[Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage...

[Jason Hissong]

I normally don't chime in on these things... My initial reaction after 
reading Mr. Screeden's comments was "what a pompous jerk!"  But after 
re-reading the article, I think Mr.Screeden is referring to Ham radio is 
all you got left when he is stating "pretty close to nothing" and not 
being demeaning. I think the reporter put his comments out of context 
which they do to stir up the pot and keep their ratings up so that 
people come back for more.  Motorola should not be apologizing (because 
I don't think his intentions were what the article leads us to 
believe).  I think the media needs to apologize.  The media is a joke.

I know that this whole disaster has motivated me to take the ARES 
courses from the ARRL and get involved in our local ARES organization.  
My wife is even thinking of participating (She would make an awesome net 
controller!!!)

Going back to lurking...

Jason N8XE

EricJ wrote:

>Your post didn't include this quote from Mr. James Screeden who is a Vice
>President at Motorola working in the field, drawing a salary, and tending to
>the needs of his commercial accounts, NOT the suffering people of New
>Orleans.
>
>"The hams also get little respect from telecommunications-equipment
>companies, such as Motorola Inc. "Something is better than nothing, that's
>right," says Jim Screeden, who runs all of Motorola's repair teams in the
>field for its emergency-response business. "But ham radios are pretty close
>to nothing." Mr. Screeden says ham radios can take a long time to relay
>messages and work essentially as "party lines," with multiple parties
>talking at once. 
>
>I think Mr. Screeden owes an apology for demeaning the hard work and
>dedication of those hams who go unpaid and unreimbursed to help in this and
>other disasters. Mr. Screeden should be ashamed, Motorola should be ashamed,
>and this mean-spirited insult should not go unanswered.
>
>You can contact the following person to let your views be known:
>
>Media Center
>Steve Gorecki
>Motorola, Inc.
>847-538-0368
>steve.gorecki at motorola.com
>
>I think the ARRL should demand a formal apology from Mr. Screeden and his
>superiors at Motorola, but I think every amateur radio operator should
>contact Mr. Gorecki and express your own thoughts.
>
>Eric
>KE6US 
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Rick Commo
>Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 7:23 PM
>To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: [Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage...
>
>Highlights from a story in today's Wall Street Journal, As Telecom Reels
>>From Storm Damage, Ham Radios Hum: 
>_______________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Post to: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
>Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft    
>
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
>Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
>  
>