[MNham] NEWS: N2DUP calls for changes in ARES EC staffing in Minnesota

[N2DUP at aol.com]

VOTE FOR A LEADER
Chuck Gysi, N2DUP
for ARRL section manager in Minnesota

NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release
May 23, 2004
Contact: Chuck Gysi, N2DUP / N2DUP at RadioHams.net

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N2DUP calls for changes in ARES EC staffing in Minnesota

Minnesota's Amateur Radio Emergency Service needs changes to make the system 
work better, according to Chuck Gysi, N2DUP, a candidate for Minnesota section 
manager in this summer's American Radio Relay League election.

While strides have been made to appoint more emergency coordinators (ECs) in 
each county of Minnesota, the system still seriously lacks an adequate number 
of county ECs, Gysi said.

"With all the concerns about homeland security and the need for amateur radio 
to interface with that activity, we need to make it a top priority to make 
ARES a more effective organization throughout Minnesota," Gysi said.

Currently, the state is divided into 88 EC districts.  Each of the state's 87 
counties comprise their own EC district, except for St. Louis County, which 
is divided into two, north and south.

"Unfortunately, 56 of those 88 positions in Minnesota - including four of the 
seven Twin Cities metro counties - are vacant," Gysi said. "That means only 
32 ECs have been appointed in Minnesota.  That indicates to me that the system 
needs an overhaul."

Gysi said he has given the EC system much thought and has discussed the 
matter in person with not only ECs , but also district emergency coordinators 
(DECs) and the state emergency coordinator (SEC).  

"The plan I have floated is to ensure every county has an EC appointed," Gysi 
detailed. "If there isn't a ham within a county willing to take on the EC 
role, then we need to look to a neighboring county for another already-appointed 
EC to assume an additional role.  From the discussions I have had in my recent 
travels around the state, this system will work because we will be able to 
have an EC in place, and then we can look at assistant ECs (AECs) or even 
official emergency stations (OESs) to assist within the designated county."
 
Gysi notes that there already some areas of the state where an EC effectively 
watches over more than one county, such as the system in place in Houston and 
Fillmore counties in far southeastern Minnesota.  

"I have people willing to fill AEC and OES roles in counties without an EC, 
so all we need to do is get an EC in a neighboring county ready to assume 
additional territory, and we can get the job done," Gysi said.  "My opponent has 
yet to advance a proposal to address this serious shortage of ECs in Minnesota.  
I have a solid plan that will work and plan to begin working on its 
implementation even before I would take office as Minnesota's next section manager."

Gysi is a long-time ARRL volunteer himself and knows the ARES program well.  
He has served as an EC and DEC, as well as OES and county and municipal 
officer for the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES).  He has been an 
active amateur radio operator for all 22 years he has been licensed.  He chose to 
run for the section manager's position because of his leadership experience.

The section manager oversees the more than 2,500 ARRL members in Minnesota 
and appoints hams to serve in capacities ranging from official observers to 
public information officers.  ARRL members will be mailed ballots from league 
headquarters in Newington, Conn., about July 1.  

Gysi is available to make presentations at club meetings or other gatherings 
of hams anywhere in Minnesota.  Call him toll-free at (888) 463-5355 or send 
an e-mail to N2DUP at RadioHams.net.  In addition, he has set up an extensive web 
site about his candidacy at www.RadioHams.net.  

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