[BARC-List] Fw: [CEMARC] Special Message from the ARES Leadership

Mon, 17 Mar 2003 23:06:07 -0500

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN, EMaSEC" <[email protected]>
To: "RAS General" <[email protected]>,
         "CEMARC" <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 20:59:59 -0500
Subject: [CEMARC] Special Message from the ARES Leadership
Message-ID: <031c01c2ecf2$242c9ee0$[email protected]>

*****   Special Message from the ARES Leadership   *****
*****  Request Widest Dissemination  *****

This is a special message from  your leadership which we have delayed
transmitting until after the President's address this evening.

There are significant events which seem to be on everyone's mind, and
what
we should do about it. War and any domestic ramifications will affect us
first as citizens, then as ham radio operators.  First, it is important
to
remember that we are not first responders, as that duty is remains with
Fire, Police, and humanitarian professionals such as the American Red
Cross.
We may, however, be called upon to support those agencies at any time if
they are faced with communication issues.  Furthermore, it is unlikely
that
the federal government will require any extraordinary restrictions in our
frequency bands, but we may have to sacrifice some of our UHF space as
some
of it is granted on a shared basis with the government. In view of the
circumstances of a foreign war, and the raising of the domestic terrorist
warning level to Orange, we are asking you accomplish three important
activities as soon as you can.

First, secure your home and family. Make sure you have food and water for
at
least three days for each of your family members. Plan on filling your
car
gas tanks when your car is about half full, instead of letting it get
lower,
etc. These are just a few of the many steps you can take to become better
prepared for any possible impact on your community.  You can learn about
this and many other great suggestions on the FEMA website. www.fema.gov .
There are numerous pamphlets you can pull down for you and your family to
read.

Next, make sure your home station is working well. Please remember that
the
dispersion of our members throughout our districts and the section could
come in very handy during any failure of the communication infrastructure
providing vital communication links.  We now anticipate that hams will be
most active as home relay stations as our movements may be restricted in
our
within localities. An emergency can develop very quickly and without any
notice.  Please focus on your home station making sure it works well, and
you have adequate alternative power resources. Then check your mobile
station to ensure you can communicate on simplex frequencies properly.
You
may be needed while you are commuting to and from work, or running
errands.
Please carry your handheld units with you at all times when the level is
raised to Orange, as we anticipate it will be sometime this week.

Finally, if the incident lasts for a while or there is a significant
restoration element involved such as with the Red Cross, we may be needed
to
serve away from our homes. In that case, your prior preparations are key.
Your technical and personal go-kits will need to be ready before, and not
during the emergency. We will have some great information on our website
to
assist you in the next few days.

In the meantime, go about your lives as best you can. Your leadership has
been working with RACES, the Commonwealth, and public service agencies
such
as the Red Cross to make sure we are ready as we can be for whatever may
come along.  We can be thought of as the 21st century New England
patriots
working in our proverbial fields with our proverbial muskets at the
ready.
We may or may not be asked to serve, but it is high honor to be trained
and
willing to do so.  I speak for the ARES leadership when I say that we
greatly appreciate your preparation and commitment.

Here is a brief summary of activities that are scheduled in the next few
months.  On Saturday, March 29, we will having another ARES workshop on
Cape
Cod, in Sandwich MA at the Oakridge School. It is just 10 minutes from
the
Sagamore Bridge, so consider joining us. We've updated the program to
offer
more field related activities, and to better dovetail with the League's
Emergency Communication Course offerings. So, if you've haven't joined us
yet, or it's been a few years since you attended, please plan on joining
us.
Simply contact your DEC or me to indicate your interest to attend. There
is
plenty of room at the school, and of course, there is no charge except a
contribution for lunch.

We are also planning a follow on exercise to the February exercise on
Saturday April 26. This exercise will allow continual practice of
important
skills, but will have more emphasis on local operations to allow us to
hone
skills of communicating with neighboring stations. Some inter-district
comms
will still be asked for as well, as well as the passing of some NTS
traffic.
A preliminary message will be released shortly.

We are about to enter the busy Public Service Event (PSE) season. Please
consider volunteering for duty with some of these events, as they offer
an
opportunity to practice communicating in more difficult conditions, and
under personal pressure. Its great preparation for any emergency event,
particularly if you have little practice or experience. You'll hear more
on
this email reflector and on our website.

On behalf of my staff, I wish you and your families the best in the
coming
months.  If you have a service member deployed in a foreign theatre as I
do,
best wishes for their safety and swift return home.  73,

Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN
EMa SEC
978.562.5662 Admin
978.389.0558 FAX/Secondary

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