[Ares-races] Ham Radio now official part of CitizenCorps

[BillLennox@aol.com]

Source:  www.arrl.org

NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 24, 2003 -- ARRL now is an official affiliate program of <A HREF="http://www.citizencorps.gov/">
CitizenCorps</A>, an initiative within the <A HREF="http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/">Department of Homeland Security</A> to 
enhance public preparedness and safety. ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, signed 
the formal Statement of Affiliation between DHS and ARRL during the ARRL 2003 
National Convention June 21. Chief Operating Officer of the Emergency 
Preparedness and Response Directorate (FEMA) Ron Castleman represented Under Secretary 
for Emergency Preparedness and Response Michael D. Brown at the signing. 
Citizen Corps Liaison to the White House Liz DiGregorio called ham radio operators 
the "first of the first responders."  

 "You are there. You are part of that very, very first response when it 
happens locally," especially in the initial stages of an emergency or disaster, 
DiGregorio told the overflow audience at the signing ceremony. She urged amateurs 
to explore ways to expand their role in the community beyond being the last 
resort when other communication systems fail. "You need to show your community 
that you're engaged," she said. "They need to know as a community that ARRL is 
there."  

Castleman said his agency really needs Amateur Radio's help. "Hams have a 
long and distinguished history of assisting and cooperating with FEMA," he said. 
That cooperation dates back to a 1984 Memorandum of Understanding between the 
League and FEMA. He said FEMA wants to continue to work with Amateur Radio 
operators as partners and expand hams' community safety role.

"We also want to help prepare every citizen across our country before 
disaster strikes," Castleman said.

Castleman presented an etched-glass award to symbolize the new relationship 
between the ARRL and DHS. It reads, "The Department of Homeland Security 
welcomes the support of the American Radio Relay League as a valued partner of 
Citizen Corps."

The agreement adds the ARRL as an affiliate to the four charter Citizen Corps 
programs -- Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in Police Service, Community 
Emergency Response Teams and Medical Reserve Corps. The League joins the National 
Safety Council, Points of Light Foundation, National Voluntary Organizations 
Active in Disaster, National Volunteer Fire Council, National Fire Protection 
Association, Save A Life Foundation and The Jaycees as Citizen Corps affiliate 
programs.

The SoA calls on DHS and ARRL to raise public awareness of Amateur Radio as a 
safety resource. "That's what you are all about, and we need a safer 
America," DiGregorio said in outlining ARRL's role within the program. 

In addition, DHS and ARRL will cooperate in providing training and 
accreditation for Amateur Radio emergency communications. They also will work together 
to promote the formation of local Citizen Corps councils and assist them with 
education, training and volunteer service opportunities "that support first 
responders, disaster relief organizations and community safety efforts." As an 
affiliate, ARRL will be linked from the FEMA and Citizen Corps Web sites.

"We need you, and you need us, and we want to work together with you to make 
this all happen," DiGregorio concluded, "because we all share the same goal, 
and that goal is a better, stronger, more secure America."


Statement of Affiliation Between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 
the American Radio Relay League

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the American Radio Relay League 
(ARRL) view community disaster preparedness and response as top priorities 
for their respective organizations and for the American people. As such, our 
organizations have come together to provide mutual support for Citizen Corps. 

Under the direction of DHS, Citizen Corps is a community-based initiative to 
engage all citizens in homeland security and community and family preparedness 
through public education and outreach, training opportunities, and volunteer 
programs. Programs under the Citizen Corps umbrella include federally 
sponsored programs and other activities that share the goal of helping communities 
prevent, prepare for, and respond to terrorism, public health issues, and 
disasters of all kinds. It encourages all Americans to take an active role in 
building safer, stronger, and better-prepared communities.

ARRL is a non-commercial membership association of radio amateurs organized 
for the promotion of interest in Amateur Radio communication and 
experimentation, for the establishment of networks to provide communications in the event of 
disasters or other emergencies, for the advancement of the public welfare, 
for the representation of the Radio Amateur in legislative and regulatory 
matters. ARRL is the principal organization representing the interests of the more 
than 650,000 U.S. Radio Amateurs. Because of its organized emergency 
communications capability, ARRL's Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) can be of 
valuable assistance in providing critical and essential communications during 
emergencies and disasters when normal lines of communication are disrupted. ARRL 
conducts emergency communications training and certifies proficiency in 
emergency communications skills.


Together DHS and the ARRL agree to work collaboratively to:


Raise public awareness about the use of Amateur Radio as a public safety 
resource; 


Provide training and accreditation for Amateur Radio Emergency 
Communications;


Promote the formation of local Citizen Corps Councils and assist these 
Councils with providing public education, training and volunteer service 
opportunities that support first responders, disaster relief organizations, and community 
safety efforts;


Publicly acknowledge the affiliation of Citizen Corps and the ARRL, which may 
include website links, co-logos on publications, and references in printed 
materials, including articles and news releases;


Coordinate their respective activities to further their shared mission; and


Keep each other informed of activities conducted in support of Citizen Corps 
and to provide an annual report summarizing those activities. On this 21st day 
of June 2003, both parties enter into this agreement in good faith and agree 
to pursue the shared mission as stated.

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