[Ares-races] Compensation

[Chuck Boyle KB5RVV]

Oops. I sent it direct to kd5czm but not the list. Here it is for anyone
else interested in the subject:


I see the t-shirt and food as a gesture of appreciation (tip, maybe?) from
people who realize we don't expect pay for helping others. Is a tip
considered compensation? Only by the IRS.

Just compare the cost of a t-shirt, pizza, hamburger, or hot dog with the
cost to hire a professional company to bring in radio equipment, trained
operators, and management for 4, 6, or 8 hours. It's laughable to think that
it might be compensation.

Besides that, in almost ten years of working parades, marathons, and
disasters, I've never received any more than the non-ham volunteers. Maybe
that's a fair test. Was I offered the same things as the girl handing out
water over there? I know she's not considering that t-shirt to be fair
compensation for giving up her day to be here. It's just a token gift.

Chuck Boyle KB5RVV


-----Original Message-----
From: ares-races-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:ares-races-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of kd5czm1 at iwon.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 8:30 PM
To: ares-races at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Ares-races] (no subject)



A hallmark of the Amateur Radio Service is that we provide comms at no cost
to served agencies and non-profit organizations.  That's the law.

I have seen on at least 3 occasions where deployed ARES operators were given
T-shirts by the event coordinators (bike-a-thon, marathon, parade). To the
best of my knowledge, these shirts were freely given, not solicited("Wa'al,
it'll cost ya' one of those fancy tee-shirts for me to play radio
here."--HI).

While set up at the first aid tent, the helpful marathon nurses always come
up to me with a slice of pizza or some Gatorade.
They're just being appreciative if not outright flirtatious.

I don't want to be rude and refuse--that's puts a bad image of us as
cold-shouldered drones. On the other hand, an agency head looking on and
considering ARES for his/her needs, may get the impression of us operators
as freeloaders.

Is a slice of pizza compensation under the law or incidental to the ARES
operation?  I am of the opinion that if we say upfront what it will cost to
operate, we're asking for compensation. If it so happens that we are the
happenstance recipients of leftover tees or someone else's kindness then the
compensation issue has not been broached.

What say you?


Joe Guerra KD5CZM ARES EC Kleberg County TX


Joe Guerra KD5CZM ARES EC Kleberg County TX

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