[W1SMH] Good Recognition

[Kenneth Reynolds]

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==>PRESIDENT BUSH ADDRESSES FLORIDA ARES NET

President George W. Bush spoke January 31 via Amateur Radio to members of
the Northern Florida Amateur Radio Emergency Service Net (NFAN). The
president was in Florida to spotlight five volunteer groups for their value
to the new Office of Homeland Security--among them the Volusia County
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES).

"I want to thank all the volunteers who help make sure that Florida is
prepared for any kind of emergency," the president said in part, after
checking in around 9:15 AM to a regular session of the 75-meter ARES net. "I
want to thank you all for helping your communities be prepared."

Northern Florida ARRL Section Manager Rudy Hubbard, WA4PUP, said Bush spoke
from a portable station set up at a Daytona Beach-area fire station. At the
request of ARES Volusia County Emergency Coordinator Joette Barnett, KG4HPN,
John Schmidt, AF4PU, and Clifford Fraser, KE4HIY, arranged to have the
station ready as a demonstration of Amateur Radio's role in emergency
preparedness and in the hope that Bush would be willing to address the
75-meter net. Hearing the president check into the net was a pleasant
surprise, Hubbard said.

ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, said he was "extremely gratified" that
President Bush recognized the valuable service Amateur Radio operators
provide in times of emergencies. "I know that all hams in the United States
stand ready to do their part in America's Homeland Security Program," Haynie
commented. Haynie has said that defining Amateur Radio's role in homeland
security would top his list of initiatives for his second term.

Hubbard said a copy of proposed expanded Amateur Radio antenna
(PRB-1)legislation was given to the President and to the president's
brother, Florida Gov Jeb Bush, for possible introduction in next year's
Florida legislative session. "We Amateur Radio operators will volunteer
however we're needed, and maybe it will be seen that we can greatly help the
nation if we have the antennas we need," Hubbard commented. The proposed
bill would seek to extend Florida's PRB-1 law to include private deed
covenants, conditions and restrictions.

Bush's stop in Florida was part of a swing through the southeastern US,
which also included stops in North Carolina and Georgia. The Daytona Beach
event marked a rare appearance on ham radio by a sitting president. Former
President Gerald Ford spoke via a ham radio satellite hookup in 1986.