[TCARC-NTX] Fw: ARRL, Citizen Corps and You

[Fred Muehlen]

>
> ARRL, Citizen Corps and You
>
> In July 2003 ARRL signed a Statement of Affiliation with the Citizen
Corps,
> making ARRL an affiliate organization working with Citizen Corps and
other
> organizations to promote the goals of Citizen Corps.  As an affiliate
> organization, ARRL, along with American Red Cross, NOAA, Points of
Light
> Foundation, Veterans of Foreign Wars and others, was invited to a
two-day
> meeting in Maryland on December 2 and 3.  The purpose of the meeting
was to
> identify strategies and goals for organizations working with Citizen
Corps.
>
> In the course of the meeting, Citizen Corps staff shared the
information
> that $35 million was awarded to state Citizen Corps groups.  Each
state will
> receive a share of the money based on a population-based formula.  The
> funding was awarded in order to execute states' strategic plans for
disaster
> prevention and preparedness and recovery - this plan had to be
submitted to
> Citizen Corps by December 31, 2003. Funds will begin flowing to states
in
> March 2004.
>
> What does this mean for ARRL?  Since there is no funding available on
the
> national level, ARRL Hq is not eligible for funds.  However, for ARES
groups
> and Amateur Radio clubs, there is potential funding for projects that
relate
> to a state's strategic plan.  The message from Citizen Corps was that
> participation and funding must be at the local and state level.  Each
state
> has a Point of Contact (POC) for Citizen Corps and a State
Administrative
> Agency (SAA) that will manage the funds.  The Citizen Corps funding
mandate
> requires that the SAA work through the POC for programs and
initiatives to
> be funded locally. The POC and SAA may be the same in some states.
>
> ARRL affiliated clubs that are interested in this funding might best
band
> together, and should take the initiative to contact their state POC
and SAA
> about programs that need funding (a pilot project, specialized
training,
> equipment or a system).  If there is more than one Section in the
state, it
> would be best to work together on a funding request and present a
unified
> plan that may be better received by the POC and SAA. Please share this
> information with those you feel would be interested. Also, SMs and/or
SECs
> should contact the state POCs, if this has not already been done, to
ensure
> that Amateur Radio is included in the state's strategic plan.
>
> So, it's up to you.  If you need funding for a local project, event or
> initiative, collaborate on your grant request by contacting other
Amateur
> Radio groups in your area or state to coordinate and integrate your
plans.
> Then contact the state Citizen Corps POC.  A list of the state POCs
can be
> found at this web address:
> http://www.citizencorps.gov/citizenCorps/statepoc.do.  Additional
> information about Citizen Corps is at www.citizencorps.gov.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Mark Harper, KD5TAO
> ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator
> North Texas Section
> kd5tao@arrl.net
> 214-477-4585
>
>
>
>