[FLARES] ARRL BOD Report on ARES

[Ron Wetjen]

Doug Christ wrote:

> There has been no WMD drills here in DeSoto County as of yet.

It's probably coming!  I know that each county will eventually have one. 
   We did the first in the state on December 18, 2002 (and saw Doug 
there) ... so if they do one a week, it'll take 67 weeks to cover Florida!

 > On the other hand, I have had the complete training of the EDICS system
 > when offered for Southwest Florida in Lee County several months ago.
 > Sarasota County and Collier County were  absent from the training so
 > I can only assume that Emergency Management (or whomever is responsible)
 > did not pass on the training dates on to their volunteers.

I'm not sure ... unless they counted the "drill" in December as our 
"training" session.  Amateurs from Sarasota and EM folks from Collier 
participated in setting up the EDICS system for the WMD Drill here in 
Sarasota.

There's also the mind set of the "professionals" that this is OUR TOY 
and we don't want anyone else, especially outsiders, playing with it! 
The problem is, when the equipment is deployed elsewhere, the 
"professionals" won't send anyone along to set it up!  That's where the 
Amateurs come in ... if the equipment comes to your backyard ... the 
help to set it up is already there!  That's what happens here when a MAC 
unit (and probably an EDICS system) is brought in for deployment ... we 
are sent to deploy it and make it operational.

> Setting up a EDICS resembles a field day activity. You have portable towers
> to erect, coaxes to run and antennas to install. Why any amateur would not
> want to help with this would really surprise me. Granted, the radios are
> commercial, but it is the latest and greatest toys to play with.

For whatever reason, and which I myself don't understand, some people 
feel "if it's not Amateur, we don't want any part of it".

> Many of us who have had the training voiced our opinions (volunteered) 
 > that we want to be involved in the installation of the equipment into
 > the trailer. It will give us a greater understanding of how the
 > system is configured and should aid us in repairs if the system
 > should fail.

Bring it on!  That's exactly what we did when our local Amateurs helped 
design and assembled the 7 MAC Units which are deployed across Florida. 
  What a rewarding experience that was ... and what a let down it was 
when the project was finally completed.  When we see one now or hear of 
one being deployed somewhere, it's like seeing or hearing about an "old 
friend"!  It also makes you feel proud, knowing a project you worked on 
is actually being used to make a difference.  It sure beats waiting 
around for that Hurricane to hit!

Ron