[TNham] It looks like the EMCOMM "requirement" is trying to make
areturn...
Paul Chapman
kf4yuz at knology.net
Mon May 15 12:58:57 EDT 2006
Greg
=20
All of the course that are required by FEMA do not cost anything but =
time
and they are basic course that all must take, even the Red Cross =
volunteers.
I as a professional trainer I believe that all training that you receive =
to
prepare you to perform a function, even as a volunteer will benefit you,
those you are helping and the organization you are working with. I do =
not
know for sure, but I believe if the clubs would work with the local and
state governments founding could be obtain to pay for the course, there =
is a
lots of grants available for such activities. Part of the fact that we =
are
volunteer's means to me that we absorb the cost of volunteering, so if =
the
training is mandated and it prepares you to do the function you are
volunteering to perform you should be proud to do it. Also since it is a
volunteer function in many cases you can dedicate the cost from you =
taxes,
another benefit.=20
=20
This is not the first time I have seen training required for a volunteer
function which the volunteer had to pay for out of their own pocket.=20
=20
I just received a quote, sent to me by Lynn Lamb(W4NL)and quoted by Sam
Brown (WA4IUM) that I believe is just right.
=20
"Ostensibly, this is a hobby about communication by the electronic
transmission of radio waves. The truth of the matter is that this is a
fraternity of brothers who find it much better to give than to receive."
de Sam Brown, WA4IUM
=20
=20
Paul
KF4YUZ
=20
-----Original Message-----
From: tnham-bounces at mailman.qth.net =
[mailto:tnham-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Greg Williams
Sent: Sunday, May 14, 2006 11:14 PM
To: tnham at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TNham] It looks like the EMCOMM "requirement" is trying to =
make
areturn...
=20
As most of you may know, about 3 years ago, the Tennessee Section=20
Emergency Coordinator (SEC) attempted to pass a ruling that all=20
ARES-acknowledged amateur radio stations in Tennessee be EMCOMM=20
certified. After a great deal of protest was drummed up, the SEC and the =
Tennessee Section Manager for the ARRL recanted their story, and claimed =
it was a proposal, and that they were not requiring any certification.
=20
At the time I was the EC for Knox County, and I resigned the following=20
day, and made all EC=92s in Tennessee (as well as many groups concerned) =
aware of the mandate. My belief then (as it remains today) is that we=20
are *volunteers *and as such, should be as prepared as possible in the=20
event of an emergency, but what right does anyone have to establish a=20
mandate for community service and make us, the volunteers, pay out of=20
our pockets the expenses for such testing?
=20
When Mossy Grove was hit by a tornado, did the EMA ask for Emcomm-only=20
people in the affected area? What about this past April 7, when Tornados =
tore through West and Middle Tennessee, and all of Tennessee=92s ARES=20
stations were put on alert? I don=92t specifically recall there being an =
=93emcomm-members only=94 requisite for that event, either. Nor do I =
recall=20
a pop-quiz being given to any Katrina volunteer in order to provide=20
their valuable service to the hardest-hit areas.
=20
Last week, the following email was circulated to the EC=92s in =
Tennessee:
=20
***********************************************************
From: Jimmy Floyd [mailto:nq4u at bellsouth.net]
Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2006 8:16 PM
To: WTN ASEC; MTN ASEC; ETN ASEC
Subject: ARES Letter
=20
=20
As we all witnessed during the during the last hurricane season, Amateur =
Radio and the ARES system responded when normal communication systems=20
failed in many areas. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 and Amateur Radio=20
and ARES was there.. The Shuttle disaster and the list goes on.
=20
Many agencies from the Federal level down to city level have become more =
familiar with the valuable communication resource available to them.
=20
The Tn. ARES system is making great progress in many areas. Due to the=20
requirements set forth by the Dept. Of Homeland Security, it has become=20
necessary for the ARES members to undertake some training that will=20
allow us to better assist the agencies that we work with, especially=20
TEMA and our local EMA(s). The training is required of all "First=20
Responders" and will be necessary for us as ARES members to gain access=20
to disaster scenes and even our local EOC's when our services are =
requested.
=20
The NIMS training material is available via the internet and is free =
----
please visit http://training.fema.gov to take the NIMS courses outlined=20
below.
=20
The ARRL EMCOMM courses and materials are available from the ARRL ---=20
please visit www.arrl.org
=20
The following are the requirements :
SEC, ASEC's, DEC'S and EC'S need to have NIMS IS-100, IS-700 and IS-800=20
plus EMCOMM levels 1,2 and 3.
ARES members are to have a minimum of NIMS IS-100 and IS-700 plus EMCOMM =
level 1.
=20
Many of our local EMA's have target dates of June 1, 2006 for the NIMS=20
training. Keep in mind that this is a Federal requirement for them.=20
Along with this will come some additional paperwork for all of us to=20
maintain. It will be necessary for each ARES member to keep your EC=20
informed when each level of training is completed. Each EC will need to=20
contact your local EMA(s) to formulate a plan to keep track of those=20
that have completed the training.
