[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] FW: Capital District Concerns

[Rick and Karen Bunn]

FYI.  I think the current SM is doing a fine job, but here is some input
from the other guy.  Please note the questions and where they lead.

 

73 Rick  

 

  _____  

From: Glen Sage [mailto:glensage at direcway.com] 
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 4:04 PM
To: Daniel Sullivan
Cc: jrexroad at aol.com
Subject: Capital District Concerns

 

Daniel and Jean,

 

Both of you seem to have some real concerns about my postion on the Capital
District and section policy in general.  Therefore I am seeding my response
to Daniels questions to both of you.

 

As an ARRL member, I began to hear word of your canidacy in the last two 
weeks. I live in Falls Church City and I am active in ARES and a couple 
local clubs here (I am on the Board of one) The questions we, and I am 
taking the liberty of speaking for other Northern Virginians on this (I will

be forwarding your reply as well), is this:

1) Will you appoint an Asst SM with the power to speak for you and the 
expectation they attend meetings and participate in regional coordination 
projects such as the National Capital ARES Council, regional emergency 
preparedness planning and exercises, local club activities and outreach to 
governmental bodies at the Federal, State and county level?

 

Yes, it is important that the center of our national government be covered
with active leadership that is involved with the National Capital ARES
Council and be available to local leadership to assist them were there is a
need.  When I appoint someone to a task, I would also give him or her the
authority to care for that task.  If that person is an Assistant Section
Manger covering that area, their voice would have the same weight as my own.


2) What is your understanding of why Northern Virginia has actively 
considered forming its own section? How will you handle those issues?

 

I was not aware of a movement to establish a new section for northern
Virginia.  Any thoughts on the "Why" would be speculation but I assume that
you feel the Virginia Section has not been sensitive to some of the unique
challenges that face your area.  If this new section meet the needs of the
situation better than the current structure, then why not?


3) How will your administration address the REALITY that Northern Virginia 
requires not just a government coordinator for Richmond but has a 
responsibility to conduct outreach to the Federal government in support of 
ARRL initiatives?

 

I feel that a Liaison or coordinator between the section and national
government should be appointed and supported.  This process should be
"spearheaded" by local leadership.  I am about 250 road miles from your area
and I don't presume that I know what is best for you in regard to federal
government coordination.  I don't see myself as the "answer man" for all the
challenges of the section.  I have a good understanding of amateur radio,
ARES/RACES and good organizational skills.  I also recognize that people
located near an opportunity have a better grasp of things that are unique to
their location and can institute change in more productive ways than I.  So,
I would see my role as one of supporting local leadership rather than
dictating a plan to them.


4) What kinds of outreach do you plan to all parts of the State to maintain 
an active awareness of the players, personalities and the on the ground 
picture?

 

I would reestablish a regional or zone concept to place sectional leadership
closer to the diverse areas of the section.  I prefer the term zone so as to
not conflict with the NTS term region.  North Carolina also uses this "zone"
designation.  We have a section that is between 500 and 600 road miles from
one extreme to the other.  A Section Manager or Section Emergency
Coordinator trying to play ARES Czar with all the answers for the Virginia
Section is going to end up with the same system that I am running to
replace.

5) What is your non-emergency management vision of your term?

Concerning the programs in Virginia that are working, I will not attempt
major changes.  These are the NTS and nets in general.  I would like to see
more training nets and will work to make that happen.  I would encourage
more amateur radio classes with a strong emphasis on effective publicity
prior to the sign-up.  I have set up and taught in two classes in the past
eight months in two rural Virginia counties and we have added 31 new hams to
the hobby.  Next week we are starting a third class and it appears that our
enrollment will be between 15 and 20 people.  Nearly all these new hams have
signed up for ARES.  If this was repeated across the commonwealth, can you
imagine the explosion of growth in amateur radio. 


6) Will there be a cleaning house of the Section Leadership as part of your 
outreach and "healing" with RACES, INC (as opposed to RACES appointed under 
FEMA guidelines) and within ARES itself?

I don't anticipate mass changes with leadership in ARES or other areas of
the section. Those that have demonstrated that the reason they sought a
leadership role is to amplify their importance and "rule the roost with an
attitude of arrogance", have no place in a service organization leadership.
People that want a title and are unwilling to function are not productive
leaders, we don't need a name on a roster that doesn't function..  Those
that want to continue to "wage war" with other emergency communications
groups will not do so as an ARES appointee.  These people are less than 5%
of ARES appointments.

 

 

Thanks for your concerns, questions and comments.

 

Glen Sage, W4GHS