[Ares-races] ARES administration and organization details?

[JOE]

Although the ARRL is behind emergency communication training (they received 
a grant), I don't see them as being behind ARES in a supportive way that is 
needed to help ARES grow.

Some of the things that the ARRL could be doing:

1) Support a nationwide ARES web site and host web pages for the various 
local ARES groups.  I am a member of Connecticut ARES and we need an 
expense free web page to post information.  The ARRL already has the 
ability to expand their present web site and host such local ARES web 
pages.  There are some excellent ARES web sites around the country.  The 
ARRL could then supply a link to these pages.

2) Support an email list for ARES members.  I run the ConnARES list on 
YahooGroups. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ConnARES/  (Used to be OneList, 
EGroups, etc)  This has been a very successful email list in the 
Connecticut area for ARES.  For years it has kept us in daily 
communications (vs once a year when a disaster happens).  But, YahooGroups 
is getting too commercial lately.  We need a web site for the list owners 
to easily manage their local ARES list, just like YahooGroups has.

3) Support a nationwide and regional database of ARES members.  I have a 
database of approximately 800 ARES members here in Connecticut.  Wouldn't 
it be nice if the ARRL had a nationwide database of ARES members?  If I 
die, there goes the list.  This has been a long time problem with ARES, 
people going SK and knowledge and information lost.  BTW, it would be 
interesting to ask the ARRL how many ARES members they have nationwide, I 
bet they don't have a clue.  I would like to post my database to a National 
list that can be shared by all ARES leadership members.  I would not share 
it with the general ARES membership to avoid Spam and other problems.  I do 
share some information with members, 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ConnARES/database

4) As you suggest, a "site that details the overall organization and 
administration of ARES"  Something that is very easy to find, not buried 
somewhere at a web site.

5) Someplace to easily find an ARES membership application.  Pretend you 
are a new ham and you are looking to join ARES.  Search the web for 
information on how to join.  Search the ARRL web site for information on 
how to join your local ARES group.  No luck?  No wonder most of us ARES 
members are old farts like me.

I'm being sarcastic at times and hard on the ARRL a lot.  BUT, if we and 
the ARRL are going to train people for emergency communications, we have to 
have a viable organization for them to belong to.  The ARRL can't just take 
the grant money and leave it at that.

I feel that I have the right to complain because I have tried to do 
something in the Connecticut area.  Many people have gotten behind my 
ConnARES email reflector efforts and have been a great help through the 
years.  Am I bragging? No  Am I proud of my efforts? Yes


73, Joe, K1ike

At 09:37 AM 8/3/2002 -0600, you wrote:
>ARES folks:
>
>Is there a web page or site that details the overall
>organization and administration of ARES?