[CVCC] Fw: Monthly Virginia Section News Summary

[rsmorris]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ARRL Web site" <memberlist at www.arrl.org>
To: <rsmorris at nelsoncable.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2006 5:33 PM
Subject: Monthly Virginia Section News Summary


Virginia Section Managers Report
For October 2006

October has been a time of accelerated change for hams across the nation and
in the Virginia Section.  The American Red Cross has come out with a new
policy concerning background checks for volunteers and there own employees.
The FCC has acted on the Omnibus R & O.  This ruling appears to be in need 
of
some &quot;fine tuning&quot;.  We all are eager to begin to enjoy using 
these new voice
frequencies after 12:01 EST on 12/15/2006.  We are also beginning to see a
steady influx of Simulated Emergency Test reports flowing in.  We have one
more major SET to take place.  This will involve many of the counties across
the 40 county area served by the Blacksburg National Weather Service office.
ARES continues to record steady growth as we approach the 1100 member mark.
Many of our membership have yet to complete their ARES registration online
form.  This form is also to be used for changes of contact information,
training courses, SET participation etc.  If you have completed the form, 
you
may make changes by going back and entering you call and just the 
information
that has changed.  The registration form is found at
http://www.aresva.org/aresva/ares_member_info_form.html.  We are also 
rapidly
approaching the 400th anniversary (2007) for the establishment of the first
English colony in Virginia.  We are planning special event stations across
the Section during this yearlong celebration.

Due to the fact, that national statements from the American Red Cross (ARC)
have been confusing and have created misunderstanding and many decisions of
nor-compliance, I decided to check with service area ARC.  I have a
confirmation from our ARC Chapter Solutions person (Diane Green) that the
"exception clause" listed in the example below applies to Amateur Radio 
under
ARES.

"Additionally, the American Red Cross often works side by side with partner
organizations.  Example: A church in a disaster prone area may partner with
the American Red Cross to serve as a shelter for local residents during a
disaster.  If the church members are supervised by their own leadership, the
church would set their own standards for volunteer screening and background
checks.  However, if the church members go through Red Cross training and
offer to work under the supervision and management of Red Cross supervisors
in a Red Cross shelter, they will be asked to register as a volunteer and
submit for a Red Cross background check."

My understanding of the statement above is that we are considered as a
&quot;partner organization&quot; and if we are working as an ARES unit as 
opposed to an
American Red Cross volunteer we are not required to undergo this background
check.  For many years hams have had strong feelings about going into a
disaster area to serve under ARES as a communications volunteer then be ask
to fill out a second registration as a Red Cross volunteer.  This recent
policy reinforces the need to have a national credentialing and background
check.  This has been provided for in the new Communications Act for the 
21st
century.  Without &quot;First Responders&quot; ID, organizations active in 
disaster may
be subject to any number of background checks required for assisting various
organizations.  This will cut into the number of available volunteers for
many organizations.

I have submitted and received my background check for the ARC.  I will not
attempt to force others to make that same decision.  A number of the 
Virginia
Section and ARES leadership have communicated an unwillingness to comply.
Several of these have held security clearances that required much more
in-depth investigations but feel for various reasons a lack of interest in
this background check by Red Cross.

The pending Simulated Emergency Test for the Blacksburg NWS forecast area 
(40
counties) is scheduled for December 9th, beginning at 8:00 am EST.  Weather
bulletins will be given on the night before (December 8th, form 9-10pm) on
the 12 designated Skywarn Repeaters.  These can be found at
http://www.wx4rnk.org/. This scenario is of a major winter storm similar to 
a
couple that was experienced in this area in the 90's.  To the east of the
Blue Ridge, counties will experience a major ice storm.  Currently we have
over 50 hams signed up to participate.  Many agencies are also participating
in this exercise.  Hams to the east of the coverage area are encouraged to
participate; we will be looking for support from non- affected areas.  No
materials will be moved.  This is a communications exercise.  See the SET
website for additional information and signup. 
http://www.w4ghs.org/SET.html

The Section Traffic Mangers report is posted on the Virginia Section 
website.
http://www.aresva.org/arrlva/reports/200610.stm.report.web.htm
The Section Emergency Mangers report is posted on the Virginia ARES page
http://www.aresva.org/aresva.html.

The focus of my visits across the Virginia Section in October was in the
Northern Virginia area.  Turnout was great and many questions was raised
concerning the direction of the Section and Amateur Radio in general.  These
meetings were very productive.
Glen Sage, W4GHS- Virginia Section Manager


--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Virginia Section
Section Manager: Glen H. Sage, W4GHS
w4ghs at arrl.org
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