[LeArc] ARLB043 ARRL receives homeland security training grant

[Tony Coniglio]

Sent: Friday, July 19, 2002 1:45 PM
Subject: ARLB043 ARRL receives homeland security training grant


> SB QST @ ARL $ARLB043
> ARLB043 ARRL receives homeland security training grant
> 
> ZCZC AG43
> QST de W1AW  
> ARRL Bulletin 43  ARLB043
> >From ARRL Headquarters  
> Newington CT  July 19, 2002
> To all radio amateurs 
> 
> SB QST ARL ARLB043
> ARLB043 ARRL receives homeland security training grant
> 
> The ARRL will receive a $181,900 homeland security grant from the US
> government to train Amateur Radio operators in emergency
> communication. The League was among several dozen nonprofit
> organizations designated to receive some $10.3 million in federal
> money to boost homeland defense volunteer programs. The grant, from
> the Corporation for National and Community Service special volunteer
> program, will provide free ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency
> Communications Course training to 5200 volunteers nationwide,
> starting in 2003.
> 
> ''ARRL is the national association for Amateur Radio and is the
> national leader in emergency communications by volunteers who
> operate their own equipment on their time at no cost to any
> government, organization, or corporation,'' said the announcement
> July 18 from Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge. The ARRL plans to
> revise and update the emergency communications curriculum to
> incorporate additional elements of emergency preparedness and
> homeland security.
> 
> ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, said he was extremely pleased by
> the news. ''This adds legitimacy to the public service work Amateur
> Radio has been doing for years,'' he said.
> 
> ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, applied for the
> funding in May. ''I think this is an extraordinarily exciting day for
> Amateur Radio that the role of Amateur Radio in homeland security is
> recognized at the highest levels of government,'' Hobart said upon
> learning of the grant.
> 
> Citing Amateur Radio's response in the aftermath of the September 11
> terrorist attacks, Hobart said the federal grant ''will help continue
> our work in providing public service and to protect lives, homes,
> businesses and our frequencies, as we have for decades.''
> 
> ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, said he was pleased
> that the League would be able to extend its Amateur Radio Emergency
> Communications program to thousands of amateurs who might otherwise
> not be able to afford the program. ''We hope all who are interested
> will get on board,'' he said.
> 
> The grant announcement said that ''expanding the opportunities for
> Americans to participate in meaningful volunteer service'' is at the
> heart of President George Bush's USA Freedom Corps, of which the
> Corporation for National and Community Service is a part.
> 
> ''We are deeply grateful to Tom Ridge and to the Corporation for
> National and Community Service for providing Amateur Radio with a
> unique opportunity to serve our country,'' Hobart said.
> 
> In June, the ARRL and United Technologies Corporation announced a
> partnership to provide free ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency
> Communications Course training for up to 250 Connecticut amateurs.
> NNNN
> /EX
>