Document #22
Volunteer Resources Committee Report
To The ARRL Board of Directors
January 17, 2003
The following summary report is submitted to the ARRL Board of Directors
on behalf of the Volunteer Resources Committee.
1. The Committee has again been very active. We have held two
in-person meetings in addition to the two prior to the Jan. and July
2002 Board meetings. In addition, we held a total of seventeen
teleconferences. The Committee members have again found teleconferences
to be an highly effective and economical means for conducting business.
A 52-page Word document containing minutes of all VRC meetings and
teleconferences in 2002 is available and will be emailed to any member
of the Board family who requests one.
2. The VRC studied a proposal by Vice Director Woolweaver designed to
encourage members to contribute multimedia presentations, particularly
PowerPoint presentations, designed to entertain and instruct, and to be
placed on the Web or on a CD. VRC committee members agreed to endorse
some form of this proposal, although some concern was expressed
regarding the difficulty of screening copyrighted material out of the
presentations. Mark Wilson agreed to investigate the feasibility of
such a program, including costs, with a report to be submitted to the
VRC on Jan. 10, 2003.
3. A proposal by Director Fallon, submitted at the 2002 Second Meeting,
resulted in assigning to the VRC a study to implementation of an eight
hour operating event to be held each year in September for the purpose
of demonstrating the communications capabilities of Amateur Radio. The
event would include operations from homes, EOCs, government buildings,
and other emergency facilities. Minute 58 of the Second Meeting
provides the details, as follows:
58. On motion of Mr. Fallon, seconded by Mr. Walstrom, the following
resolution was proposed:
WHEREAS, there is a need for local government legislators and
administrators to learn about Amateur Radio and its emergency
communications capabilities; and
WHEREAS, Amateur Radio volunteers are very willing to work with their
town's municipal governments; and
WHEREAS, September will for decades be an important time for all
Americans to consider the problems of security and emergency
preparedness;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the ARRL Board directs the VRC to
study for possible implementation an eight hour operating event to be
conducted each year on a weekend in September from homes, EOCs,
government buildings, and other emergency facilities designed to
demonstrate the ability of Amateur Radio to communicate locally, across
state lines, and nationally.
After extensive discussions extending over several months, including
support from the Public Relations Committee, the VRC concluded that a
more effective way of exposing Amateur Radios capabilities would be to
incorporate some of the ideas into ARRLs Public Awareness Day, or
possibly a week long community media event tied in with Field Day.
Jennifer Hagy has been requested to prepare a candidate proposal for
such an event, with a report to be made available to the VRC by January
16, 2003.
4. Director Goddard requested that the VRC look into the feasibility
of revising the Terms of Reference for the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial
Award. His proposal suggested that, in addition to the award stipend,
additional funds be provided to cover expenses of the winner to attend
an event so that a formal, public presentation of the award can be
made. The VRC considered several options, but ultimated VRC voted not
to revise the ToR at this time, since Directors can help fund awardee
travel.
5. Minute 35 of the 2002 Annual Meeting assigned to the VRC the
studying the League's programs related to emergency communications and
non-emergency public service communications, and to report
recommendations for modernizing, streamlining, and increasing their
effectiveness. The Minute read as follows:
35. On motion of Mrs. Craigie, seconded by Mr. Walstrom, it was
unanimously VOTED that the following resolution is adopted.
WHEREAS, Amateur Radio's emergency communications capability ranks first
among the bases and purposes of the service set forth in the FCC's
Rules; and
WHEREAS, non-emergency public service communications events are training
experiences which prepare Amateurs for service in both natural and
man-made disasters; and
WHEREAS, since the founding of our League, the ARRL has sponsored
programs which train, organize, and enable Amateur Radio volunteers to
provide emergency communications support to charitable agencies and
government authorities; and
WHEREAS, in these challenging times not only for our country but also
for the entire civilized world, it is essential for Amateur Radio to
offer the most efficient and effective emergency communications systems,
including support for Homeland Security;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the ARRL's Volunteer Resources
Committee is directed to perform an in-depth study of the League's
programs related to emergency communications and non-emergency public
service communications, and to report recommendations for modernizing,
streamlining, and increasing the effectiveness of these programs to the
Board at the Annual Meeting in January, 2003.
