[BCVHFA] Fw: President Haynie's Message

[Ed Thornsburg]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ARRL Web site" <memberlist at www.arrl.org>
To: <wifey at siscom.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 4:22 PM
Subject: President Haynie's Message


My fellow Amateur Radio Operators, 

There is no doubt that the recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina
will be the largest and longest emergency actions that hams have ever
undertaken.  It will also be one of the hardest, not simply due to the
large areas involved, but also because many of us have friends and
relatives directly impacted by this catastrophe.  For them, and all the
people of the Gulf region, we ask divine aid and comfort in this time
of sorrows.

But we are also hardened and resolved to turn this event into one of
the most glorious opportunities to show the unique attributes of ham
radio - it works!  You know that.  We can again show the world that we
have the best trained, most ingenious and dedicated ARES and RACES
operators ever in history.  We have the attention of the world press,
and we will show what ham radio can do.

This will not happen in a week, not even in a month.  The recovery
efforts will be drawn out over numerous states and are expected to go
well into the winter.  Hams will grow weary and need relief and
replacement from all across America.  The ARRL, the national
association for Amateur Radio, is already working on strategic plans to
make it possible for these volunteers to come.  Our goal is to provide
the SEC's with all the support we can muster and allow them to do their
jobs.

There is a curious coincidence in the fact that the United Technologies
grant, which allowed the ARRL to train so many thousands of hams in
emergency communications, ends this week.  Now we are seeing the
results of that effort.  Disciplined hams, using correct procedures
have already saved many lives, and will save hundreds more by providing
timely, accurate and critical communications to our served agencies. 
To the students, mentors, organizers, funders and teachers of those
courses we can only say, "Well done!"

I know many people would like to move NOW - please don't.  I know many
of you want to enter the fray, come to the coast and get involved. 
Please, not yet.  Instead, get yourself ready.  Refresh your skills and
knowledge of protocols and procedures.  Once the agencies are able to
complete a preliminary needs assessment, we will know who is needed and
where.  For now, the area is simply too dangerous and no one is being
allowed in.  Transportation and logistics, including volunteer groups
coming in, must be done in an orderly manner or we may only add to the
chaos and confusion.   Information and coordination for such a
historically large response is being developed and will be made
available soon.  But for now, work through your SEC's and follow their
lead.  I would also ask that you be professional and disciplined
whenever checking into an HF net.   Net control is a difficult job at
best, so be respectful.  If you have traffic fine, but if not, please
stand by.

There is already no doubt that when the history of this event is
written, to role of Amateur Radio will be one of honor.  Unpaid
volunteers who came through for their country and communities when all
other systems failed or were overwhelmed.  By working together and
mutually supporting each other, we can perhaps give these very dark
days a small glint of glory.  Let these be the days that hams, decades
from now, remember with pride.  Together we can - and will - make it
happen because, after all, we are HAMS. 

Jim Haynie, W5JBP 
President 
ARRL

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ARRL Ohio Section
Section Manager: Joseph J. Phillips, K8QOE
k8qoe at arrl.org
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