[FLARES] ARRL BOD Report on ARES

[Keith Kotch]

I can't say that I really disagree with the Committee Report as a whole.
I do tend to disagree with some of the negative comments that
respondents sent in regarding the NTS in it's current state.

I do think the NTS needs to have a major overhaul though and that is
what I gathered the Committee was attempting to suggest.

I would say that NTS is an "integral part of our emergency
communications plan" mainly because it's the only such organized game in
town, not because it's the best way to accomplish the task.  It may very
well need to be revisited and brought more in line with our needs today.
It seems that Frank should, as our Division Director, be well aware of
the "relationship" between Florida ARES and the NTS, especially since
being a part of the Committee that made the report.

One of the things we SHOULD be doing is to be more involved in the
development and periodic review of our Plans and share them with each
other and see if there are common ground issues to make the Plans
similar in nature, at least among major points.  I'd like to be able to
more easily find and download local plans in addition to our respective
District and Section Plans. I acknowledge that "one size doesn't fit
all" but neither does an existing plan that's on the books have a
perpetual life without challenge.

To be honest, I do believe that ALL of our Ops Plans, be they Local,
District or Sectional, need to be regularly reviewed and updated to keep
our methods and modes current according to today's operational needs and
advances in the technologies we have available to us in the EMCOMM
field.

Keith, KF4BXT
Seminole County ARES/RACES EC




-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Goldsberry
Subject: [FLARES] ARRL BOD Report on ARES


This may sound positive for ARES but the report itself is very negetive
concerning the National Traffic System (NTS).  This may not seem to have
much of an impact on ARES at first glance, however, the NTS is really
our lifeline out a disaster area for any type of long distance messages.


I feel we should communicate with our SE Division Director, Frank
Butler, W4RH, who is a member of the VRC, and let him know that ARES and
NTS are both an integral part of our emergency communications plan here
is Florida.  The NTS is included in our state Emergency Operating
Schedule which provides Net Controls from the various Florida NTS phone
traffic net

I hope this will be a prime point of discussion at the Melbourne
Hamfest.  If you would like to have a copy of the complete VRC report
send an email to me and I will forward it to you.