[Ares-races] Provision of food

[George Andrews]

I have been at a number of ARES responses where food and beverages have been
provided. The client agency has been Red Cross or Salvation Army. One, the
food provided is the same provided for everyone else.Paid RC staff and
volunteers all receive the same. Two, you may be the only operator assigned
to a post such as a shelter. Should  you leave your post to obtain food?
(Consider the practicality of carrying sufficient water for your assignment
which may be 8 to 18 hours in an extremely hot environment) Third, it is a
logical solution. Providing for basic needs in time of emergency is what
these agencies do best. Should ARES get involved in duplicating what these
agencies are already doing? Let them do what they do best so that we can do
what we do best.

Consider this. If you were to be injured while serving a client agency and
require medical treatment, would you refuse medical treatment until you
could be treated by your own doctor? Would you ask the client agency to send
you a bill for the care provided or would you simply accept the care
provided?

I do always carry some water and meal replacement bars for a reasonable
period of time. I use a 70 oz "CamelBack" and supplement that with an
additional 40 oz of water. Water supply is a serious issue for long term
assignments. Can one carry a three day personal water supply? Or is it
reasonable to have a relief agency supply your water? Just as an aside, how
many know how much water is necessary for a human for 24 hours in 90 degree
weather?

George Andrews, RRPT
N1YAE FN31kj
WPYQ853
gandrews at ntplx.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Randy Allen" <ka0azs at earthlink.net>
To: <kd5czm1 at iwon.com>
Cc: <ares-races at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 10:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Ares-races] (no subject)


> For any public service events I coordinate, We make it very clear that
> we DO NOT require nor expect any kind of re-payment.  We're there as a
> community service and to provide training/practice for our operators.
>
> So long as the T-shirts, food etc. are provided to all volunteers of an
> event (ham and non-ham), and it is understood that there is no
> obligation on the supported organization's part to provide them, then I
> see no problem.
>
> In some cases, the T-Shirts are required by the organization so that
> "Event Staff" can easily be identified if necessary.
>
> And in other cases, food would be thrown away if not eaten on the spot,
> so I see no problem with the Hams taking some IF OFFERED.
>
> 73
>
>
> kd5czm1 at iwon.com wrote:
>
> > 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
>
>
> -- 
> Randy Allen, KAØAZS
> EC, Montgomery CO Ohio
> OH Dist. 3 ARES Web Page:
> http://www.ohd3ares.org
>
>
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