[KYHAM] ARES Logo Concerns

[Ron Dodson]

If you read the ARRL Letter this past weekend, you probably noticed the 
following:

>* established as policy that ARES groups and any group using the ARES logo
>shall formally acknowledge ARES as an ARRL program, including in their
>bylaws or other organizational documents, and agree to abide by all rules
>and guidelines the League establishes. Since both ARES and Amateur Radio
>Emergency Service are registered ARRL service marks, ARES groups are to
>utilize the R symbol in any printed or electronic media and note that the
>logo is used by permission. All ARES records, membership rosters and other
>data pertaining to the ARES program, wherever located, are the property of
>the ARRL.
>

The last few words of this excerpt was the major issue questioned by 
many ...


>and other data pertaining to the ARES program, wherever located, are the property of
>the ARRL.
>

This caused a lot of concern, not just in Kentucky as to what "other 
data" meant.  After talking with SM John Meyers on the issue, he then 
consulted Jim Weaver, the GL Division Director over the weekend.  
Director Weaver, a party to the BOD action offered yesterday to appear 
during last evening's KEN.

GL Director Weaver did indeed make the KEN last evening.  I wish to also 
thank the other 35 amateurs who checked in giving us a total of 37 
stations across the statewide net including the GL Director and myself.

I will try to summarize for those who did not attend, Director Weaver's 
comments as closely as possible.

According to K8JE, the move to announce the copyright of the ARES logo 
was for legal reasons to give prior notice that the seal is an ARRL 
property which is copyright protected from improper use.  So long as a 
person or team is using the logo in accordance or within the policies of 
ARRL and the ARES program, that use may continue as always.  If you have 
vehicles or equipment with the old unmarked (no ®) insignia, continued 
use is fine, just replace it if the opportunity arises after it wears 
out or is needing a repaint.  It does not have a time limit for this to 
be achieved. Should you or your team trade or dispose of the vehicle or 
equipment, any ARES logos, should be first removed. Protection from 
improper use, he said was the main concern of the BOD. He used the 
analogy of someone putting up a sign saying, " We Love BPL" with ARES 
logos on it.  As ARRL has stated repeatedly that they are against the 
advancement of BPL in its current state, this would be an improper use 
of the logo and against league policy.

I relayed the concern voiced to me repeatedly over the weekend 
concerning FOUO* information of served agencies that were included in 
the ARES plans and SOP's.  He stated in his opinion this material is NOT 
ARRL property or even the property of your ARES Team, it is the property 
of the agency allowing you access to it and is therefore not included in 
the meaning of "...Other Data". This single issue has been the concern I 
have heard most often fearing breach of confidentiality or security of 
the information of a served agency.
He further added that the main reasoning behind the statement was that 
should a leadership official vacate their ARES appointment, that the 
membership info must be passed on to whomever became the future 
appointee and not destroyed.  In the past, in some cases, leaders would 
vacate a position and leave their replacement no records at all with 
which to continue the program.

I am further given to understand that ARRL attorney Chris Imlay is out 
this week, but may possibly issue further on this upon his return next 
week to clarify even more.

73,
Ron, KA4MAP
SEC Ky

Definition:
FOUO* - (For Official Use Only) Agency information not intended for 
general release.