[FLham] ARRL President Letter

[Radioguy]

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