you time. I look forward to working with each of you in the 
future.        
                               73
                               Scott Hernandez
                               KD5PCK
                               P.O. Box 8122
                               Metairie, LA 70011-8122
                               
                               504-737-3809 home
                               504-858-8981 cell


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