5.1 The Committees work this year has, to a large degree, been driven
by this one study. One of our first steps was to try to understand
whether or not new and unique requirements would likely be placed upon
our public service activities as a result of the 9/11 attack. VRC
member George Race, WB8BGY, then Director of the Great Lakes Division,
attempted to determine whether or not a rational set of requirements
existed at a national level. Such a set of requirements proved to be
elusive, but in the process George prepared an extremely useful index of
Internet links to a variety of government agencies. A CD containing the
results of his study was provided to the Board at its July, 2002,
meeting.
5.2 In the second half of 2002 the VRC returned to a more direct
approach at satisfying the requirements of Minute 35. In addition to
extensive discussions of the issues, primarily during teleconferences, a
survey of SM was carried out. Only 21 of the 71 SMs responded to the
survey, but those responses received were very useful. In addition, the
Chairs of the three NTS Areas also provided useful comments.
5.3 Conclusions. Several inter-related themes have emerged as a result
of the study.
5.3.1. Amateur Radio must earn and maintain increased credibility with
served agencies, both nationally and at the local level. The existing
ARRL certification programs can help in this regard. Additionally,
excellent training is available through FEMA, the Red Cross, and other
served agencies. Such courses arent designed for exclusive Amateur
Radio audiences, but present an opportunity for ARES/NTS volunteers to
expand their emergency preparedness horizons.
5.3.2 Amateur Radio emergency communications volunteers must be more
actively involved in a variety of training experiences throughout the
year.
5.3.3. Although ARES and NTS are structurally separate in Section field
organizations, these two volunteer programs must work more
cooperatively, functioning as part of one coherent emergency
communications program at the Section level.
5.3.4 The Committee notes persistent requests for creating new
leadership positions. The post of Assistant District Emergency
Coordinator (ADEC) is the one most often suggested. In addition,
suggestions are received from time to time to give Assistant Emergency
Coordinator (AEC), appointment more stature. It is presently a local
appointment, not part of the formal field organization structure. The
VRC, however, is not convinced that the solution of organizational
problems require new leadership positions. Many SMs have solved their
local organizational problems by more creative use of the existing
appointee structure.
5.4 Recommendations. In support of the above conclusions, the VRC
recommends the following actions.
5.4.1 Amateur Radio should exhibit a higher level of readiness than is
presently the case. This may be accomplished, at least in part, by
encouraging SMs, in collaboration with their SECs and STMs, to study, on
a continuing basis, the training needs of their Sections and the
effectiveness of training programs in place.
5.4.2 Amateur Radio should exhibit a higher level of professionalism
than is presently the case. This may be satisfied, at least in part, by
adhering to the following program:
* SECs and STMs, earn Level 1, 2, and 3 certification as soon as
possible
* DECs and NMs earn at least Level 1 and 2 certification as soon as
possible
* ECs and OES appointees earn at least Level l certification as soon as
possible
* SECs, and STMs strongly encourage all ARES and NTS members to earn
Level l certification in order to prepare them for possible future
disasters and in order to prepare them to become future leadership
officials.
* Finally, the training provided by FEMA, the Red Cross, and other
served agencies should be considered for inclusion in ARES/NTS training
programs. These courses arent designed for exclusive Amateur Radio
audiences, but present an opportunity for ARES/NTS volunteers to expand
their emergency preparedness horizons.
5.4.3 SECs should make more effective effective use of OES appointees
-- the guideline document for this Field appointment is deliberately
broad, so as to give SECs flexibility required to solve a variety of
Section organizational problems.
5.4.4 SMs, SECs, and STMs should work cooperatively to develop workable
plans for joint drills and training.
6. There is no shortage of problems to be addressed by the incoming
VRC. A list of open items will be made available to the incoming VRC.
The Volunteer Resources Committee this year consisted of Frank Butler,
W4RH; Fried Heyn, WA6WZO; George Race, WB8BGY; Wade Walstrom; W0EJ; Kay
Craigie, WT3P; Rod Stafford, W6ROD; and Rosalie White, K1STO. Following
Mr. Races resignation in July, his position was ably filled by Gary
Johnston, KI4LA. I wish to extend my personal thanks once more for the
care and thought each member brought to this Committee. Special thanks
again goes to F&ES Services manager Rosalie White, for her advice,
counsel, and other help during our regular telephone conversations.
Respectfully Submitted
Jim Maxwell, W6CF
Chair
