[ARRL-OK] Moving Forward - Public Service Communications

[Mark Conklin via ARRL-OK]

Oklahoma Section Radio Amateurs,
I hope you took time to read the Public Service columns of the May and June (2014) QST magazine[1].  Whether you
already read the columns or not, I ask you to read each of them again –
together – May first then June. 
In just a few pages the League (ARRL) was trying to express
the changes in nomenclature and lables; here’s what you didn’t read.  For most of us nothing has changed.  We’re
still going to do what we need to do to serve Oklahomans.
What? Didn’t I read it? It said no more Emergency Communications (AKA EmComm)!  I did read it, and it said no more use of theLABLE EmComm.  Think of it like
this: using your favorite word processing program and using the FIND/REPLACE
feature… Find “Emergency Communications”
or EmComm and Replace with “Public Service Communications”.  Is that overly simple? Maybe, but in the day
to day activities of most of my fellow Radio Amateurs this nomenclature change will
have ZERO change to what we are doing to serve the public through ham radio.  
If you do not have QST magazine or have already recycled you
copy we have posted a PDF of BOTH the May and June 2014 Public Service columns on www.ARESOK.org  Go to our
website and click the link on the LEFT sids of page labled “QST PSA”.   Please take
time to download and read them both together. 
After you have read both columns, then sit back and ask yourself;
does this change of labels change what I am willing to do, or does it change
what I have done to serve the public through Amateur Radio? For me,
it changes nothing other than I need to update the labels in a few power point
slides I use. 
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to
contact me.
Thank you for your service & 73’s,
 
Mark Conklin, N7XYO
Oklahoma Section Emergency Coordinator
Amateur Radio Emergency Service
918.232.8346
n7xyo at arrl.net
Follow me on Twitter @N7XYO
www.ARESOK.org
 
[1]QSTis the monthly membership journal of ARRL - the National Association of
Amateur Radio.