[TNham] EMCOMM requirement

[Greg Williams]

Mr. Floyd:

Thanks for replying with some of my questions answered.

I understand that the government would want all volunteers to receive 
proper training on who does what in an emergency.  Like the Boy Scouts, 
we should "be prepared", that much is given.  In fact, over the weekend, 
I went to the FEMA web site (http://emilms.fema.gov/) and took IS-100, 
IS-700, and IS-800.

Because it was free.

Now then, your response regarding who is requiring us to take EMCOMM 
states that:

This is the AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS of the Tennessee Section of the ARRL 
moving forward by taking on additional training so that we can better 
serve our communities.

So this is basically YOU requiring us to take this course, am I 
correct?  Why not just say it?

I can only think that this will backfire and do so quickly.  Not because 
I'm out there "ranting and throwing a hissy fit" and "being a crybaby". 
But because people are not going to feel very much like wanting to offer 
help when they don't think they have the right qualifications.

You say there are no plans to exclude anyone, yet without this training, 
what are we going to do?  We can't be called upon when, heaven forbid, a 
disaster happens.  Can we "non-certifieds" go to the shelters to set 
up?  Go to the Red Cross building to man the station?  Offer support in 
some other area?  What good would we be?  It's a gut-punching feeling 
when it's told to us like, "You can come to the meetings and check in to 
the nets, but you're not going to be much good to us other than that if 
you don't take the course."

So that's the way it is. I guess the only way to know what the 
repercussions are is to let this play out.  I have not and will not 
hinder anyone's effort into getting the EMCOMM certification, but I hope 
that by making them aware of what is happening, that they can make the 
right decisions and do what they feel is best for them and their 
volunteer spirit.  I obviously wouldn't look down on anyone for taking 
the course, so I should hope the ARRL, Homeland Security, and ARES would 
not look down on someone for not taking the course, whatever the reason, 
be it financial or otherwise.

Perhaps there is a way so that many like myself can get "the precious" 
and be right in the eyes of ARES, ARRL, and the almighty himself.  I 
cannot personally think of any way that this would be possible other 
than a government grant.  But I am not one who would know where to 
begin.  Perhaps a brainstorming session would be needed for that one.

I'm not one to try and prevent the certification from happening, and I 
hope I have not conveyed that opinion.  I'm just not inclined to spend 
the money for taking it, especially since I practice emergency 
communications on a regular basis with SKYWARN.  Many aren't inclined to 
take the training at all, especially when we are the only emergency 
service in all the fleet that would be requiring a paid certification to 
keep in good standing with the government - on our own initiative.  
Having seen what the government has done in the last 20 years during 
disasters, we might be the only ones who know what we're doing anyways.  
But what good will it be for the average ham who might be new to the 
hobby/service of ham radio, or might be a veteran communicator with 
years of experience and little money?  Being told you're just not good 
enough can take a lot of wind out of your sails.

And finally I leave you with this.  The means for getting this 
information out in the open in the first place were rather 
uncharacteristic, no?  I mean, some lil' guy has to spread the word on 
an email list because many others in the state (EC's DEC's, etc,) didn't 
know themselves or didn't think to tell them.  Or didn't want to tell 
them perhaps?  The same thing happened 3 years ago as well.  One would 
think that, for a communications group like ourselves, we didn't have 
good communication on this.  It just kinda crept up on us "last-minute" 
it looked.  Not a good way to communicate a requirement on this level, 
but that's my opinion. I could be wrong.

I wish you and yours all the best.

Gregory S. Williams
K4HSM
k4hsm at etskywarn.net