[SFDXA] Polk County amateur radio operators presented with Iowa Governor's Volunteer Award

[Bill]

 From Mark K2AU:

> *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
> FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
> Scott Kirstein, Coordinator, Polk County Amateur Radio Emergency 
> Service, 515-299-4855
> Kevin Sanders, Public Information Coordinator, American Radio Relay 
> League Iowa Section, 515-999-0220
> *POLK COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS PRESENTED WITH IOWA GOVERNOR'S 
> VOLUNTEER AWARD
> *
> PLEASANT HILL, Iowa – Polk County amateur radio operators -- commonly 
> known as "hams" -- were presented with the Iowa Governor's Volunteer 
> Award by Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today in a ceremony at Southeast 
> Polk High School. As part of the amateur radio hobby, operators give 
> back to their community by providing communications support to these 
> events and agencies at no cost as part of the Polk County Amateur 
> Radio Emergency Service (ARES). Amateur radio operators purchase, 
> build, and maintain equipment and infrastructure on their own to 
> support the mission of Polk County ARES in addition to receiving 
> professional training and participating in exercises on their own time 
> as unpaid volunteers.
> Polk County ARES was nominated for the award by Polk County Emergency 
> Management Agency. The two organizations have a long-standing 
> relationship, working together to train and prepare to assist in the 
> event of a disaster of if main communications systems fail, such as 
> public safety two-way radio systems, cellular or landline phone 
> systems, or 9-1-1 public safety answering points.
> "We are appreciative of the relationship we have with Polk County EMA, 
> and honored that they value our partnership to the extent that they 
> nominated us for this award," Polk County ARES Coordinator Scott 
> Kirstein said. "These volunteers are truly an exceptional group and I 
> am proud to be associated with them."
> The Governor's Volunteer Awards program was created in 1982. 
> Nominations can be made by Iowa non-profit, charitable, and government 
> organizations to honor local volunteers with a prestigious state-level 
> recognition award. The criteria for organizations and individuals 
> receiving the award includes demonstrating an exceptional commitment 
> to volunteerism by helping with a special project or ongoing 
> activities; demonstrating exemplary leadership, creativity, 
> cooperation and hard work in their service to others; or making an 
> outstanding contribution to state or community through volunteer service.
> Polk County ARES will be participating in an upcoming 24-hour exercise 
> and public demonstation called "Field Day" on June 28 and 29 at Fort 
> Des Moines Park in Des Moines. At the event, the public is invited to 
> meet with amateur radio operators, see the latest technology in 
> amateur radio, and even get on the air to make contacts with other 
> operators around the country and around the world -- completely 
> wirelessly without cell phones or internet. For more information on 
> Field Day in Des Moines, visit http://www.dmraa.com/fieldday. For more 
> information on Polk County ARES, visit their website at 
> http://www.polkcountyares.com.
>