=20
It will be the responsibility of each EC to keep your DEC informed of=20
completed training. In all instances, the ORIGINAL completion=20
certificates or documentation should remain with the holder unless=20
requested.
=20
All ASEC's will need to forward copies of completion to the SEC and each =
DEC will need to forward copies of completion to your ASEC.
=20
This training will give all of us an opportunity to learn some new and=20
exciting material and we should look at this as an opportunity to expand =
our horizons and help Amateur Radio to grow. The training as outlined=20
above is being incorporated into many ARES systems across the Nation.
=20
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me by e-mail
tnsec at myway.com or by phone at 931-581-6155. Contact DEC TN8 (W1AEL) at=20
w1ael at arrl.net or by phone at 865-774-1725
***********************************************************
=20
Guess what? We=92re right back to square one!
=20
I am quite curious to know exactly who exactly the =93we=94 refers to =
when=20
it is mentioned that =93it has become necessary for the ARES members to=20
undertake some training that will allow us to better assist the agencies =
that we work with=94. Who are =93the agencies=94 specifically? And how =
do they=20
know of EMCOMM? Were =93they=94 told by the ARRL (or it=92s =
duly-assigned=20
representatives) in the last 3 years, and if so, were =93they=94 told =
the=20
full story, that it=92s an out-of pocket expense?
=20
W1AEL posted this as a followup:
=20
***********************************************************
---- "Allan Henry Kaplan [W1AEL]" <w1ael at arrl.net> wrote:
=20
I sent this message much earlier, but have been experiencing
transmission problems with my email. Fixed now! Sorry for the delay.
Allan.
=20
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: FW: ARES Letter FROM THE BOSS
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2006 17:36:40 -0500
From: "Mark Wills" <ag4oa at bellsouth.net>
To: "Allan Kaplan" <w1ael at mindspring.com>, "Ed Bradley"
<w4vgi at juno.com>, "John England" <n4xyc at arrl.net>, "Velma Wills"
<ag4xp at arrl.net>
=20
=20
Okay folks, we have gotta get cracking if we want to be recognized by
federal, state, county, and local authorities in the event of a genuine
emergency. Some may object, but the rules of the game have officially
changed!! Folks who are not ready by the deadline will be able to
drill and do public service events, and any other "peacetime" activity,
but if something real happens before they have their credentials, they
will certainly be shut out. This comes not from the ARRL, nor ARES,
but from ALL levels of government. We can expect non-governmental
served agencies to fall into line with this policy. We can expect the
police ( and the FCC) to enforce it. The Web URLs for the training
are in SEC Jimmy Floyd's letter below.
73 all, and let us get going!!
Allan H. Kaplan, W1AEL
ARRL DEC TN8
***********************************************************
=20
Boy, feel the sense of urgency? It=92s nice that the NIMS training is=20
free, and the EMAs (is it really every single county=92s EMA?) all agree =
that ARES members need to have it by June 1, or is it that the EMA=20
personnel themselves need this training, and it=92s being pushed to ARES =
members that THEY needs this training (I personally have never heard of=20
NIMS until this e-mail).
=20
When an EC asked about the suddenness of the =93requirement=94, Allan=20
responded with the following:
=20
***********************************************************
No need to panic - yet! As I see it, there will be no problem UNLESS a=20
disaster causes a COMMUNICATIONS EMERGENCY before some ARES members have =
documented qualifications. Should that become the case, "unqualified=20
volunteers" will likely be rejected from participation -- especially if=20
the state of Tennessee or FEMA gets involved! As a matter of announced=20
policy they will surely push away folks without credentials. The best=20
strategy is for everybody who is serious about being available to serve=20
the government and the public, under the post 9/11 reality, to get=20
credentialed and get their documentation registered with ARES & TEMA=20
just AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I expect to take care of the ARES=20
registrations, and I will find out how to deal officially with RACES and =
TEMA. It took a good while to happen, but predictably the FEDS under=20
Homeland Security will now see to it that law enforcement excludes=20
undocumented volunteers from any meaningful participation in disaster=20
response! The presentation of credentials, in advance of a disaster,=20
should give us ARES/RACES types new credibility with several levels of=20
government. Amateur radio volunteers, mostly serious and trained ones,=20
did us all proud in the Gulf Coast disaster. The government recognizes=20
that, BUT WE MUST ALL FOLLOW THROUGH OR QUIT ARES/RACES! To that end, I=20
want to visit another one of your meetings soon, and give the troops a=20
pep-talk. I need you to e-mail me [PRONTO] a roster of your ARES team,=20
noting any appointments you have made or intend to make for Assistant=20
ECs, Hospital team, Red Cross liaison, etc. For you and for your AECs or =
Official Emergency Station candidates, I must have every possible way of =
contacting Blount ARES leaders via home, work, cell phone, pager, email, =
whatever. The time has come for all of us to take this endeavor=20
SERIOUSLY and to get really prepared --- or else we get ignored! I must=20
do my job and you must do yours.
=20
Rick, I thank you sincerely for your responsible concern. Please let us=20
make this happen.
=20
73 de Allan, W1AEL
***********************************************************\
=20
What =93new credibility=94 do we need to show that amateur radio WORKS? =
Look=20
at the examples in the first email. We helped with 9/11, Hurricane=20
Katrina, and the shuttle Columbia breakup. How many more hurricanes,=20
terrorist attacks, shuttle explosions, forest fires, earthquakes,=20
volcano eruptions, bike rally=92s, marathons, and church picnic outings=20
must amateur radio participate in before earning its =93street creds=94?
=20
There are a lot of holes in this thought process and in this entire=20
scenario that is not being told.
=95 What agencies in what counties have specifically stated that ARES=20
members need this training?
=95 What other states are included? I don=92t seem to recall that any =
other=20
state is having this =93crisis=94. And most assuredly the ARRL would =
have=20
plastered this on their web site ad nauseum for weeks and weeks prior to =
now.
=95 Why it is being brought to our attention (actually, their attention, =
since I just found out about this tonight, and I=92m the =93average =
Joe=94,=20
and the ECs were told just a week prior?) with less that two weeks=20
before this =93deadline=94?
=95 What resource do the ARES members in Tennessee get this information? =
Surely it=92s =93been posted for quite some time=94 and we=92re bound to =
get the=20
=93the info is out there=94 speech if we are to question this sudden =
change=20
in policy that is so much out of their hands, and that=92s their story,=20
and they are sticking to it. The last resource I was told, was=20
www.tnarrl.org, but when I go to that web site, it hasn=92t been updated =
since August 2004.
=95 And why is there to be so much micromanaging of the skills and=20
capabilities of ARES members? Who=92s going to know/care when the=20
excrement hits the rotating air conditioning device what exact skills=20
each and every member has.
=20
Now, I do concede that such information and qualifications are NICE to=20
have, and are helpful to have in the event that a disaster should befall =
yon area where lives are affected. For an EC, perhaps it should be a=20
requirement. But does anyone honestly believe that good Samaritans are=20
to be turned away from a disaster because they didn=92t meet the EMCOMM=20
prerequisite? I can just see the family members of a lost loved one=20
getting the speech now:
=20
=93We=92re sorry your loved one died. We had a couple of amateur radio=20
people with the necessary radios, the beam antennas to get their signal=20
out of the gap where your loved one was found, the batteries to=20
transmit, the =93go-kits=94 to carry their equipment with, and the =
radios to=20
transmit on all the bands and modes amateur radio uses, but dog-gone-it, =
they just didn=92t have EMCOMM certification! We did get an EMCOMM=20
certified person in to the area, but his only radio, an HT, was dead=20
because he used up the battery ragchewing on his way to the site, and=20
the time lost to get help to them might have saved your loved one=92s=20
life. But he WAS CERTIFIED, and we=92re sure you understand. Your=20
government meant only the best, you know.=94
=20
The EC=92s can take the test, pay for it, and pass their new-found=20
knowledge on to the masses when the emergency happens, as they=92ll be=20
delegating the responsibilities to the appropriate people, but there are =
a lot of good-hearted, level-headed, and knowledgeable people who have=20
the necessary radio skills to communicate to and fro and when that=20
aspect becomes a micromanaged commodity for some agency to put in a file =
cabinet somewhere never to be searched again, it=92s time to re-think =
just=20
what being a volunteer in the VOLUNTEER STATE entails. It=92s time to =
ask=20
if it is really worth the trouble and effort to have certification for a =
skill you chances of using are slim at best.
=20
Who benefits the most from the EMCOMM certification? The EMAs? The=20
Police? The Fire Deartment? The Rescue Squad? The Red Cross? Salvation=20
Army?
=20
WRONG! It=92s the ARRL.
=20
After all, EMCOMM is an ARRL-specific course. Only they can teach it. If =
you=92re an ARRL member (I just re-joined for $39 for the year) the cost =
is $30 less for the level I course than if you are not a "member in good =
standing". Then there=92s the cost of the study materials, the time =
you=92ll=20
need to spend to attend the classes, etc. Who gets the money? The ARRL=20
does. That=92s the ultimate benefit. And they pass it off as a =
=93necessary=20
evil=94 in order to ensure we as an amateur radio community remain=20
=93credible=94 with Emergency Management, in the name of "Homeland =
Security".
=20
I don=92t buy the =93requirement=94, nor the arguments they present, nor =
the=20
means they plan to employ in order to accomplish this feat. When SERA=20
dropped the =93tone=94 bomb on us last year, we responded in full force. =
When this EMCOMM issue came up 3 years ago, we let it be known that we=20
would not be pushed around. It appears that, once again, our voice must=20
be heard and heard loud and clear.
=20
Otherwise, when the next big disaster comes, there won=92t be a radio=20
amateur with the =93right qualifications=94 to come up to the plate and =
help=20
their fellow man.
=20
I strongly urge you to make your feelings known to those who feel=20
dignified in pressing this issue.
=20
Greg Williams
K4HSM
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=20
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